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Vol. 24:2 ISSN 0160-8460 August 1996
Staff News
Sahli Retires After 20 Years With NHPRC
On July 31, Nancy Sahli bundled up a twenty-year service award, a certificate of appreciation from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, a certificate of appreciation from the national Council of State Historical Records Coordinators, an Archivist's Achievement Award from the Archivist of the United States, two volumes of letters from well wishers, and numerous gifts, and retired as the Program Director of the NHPRC.
Unhappily for the Commission, Dr. Sahli also took with her a lot of institutional memory and the administrative skills that had helped make the Commission's grant program humanely efficient and widely respected.
Joining the Commission's staff in 1975 as an archivist, she directed a revision of the Guide to Archives and Manuscripts in the United States. She also served as an archives specialist, Sahli Retires After 20 Years With NHPRC reviewing proposals utilizing new computer technology. In 1987, she became director of the NHPRC Records Grant Program, and in 1991, she became Program Director of the present NHPRC. As Program Director, she supervised the integration of the Commission's Records and Publications programs and their combined staffs and helped to implement the Commission's newly adopted long-range plan. She served also for several months in 1994-1995 as the Commission's Acting Executive Director.
In a resolution of appreciation, the Commission praised Dr. Sahli for "her integrity, dedication, distinction, unflappable calmness, and good cheer," and declared that "she has come to epitomize all that is positive about the NHPRC, the National Archives, and public service."
Jacob Leaves Staff
Kathryn A. Jacob has left her position as Assistant Program Director for Publications on the NHPRC staff to move with her family to Massachusetts, where she will serve as the Assistant Director for Library and Archives at the American Jewish Historical Society. Dr. Jacob had served on the Commission's staff since 1993. Previously she had worked for the National Archives and Records Administration, and for the U.S. Senate Historical Office.
In a resolution of appreciation, the Commission praised Dr. Jacob for "her professional competence and her personal character," and commended her for her valuable contributions to the NHPRC's work.
The NHPRC staff is pleased to welcome Michael T. Meier, a veteran archivist from the National Archives and Records Administration, who recently became our Research Archivist, filling the position vacated by Timothy Connelly when he became Assistant Program Director for Publications.
Dr. Meier has a B.A. in history from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, an M.A. in history from Appalachian State University, and a Ph.D. in history from the University of Memphis. He completed the archival training program of the National Archives and Records Administration in 1984, and has subsequently served NARA as an archivist in the Civil Archives Division, the Center for Electronic Records, and most recently the Military Reference Branch, where he was Senior Reference Archivist. He has published historical articles and book reviews, received several academic honors, has been active in professional organizations, and served in 1991-92 as elected President of the National Archives Assembly.
We also welcome Artesia L. Smith, another veteran employee of the National Archives and Records Administration, who fills the position of Secretary. Artesia is a native Washingtonian who attended Suitland High School and studied cosmetology before taking the civil service exam and landing a position with NARA's general reference staff. Before coming to the NHPRC, Artesia worked at the Washington National Records Center in Suitland, Maryland. Artesia is the mother of three children and, as a number of you have mentioned, is the pleasant and helpful voice who most often answers the telephone when you call the NHPRC.
