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Vol. 26:4 ISSN 0160-8460 December 1998
Former Executive Director Receives Distinguished Service Award
At a special noontime ceremony during the November 17 meeting of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, Chairman John W. Carlin presented the Commission's 1998 Distinguished Service Award to Dr. Frank G. Burke, who served as its Executive Director from 1975 until 1988.
Left to right, Deputy Executive Director Roger A. Bruns, Executive Director Ann C. Newhall, Frank G. Burke, Hildegard Burke, and Chairman John W. Carlin. Photo by Amy Young, NARA.
Dr. Burke's work has had a profound impact on the field of historical documentary editing and on the preservation and accessibility of historical records. In 1976, the Commission, under Dr. Burke's leadership, launched its records program to provide support across the country for the preservation of and access to documentary materials. Under his direction, the Commission also launched a series of conferences at which historical editors discussed the practices and problems of their work. The exchange of ideas at these conferences led to the creation of the Association for Documentary Editing (ADE) in 1978.
Dr. Burke joined the staff of the National Archives and Records Service in 1967 as an information retrieval specialist, after holding previous positions at the University of Chicago library and the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress. He was one of the first National Archives employees to advocate the development of computer software for storage of archival information. Dr. Burke served as Acting Archivist of the United States for two and a half years of his career with the National Archives and Records Administration, and later enjoyed a number of years teaching at the University of Maryland.
Dr. Burke in the only individual to have served as President of both ADE and the Society of American Archivists. His demonstrated commitment to both historical documentary editing and the preservation of historical records make him a particularly appropriate recipient of the Commission's Distinguished Service Award.
The award honors individuals whose careers have exemplified extraordinary commitment in forwarding the mission of the NHPRC and who have made notable accomplishments in fields touched by the Commission's work. 1998 is the tenth year in which the award has been presented.
