MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES THE APPOINTMENT OF 15 MEMBERS TO THE ARCHIVES, REFERENCE AND RESEARCH ADVISORY BOARD

    Mayor de Blasio announced the appointment of 15 members to the Archives, Reference and Research Advisory Board, which will consult with Commissioner Pauline Toole of the Department of Records and Information Services.

DORIS has begun an extensive effort to revitalize the Municipal Archives and Municipal Library, to have these institutions serve a larger public and to help frame ongoing public policy discussions within a historical context. The revitalization efforts include digitizing holdings, making resources available online, developing exhibits to augment debates, forming partnerships with non-traditional organizations, and engaging new audiences. The Archives, Reference and Research Advisory Board will help develop and shape this revitalization by offering guidance, setting strategic goals, identifying funding sources, and connecting communities. 

“It is vital that we remember the rich history of the city and that we bring available historical resources to the forefront in order to engage new audiences,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “This group of appointees will work diligently to revitalize these resources and to display the relevance that our history has had in the formation of the city and government that we see today. We appreciate the board’s efforts and I look forward to working with all of the new members.”

“I am grateful to the Mayor and the new board members for their support as we work towards making the truly amazing holdings of the Archives and Library more broadly available. This is a diverse group who will help us develop and implement strategies for demonstrating the relevance and historical context of decisions made by government leaders that have affected communities throughout the City’s 400-year history,” said DORIS Commissioner Pauline Toole.

“I have long been a fan of the Municipal Archives and Library and I am so pleased  the Mayor has asked me to Chair the Advisory Board.  I look forward to collaborating with my distinguished colleagues in strategizing how to bring City government’s historical treasures to new audiences,” said Incoming Chair Joan Millman. 

The following board members are community leaders, historians, librarians, and archivists who will aid with this transition and provide insight on evolving practices in relevant fields.

The Honorable Joan Millman – Chair: Former NY State Assemblymember

Pamela Cruz: Archives Strategist and Advocate 

Dr. Johanna Fernandez: Assistant Professor, History Department, Baruch College of the City University of New York

Glenda Grace: General Counsel & Chief of Staff, Queens College 

Idilio Gracia Peña: Chief Archivist, CUNY Dominican Studies Institute 

Kayhan Irani: Writer/producer         

Lillian Jean-Baptiste: Community Engager, Family Advocate & Cultural Ambassador

Gregory Jost: Partner, Designing the WE

Richard Moylan: President, Green-Wood Cemetery and Historic Fund

Tom Shcherbenko: Community and political activist        

Dr. Robert Snyder: Professor of Journalism and American Studies, Rutgers University-Newark

Dr. Jack Tchen: Professor, New York University 

Peter Williams: Executive Vice President for Programs, NAACP

Mark Winston Griffith: Executive Director, Brooklyn Movement Center

Mary Yearwood: Director of Collections and Information Services, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture