2001 Distinguished Service Award Recipients:
Jim O' Toole and Harry C. Keiner
O'Toole Receives NEA Distinguished Service Award
Hanover, NH - James M. O'Toole became the latest recipient of New England Archivists' Distinguished Service Award at the group's May 5 annual meeting at Dartmouth College. O'Toole is the seventh person to receive the award, which recognizes exemplary service to the archival profession and archives in New England.
A resident of Milton, Ma., O'Toole has been an associate professor of history at Boston College since 1998. Previously he served on the history faculty at the University of Massachusetts - Boston from 1986-1997 as lecturer, assistant professor and associate professor, as well as assistant graduate program director. While there, he started the archives concentration in the history department's M.A. program.
O'Toole began his career as in archives in 1974 as assistant curator of manuscripts and rare books at the New England Historical Genealogical Society. He held positions at the Massachusetts State Archives from 1974-77 before becoming archivist of the Archdiocese of Boston from 1978-86. During the past 27 years he has been active in the profession through writing, editing, and serving in numerous capacities at the local, state, regional, and national levels.
He is a member of a number of archival and historical organizations and is the author or editor of numerous publications, including such titles as "Militant and Triumphant: William Henry O'Connell and the Catholic Church in Boston, 1859-1944," "Understanding Archives and Manuscripts," and "The Records of American Business," (as editor). His most recent articles are: "Here and There: Looking at Catholicism in New England," published in the Summer 2000 edition of U.S. Catholic Historian, and ""Looking at Archives in Art," published in the Spring/Summer 2000 edition of American Archivist.
"I attended my first New England Archivists meeting in the fall of 1974, just four days after beginning work as an archivist," O'Toole said. "It's a great honor to receive this award from an organization I've seen grow since then as it works to preserve the documentary history of New England and its people."
O'Toole holds a B.A. and Ph.D. in history from Boston College, an A.M. in history from the College of William and Mary, and an M.S. in library science from Simmons College. Among his honors are the 1986 David B. Gracy Award from the Society of Georgia Archivists, and election as a Fellow of the Society of American Archivists in 1993.
O'Toole has served the profession through his work on numerous committees and in appointed and elected positions. He was on the executive council of the Society of American Archivists from 1988-1992 and its Committee on Education and Professional Development in 1986-1987, , served as its publications editor from 1991-1994, and is currently a member of the editorial board of American Archivist. A member of NEA since 1974, he has served the organization in a number of capacities, including a term as president in 1981-1982.
New England Archivists serves the interests of archives and archivists throughout New England. Members represent a wide variety of backgrounds and institutions. NEA sponsors meetings, educational programs, and services for members.
Keiner Receives NEA Distinguished Service Award
Hanover, NH - Harry C. Keiner became the latest recipient of New England Archivists' Distinguished Service Award at the group's May 5 annual meeting at Dartmouth College. Keiner is the sixth person to receive the award, which recognizes exemplary service to the archival profession and archives in New England.
Keiner, a specialist in the field of business and corporate archives, has served as archivist/historian for the Biltmore Company in Ashville, NC since 1997. At Biltmore he is responsible for the management of the company's archives and library. Previously he served as associate archivist and historian at CIGNA Corporation from 1988-97, as archivist at Travelers Corporation from 1983-88, and as consulting archivist and historian at United Technologies Corporation from 1981-1983. He also served as a consultant to the Connecticut Historical Commission from 1978-1981.
During the past 20 years he has been active in the profession through writing, editing, consulting, and serving in numerous capacities at the local, state, regional, and national levels. He is a member of a number of library, archival, and historical organizations and has presented papers before a number of archival and historical organizations. Most recently, he presented a paper, "Old Dogs and New Tricks: Archivists and Project Management Theory" at the Society of American Archivists (SAA)'s annual conference in August 1999.
Keiner was presented the award by outgoing NEA president Aimee Felker, who cited both his contributions to the organization, to her development as an archivist and to the field of archives as a whole. For his part, Keiner cited the greater professionalization the field has undergone in the past 20 years, as well as the need to take a mentoring role with new archivists. That periodhas been a period of transition to one of greater specialization and professional standards among archivists, he said.
He cited the hard work and dedication of archivists who take a leading role in moving the field forward, and bringing along younger colleagues, noting "There needs to be people in the midst of their careers to help and encourage young people. I believe it's very important to be cooperative in involving new members," he said. "I'm very appreciative that my friends and colleagues would think enough of me to give me this award," said Keiner.
Keiner received a B.A. from Knox College in Galesburg, Ill., in 1967. From the University of Connecticut he earned an M.A. in 1968, and both a Certificate in Public History and Archival Management and Ph.D in 1981. He is also a Certified Archivist. On the regional and national levels, Keiner has served the profession through his work on committees and appointed positions, including a term as chair of SAA's Business Archives section in 1993.
New England Archivists serves the interests of archives and archivists throughout New England. Members represent a wide variety of backgrounds and institutions. NEA sponsors meetings, educational programs, and services for members.
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