2002 Archival Advocacy Award Recipient:
Vermont Secretary of State Deborah Markowitz
Secretary of State Deborah Markowitz was awarded New England Archivists Archival Advocacy Award (AAA) for her efforts at improving archival management in state government. Markowitz was cited for spearheading efforts to consolidate state government’s archival operations and accelerating cooperation among records users within the state
NEA’s AAA is given to an individual or institution who makes special efforts to support archival programs in New England either politically, financially or through public advocacy. As Vermont’s secretary of state since 1998, Markowitz has taken a special interest in the archives. During her most recent term she initiated efforts to consolidate state archival programs and provided support to communities and users on a number of statewide public records issues.
“Deborah Markowitz’s willingness not only to learn about archival management, but also to create and sustain archival planning has improved the visibility and performance of the Vermont State Archives over the past few years,” said NEA President Joan Krizack in presenting the award at NEA’s joint fall meeting with the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference in Poughkeepsie, NY on Saturday.
Markowitz’s efforts have involved educating herself about archives, cooperating with other secretaries of state, and bringing together different groups to address public records issues. Earlier this year she attended a meeting of the National Association of Government Archivists and Records Administrators (NAGARA). In addition, as a member of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) she arranged for several state archivists to participate in a session during the 2002 meeting of that organization.
From her experience at NAGARA she drew from the efforts of Minnesota in working to create an electronic records analysis tool. Within the state she has also worked to bring archives management and training to municipal clerks, and has created an archives advisory committee to assist her with moving her archival agenda forward.
Her archival agenda was highlighted by an effort during the past legislative session to consolidate archival efforts currently divided between the secretary’s office and the state’s Department of Buildings and General Services. Markowitz understood the barriers separating the state’s archives program, according to state archivist Gregory Sanford, who nominated her for the award.
“To overcome these barriers, she initiated a mediation process that lasted almost two years. Included bringing Dr. Bruce Dearstyne (head of the University of Maryland’s archival program) to evaluate the two archival programs and make recommendations on how to improve service. For the first time the two programs reached agreement on consolidating archival administration under the Archives and jointly drafted a bill to that effect,” he explained.
Although that effort failed, Markowitz has resumed her support for consolidation, Sanford said. Markowitz herself acknowledged the need for continued movement toward consolidation and both she and Sanford described it as a top priority for the coming session.
“During my four years as Vermont Secretary of State I have come to truly appreciate both the institutional value of sound archival management and the importance of archives in informing public dialogues.
“In some ways I feel the award is premature. While we have made great strides in breaking down institutional barriers to developing a sound program in Vermont, our archives bill died in the closing minutes of the last legislative session. I have made its passage the top priority for the upcoming session,” she said.
Markowitz acknowledged the work of archivists in helping shape the work of state government and public dialogues on a number of issues. “Within your vaults and holdings are the records of our discussions and experiences as a self-governing people. Your holdings are important to understanding those crucial questions,” she said, exhorting archivists to “make the records of our national experience a part of our current public dialogue.”
Vermont’s state archives has received a great deal of recognition during the past year. Earlier, the Society of American Archivists awarded the archives’ web site the Philip Hamer-Elizabeth Kegan Award and Sanford was awarded NEA’s Distinguished Service Award.
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