National Historic Publications and Records Commission Selects Marcus Center to Host Archival Fellow

Prestigious appointment to bring emerging archival leader to Cincinnati

CINCINNATI, OH:---The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives, located on the Cincinnati campus of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, has received notification from the National Historic Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) that it has been selected to host an Archival Fellow for a one-year tenure, beginning in the Fall of 2002. The NHPRC, a national commission under the aegis of the National Archives and Records Administration, supports a wide range of activities to preserve, publish, and encourage the use of documentary sources relating to the history of the United States.

This highly prestigious appointment by the NHPRC will bring an emerging leader in the field of archival administration to The Marcus Center for a year of mentoring and professional experience. The NHPRC provides the fellowship program as an opportunity for professional archivists with two to five years' work experience to gain new or additional experience with administrative procedures and problems. The host institution introduces the fellow to a wide variety of archival administrative experiences.

“The Marcus Center is elated to have been selected to host an NHPRC fellow,” said Dr. Gary P. Zola, Executive Director of The Marcus center. “This high honor places our institution in the esteemed company of other, and in fact larger, archival institutions across the country who have hosted NHPRC fellows-many of whom have already made significant contributions to archival literature or moved into positions of higher authority in the field.”

The fellowship program engages institutions that deal with personal papers collections, manuscripts, and government records. “The object of the program is the development of a pool of future archival administrators,” said Roger A. Bruns, Deputy Executive Director of the NHPRC. “The program also seeks to invigorate older archival institutions with fresh ideas derived from recent, academically trained staff.”

The Commission will work with The Marcus Center to develop training programs for the fellow in professional skill areas such as appraisal, budget preparation, personnel administration, training supervision, collection practices, and external affairs.

Previous host archival institutions have included the University of Arizona, Cornell University, Radcliffe College, the University of Washington, Princeton University and Duke University.

Currently, the NHPRC is accepting applications for the position. (Information can be obtained at www.nara.gov/nhprc) Applications are due in early March, with fellow selection to be made by mid-May. While at The Marcus Center, the NHPRC Archival Fellow will work on collections development, institutional programming and planning and on special projects related to the upcoming year-long celebration of 350 years of American Jewish history. (2004)