Friday, November 6, 2015
The New York State Archives and the Archives Partnership Trust have selected the City of Rochester to receive the 2015 William H. Kelly Annual Archives Award for Excellence in Local Government Archival Program Development. This award recognizes a local government for its overall development of a soundly administered archival program and advocacy in promoting the identification, protection, preservation and use of archival local government records.
The award was presented to City Historian Christine Ridarsky, City Clerk and Records Management Officer Hazel Washington, and Manager of the Municipal Archives and Records Center Michele Rowe at a luncheon ceremony at the Cultural Education Center in Albany, held recently. The award is named for William H. Kelly, the former Mayor of Asharoken in Suffolk County, an advocate for strengthening local government archival and records management programs.
This award acknowledges the City of Rochester’s development and management of a comprehensive archival program. This award further recognizes their leadership role in conducting a detailed inventory of the archival records in the Historian’s office, the Rochester Public Library, and the city’s Municipal Archives and Records Center, which led to: the development of a comprehensive strategic plan; the creation of online finding aids; and the development of policies and procedures detailing proper access and handling of archival records. This award also acknowledges the City of Rochester’s creative and interpretive use of its archival records in the development of the City’s self-guided Heritage Trail tour.
“We are pleased to recognize the City of Rochester for their outstanding efforts to manage and preserve the records of local government,” said Interim State Archivist Thomas J. Ruller. “We commend all involved in this winning program and wish them continued success in the years ahead.”
The annual Archives Awards program takes place every October, during American Archives Month, and recognizes outstanding efforts in archives and records management work in New York State by a broad range of individuals and organizations.
A complete list of this year’s award recipients follows:
New York State Archives Partnership Trust Award:
New York State Canal Corporation
Lifetime Achievement Award for Advancing the Security of Archives in New York State:
Richard Strassberg (Albany County)
Annual Archives Award for Program Excellence in a Historical Records Repository:
SUNY Plattsburgh (Clinton County)
Annual Archives Award for Excellence in State Agency Records Management Program Development:
New York State Office of the Children and Family Services
William H. Kelly Annual Archives Award for Excellence in Local Government Archival Program Development:
City of Rochester (Monroe County)
Cheryl Steinbach Annual Archives Award for Excellence in Local Government Records Management:
The Town of Hamburg (Erie County)
Annual Archives Award for Excellence in Research Using the Holdings of the State Archives:
Russ Immarigeon (Columbia County)
Annual Archives Award for Student Research Using Historical Records Grade 4 & 5:
Aaron Lener, Homer Intermediate School, Homer Central School District; Teacher: Laurie Leach (Cortland County)
Annual Archives Award for Student Research Using Historical Records Grade 6-8:
Sahil Sangwan, P.J. Gelinas Junior High School, Three Village Central School District; Teacher: Nicole Connelly (Suffolk County)
Annual Archives Award for Student Research Using Historical Records Grade 9-12:
John Riley, Huntington H.S., Huntington Union Free School District; Teacher: Lauren Desiderio (Suffolk County)
