William J. Maher

Campus Address:
University Archives
19 Library
1408 W. Gregory Drive,MC-552
Urbana, IL 61801
Telephone: (217)333-0798
E-mail: w-maher@uiuc.edu

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVIST, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, July 1995 to present.

Professor (1992- ), Associate Professor (1984-92), and Assistant Professor (1977-84) of Library Administration.

Plan and direct the University Archives, incorporating the archives of both the University of Illinois system and the UIUC campus as well as a broad range of personal papers and external organizations' records acquired for their continuing value as authentic evidence and information for research. Oversee the development and implementation of information systems for the physical and intellectual control of archival holdings. Represent the University Archives concerning records and information policy issues before campus and university bodies and the State Records Commission. Manage the Archives' contract-based programs for the archives of educational and professional organizations. Coordinate major acquisitions with Library and Development personnel. Appraise, arrange, and describe archival records and manuscript collections. Develop programs to promote and facilitate use of holdings, prepare exhibits, and provide reference and research services. Provide for the preservation needs of archival holdings through archival processing and management of over 18,000 square feet of storage, public, and staff space. Direct 4 professional and 1 civil-service staff, and over 8 graduate assistants in the conduct of all aspects of archival work.

From September 2002-August 2005, I am the coordinator of the Special Collections Division and responsible for representing 4 Library Units (Illinois Historical Survey, Map and Geography Library, Rare Books, and University Archives) to the Library administration and for leading the division in planning and coordination of services and collections.

ASSISTANT UNIVERSITY ARCHIVIST, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, December 1977 to June 1995 (on leave, 1985-86).

Assist in the management of the University Archives and administer the Archives in the absence of the Archivist. Appraise and arrange for acquisition of personal papers and official records documenting the University's history; plan and implement the Archives' automated systems for administrative and subject control of holdings; prepare exhibits; provide reference service to faculty, administrators, and graduate and undergraduate students. Coordinate the Archives' records management program, including contacting administrative personnel concerning establishment of efficient procedures for creation, maintenance and disposition of records, and writing records retention schedules. This position includes responsibility for directing the transfer and processing of archival and manuscript collections; directing projects to arrange and describe the archives of the American Association of Law Libraries, the archives of the Association of American Law Schools, and assisting in the direction of similar projects for the Advertising Council, American Library Association, and American Society for Quality Control. Supervise and train civil-service, 8 graduate assistant, and 3 undergraduate student employees.

From December 1977 to October 1982, this position also involved the direction of the Newspaper Library, including administration, collection development, supervision of staff, and reference service.

PROJECT DIRECTOR, Humanities Preservation Microfilming Projects I and II at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, October, 1990-August, 1995 ( .50 time.), September 1995-December, 1998 ( .05 time).

Plan, administer, and evaluate the progress of two successive National Endowment for the Humanities-funded projects (together totaling $1,089,180) to microfilm approximately 12,000 brittle books in Argentine, Brazilian, and German literature and American and Irish history held by the University of Illinois Library. The work included writing the grant proposal, developing the project work plan and procedures, hiring and supervising project staff, drafting and revising contracts and specifications for microfilm vendors, monitoring accomplishment of project goals, consulting with departmental librarians and bibliographers about subject areas for filming, preparing reports and publicity announcements, monitoring the project budget, and maintaining contacts with the NEH.

PROGRAM OFFICER, National Endowment for the Humanities, Division of Research Programs, August 1985-August 1986.

Advise applicants, assess and comment on draft proposals, select reviewers and panelists to evaluate proposals, chair review panels, prepare summaries of recommendations on applications, correspond with applicants and grantees regarding project budgets, workplans and progress, evaluate interim and final reports and resolve problems, perform site visits of projects, advise unsuccessful applicants on reasons for rejection, and maintain liaison with archival constituent groups. This work was with the Access program, which awards grants to support projects for guides, union lists, bibliographies, and other finding aids for archives, manuscripts, printed works and non-print source materials.

Accession, process, and write descriptive inventories for collections of manuscripts and publications relating to University history and to the history of the St. Louis area in the twentieth century. Assist researchers in using materials, answer reference inquiries, microfilm records, and aid in the appraisal and acquisition of new materials. Participate in the development of exhibits and training of supplemental staff for special projects.

RESEARCHER-CATALOGUER, Center for Reformation Research, Clayton, Missouri, November, 1976 to December, 1977. (Half-time.)

Establish and verify catalogue entries for early modern printed works in microform to devise a short-title list of the Center's holdings.

TEACHING ASSISTANT, Washington University, Department of History, 1973/74 to 1974/75.

Teach discussion sections of Western Civilization 50 B.C. to 1945. This involved lecturing, leading class discussion, assigning and grading papers, developing and grading exams, for a survey course in European history.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, M.L.S., May 1991. Graduate course in the Administration and Use of Archival Materials, Fall 1977.

Washington University, St. Louis, coursework, preliminary exams, research, and initial dissertation chapters for Ph.D. in European History.

Case Western University, Cleveland, B.A., Summa Cum Laude, with Honors in History, May 1972. Majors in History and French.

Donald Grove Barnes Award in History, Case Western Reserve University, May 1972.

International Council on Archives, Section on Archives of Universities and Research Institutions, member, 2000-

Seminar Planning Committee, (Co-chair, 2003 Warsaw/Krakow, Poland), (Member 2005 East Lansing, Michigan)

Chair, Nominating Committee, 2002

Society of American Archivists, member, 1977-

College and University Archives Section, Chair, 1983/84, Vice-Chair, 1982/83 (elected). Steering Committee, 1981/82.

Vice-Chancellor's Consultative Committee on the Appointment of a University Librarian 1993 (Chair).

    Head, Rare Book and Special Collections Library, 2004 (Chair)

    Archival Operations and Reference Specialist, 2004 (Chair)

    Archivist for Music and Fine Arts, 2002-03 (Chair)

Visitant Project Librarian, Humanities Preservation Project, 1990-91, 1993-94 (Chair).

Library and Information Science 438 (Administration and Use of Archives), 1992, 1993-96, 1998

Westminster College, Winston Churchill Memorial and Library, and William Woods University, 1999-2000

National Endowment for the Humanities, 1982 (site visit of Dada Archives project at University of Iowa).

Unpaid consultant relating to archival program development for colleges and universities, religious orders, and professional associations.