Kathlene Ferris receives 2007 Distinguished Service Award

Kathlene Ferris received the Society of Southwest Archivists 2007 Distinguished Service Award at the May annual meeting in Oklahoma City. The following are remarks made by Brenda Gunn, chair of the Distinguished Service Award Committee, at the Annual Business Meeting on May 29, 2007.

For her contributions as a leader to both the Society and to her profession. Kathlene Ferris is the 2007 recipient of SSA’s Distinguished Service Award. Kathlene has worked since 1985 as an archivist in the University of New Mexico Libraries’ Center for Southwest Research. In 2001 she was appointed Head of Processing and Digitization and in 2004, Head Archivist. Her work in the Center for Southwest Research is exemplar as a teacher, researcher, and advocate for the preservation of the historical record. Her colleagues noted in support of her nomination that Kathlene has enhanced the access to archival materials in New Mexico and the Rocky Mountain West through her leadership in the Online Archive of New Mexico, the Rocky Mountain Online Archives, and in the Western Waters Digitization Project.

Kathlene is a Past President of SSA and served this organization with distinction. One of her most important contributions as a leader in this organization has been as a member of the SSA SAA Emergency Disaster Assistance Grant Fund. She unhesitatingly accepted the offer to be a member, and as each application came in, she responded promptly with her input.

Her colleagues write that she is a dedicated professional committed to increasing access to the wealth of historical collections preserved and managed in archives, museums, and libraries. She represents in experience and attitude an ideal archivist and worthy of the distinguished service award. Our committee members agree, and we congratulate Kathlene Ferris on this award.