Thursday, May 21, 2:003:30 p.m.

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Thursday, May 21, 200-330 p.m. West Dining
Room James Madison Building
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National Union Catalog of Manuscript
Collection 25th Anniversary Invitation
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You are cordially invited to a party
Thursday, May 21, 2-330 PM West Dining
Room James Madison Building
R.S.V.P. by May 7, contact David Maya at (202)
707-6541 or dmay_at_loc.gov
National Union Catalog of Manuscript
Collection 50th Anniversary Invitation
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With appreciation to Betsy Miller, for her
assistance in the redesign of the NUCMC website.
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NUCMC 25th Anniversary, May 17, 1984 L to R, Alan
Virta, Harriett Ostroff, David Smith, Chief SMCD,
Emily Zehmer, Deborah Nygren and Eleanor McKay.
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NUCMC 25th Anniversary, May 17, 1984 Harriett
Ostroff cutting the cake, (background) W. Mark
Hamilton, V.P. Chadwyck-Healey, Inc, Henriette
Avram, Director and Susan Tarr.
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NUCMC 25th Anniversary, May 17, 1984 SMCDs Music
Section, under the direction of Harry Price
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NUCMC 25th Anniversary, May 17, 1984 L to R, W.
Mark Hamilton, V.P. Chadwyck-Healey, Inc, William
J Welsh, Deputy Librarian, John C. Broderick,
Asst. Librarian for Research Services, Virginia
Purdy, Society of American Archivists, Harriet
Ostroff, Editor of NUCMC
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NUCMC 25th Anniversary Article published in LCs
Information Bulletin, June 4, 1984 (page 1 of 2)
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NUCMC 25th Anniversary Article published in LCs
Information Bulletin, June 4, 1984 (page 2 of 2)
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First NUCMC Catalog Card entry in the Bound
Volume Series (1959 - 1961)
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Last NUCMC Record in the Bound Volume Series
(1993) (continued by records in RLIN and OCLC)
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Emily Zehmer Society of American
Archivists, Philadelphia, 1975.
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Emily Zehmer, Harriett Ostroff and Alan
Virta Park City, UT, 1977.
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Harriett Ostroff and Barney Bloom Atlantic City,
NJ, 1977.
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Harriett Ostroff Napa, CA, 1981. (time-off from
SAA meeting)
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SAA Council Resolution Commendation Honoring
National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections
on Its 50th Anniversary Issued by the Society of
American Archivists (SAA).   October 15, 2008
  WHEREAS since its creation in 1959, the
National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections
(NUCMC) has been a cooperative program partnered
by the Library of Congress and eligible archival
and manuscript repositories located throughout
the United States and its territories that
provides and promotes bibliographic access to the
nations documentary heritage and WHEREAS since
1959, the NUCMC program has produced 114,493
catalog records describing collections held by
1,759 eligible repositories and WHEREAS NUCMC
provides free searching access to the OCLC
manuscript cataloging file via a Z39.50 gateway
available at the NUCMC programs web site that
contains not only the MARC cataloging produced by
NUCMC but also that produced by libraries,
archives, historical societies, museums, and
other holders of archival and manuscript
collections around the world and WHEREAS NUCMC
encourages greater awareness and use of the
nations rich and varied documentary heritage
with the potential for 1) justifying increased
support by repository administrators 2)
attracting researchers who can provide helpful
contextual information which expands an
understanding of the significance of collection
content 3) attracting donors who are eager to
have their gifts utilized to the greatest extent
possible and 4) translating into better security
for a repositorys collections NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Society of American
Archivists commends the National Union Catalog of
Manuscript Collections and the Library of
Congress upon their 50th anniversary of providing
exemplary service of the highest merit to
archivists and repositories in the United States
and its territories and to researchers and
scholars everywhere.   October 15, 2008
Commendation Honoring National Union Catalog
of Manuscript Collections on Its 50th Anniversary
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From the Repositories
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From the Repositories
Debbie Baroff of the Museum of the Great Plains
reports that lots of information has traveled
from Oklahoma to Virginia, and back again since
2003, when she first found out about NUCMC and
all they had to offer. I believe my archival
record keeping is more complete and better
organized because of the NUCMC database. Since we
don't have our collections on our website yet,
giving it to NUCMC and having cataloguers putting
it on the internet, for me, has to be the most
perfect opportunity for a one-person archives.
And it's a great way for researchers to find out
what's available at the Museum of the Great
Plains. Thanks for all your hard work, and the
wonderful communication you send to me. It's been
a pleasure!
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From the Repositories
Nan Card, curator of manuscripts at the
Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center in
Fremont, Ohio, contacted her NUCMC program
liaison with the information that since 2000 the
use of the repositorys collections had
quadrupled and that researchers from around the
world now requested materials from the
repositorys collections. This increased
awareness and accessibility were due, she wrote,
in large part, to the NUCMC cooperative
cataloging program. During one particular week,
scholars from Japan, Colombia, France, and Italy
had all located research materials at the Center
as a result of the cataloging created by the
Library of Congress. Mary Ann Habib's knowledge,
experience, continuous attention to detail,
accessibility, cooperation, and diligence
surpassed (and continue to surpass) all
expectations.
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From the Repositories
Yvonne Carignan, library director for the
Historical Society of Washington D.C.'s Kiplinger
Research Library says that NUCMC fills a critical
gap for her organization. NUCMC is our only
source for highly professional cataloging of our
archival findings aids, and subsequent
international access to that cataloging via
NUCMC's own website and WorldCat. NUCMC
cataloging also provides the archival MARC record
for our own online catalog. Without the NUCMC
program, researchers' access to our archival
collections -- DC business and organization
records, family and individual papers, and
manuscript collections of all kinds -- would be
greatly limited. The Historical Society has long
been a beneficiary of the NUCMC program, and we
thank you for making international international
access to our collections possible with NUCMC
cataloging.
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From the Repositories
Lynn Ewbank, an access/technology archivist at
the Arkansas History Commission reports that
NUCMC's original cataloging of Arkansas History
Commission (AHC) manuscript collections is a huge
step in providing intellectual access to
Arkansas's documentary materials. This valuable
service has enabled the AHC to implement the
Archivist's Toolkit which will enable us to begin
to publish our finding aids online in 2009. We
love you, NUCMC!
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From the Repositories
Anne Frantilla, deputy city archivist at the
Seattle Municipal Archives tells us that The
Library of Congress NUCMC program has created 283
records for the Seattle Municipal Archives. Not
being part of a larger library or university, the
NUCMC program provides the Seattle Municipal
Archives with expertise and access to an
international catalog that would otherwise not be
available. The staff have been wonderful to work
with and very responsive to all requests and
questions.
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From the Repositories
Jay Hyland, an archivist at the Jewish Museum
Milwaukee says The NUCMC project has enabled us
to display catalog records of many of our
archival collections worldwide at a faster rate
than if we had tried posting catalog records on
our own. Also, the association with the Library
of Congress helps give further credence to the
Museum and shows that we are serious about
collecting materials. The staff is very courteous
and helpful with displaying the information and
making suggestions.
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From the Repositories
Judy Janec, archivist, reports that the Holocaust
Center of Northern California (HCNC) is a small
repository with fascinating collections. In many
ways, the Center has been a hidden treasure for
many years. However, since Peter Goodman began to
create the MARC records that are available on the
NUCMC gateway, HCNC has been able to share its
holdings with the scholarly community. We are so
grateful for this opportunity without Peter's
assistance, it would have been impossible to make
HCNC's collection accessible to researchers.
Thank you so much!
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From the Repositories
Nicholas Noyes, librarian and Nancy Noble,
archivist/cataloger of the Maine Historical
Society express their congratulations to NUCMC,
saying, What a boon your project has been for
all of us, especially smaller historical
societies, which cant afford access to larger
cataloging utilities. Here at the Maine
Historical Society we have always appreciated the
work of NUCMC catalogers in creating access to
our records via their printed volumes, and now
online. But the greatest work that NUCMC has done
for us has been in the past 5 or so years, when
we finally put our manuscript catalog online.
This manuscript catalog, unfortunately, was full
of mistakes and incorrect headings, but with the
excellent work of NUCMC catalogers Mary Ann Habib
and Peter Goodman we are now able to take the
information from their beautiful records and
update our poor records. So, because of the
efforts of the NUCMC project, we not only are
providing access to our collections through the
NUCMC database, but we are cleaning up our own
records, and enhancing them beyond what they have
been in the past. Many thanks from all of us at
the Maine Historical Society!
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From the Repositories
Kim Allen Scott of Montana State
University-Bozeman tells that information
bearing objects should be cited as such,
regardless of how many web based surrogates
become available, and the library catalog is the
scholar's final authority on the information
required for proper citation. In Montana, our
efforts to create clear and concise finding aids
have been facilitated by the NUCMC team in
building a true 'union catalog' of the state's
rich documentary heritage. The MARC records that
have come to us from our colleagues in Washington
not only provide the primary discovery point for
our collections, but also offer scholars the
tools they need for accurate description of those
discoveries.
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Remembering
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Harriet Ostroff Dicker (1930-2009)
Obituary Harriet Ostroff Dicker (1930-2009)
Harriet Ostroff Dicker, the longtime editor of
the National Union Catalog of Manuscript
Collections (NUCMC) at the Library of Congress,
died on April 12 and was buried April 14 at Mt.
Lebanon Cemetery in Adelphi, Md. She was 79. The
daughter of Jewish immigrants from Poland, Dicker
was born Jan. 14, 1930, in the Bronx, N.Y. She
studied business at City College of New York and
earned a masters degree in library science at
Columbia University. There, she met Jesse
Ostroff, whom she married. They raised three
children before they divorced in 1996. She later
married Harold Dicker, who died in December 1998.
In 1952 the Ostroffs moved to Washington, D.C.,
where she found employment at the Library of
Congress. She rose through the ranks and
eventually retired in 1994 as the head of the
Manuscripts Section in the Special Materials
Cataloging Division, where she was responsible
for the National Union Catalog of Manuscript
Collections. Through her work at the Library,
several published articles, and active
involvement in professional organizations and
meetings, Dicker proved an enthusiastic advocate
for manuscript cataloging in general and for
NUCMC in particular. At the time of her
retirement from the Library, the NUCMC program
had created some 72,300 bibliographic records
describing manuscript collections located in more
than 1,400 repositories throughout the United
States and its territories. These bibliographic
records generated over one million index
references to topical subjects and to personal,
family, corporate and geographic names. A
resolution of the Council of the Society of
American Archivists on the occasion of her
retirement recognized her important role in
widening bibliographic access to the nations
documentary heritage. Dickers love of
organizing and classification spilled over into
her hobbies as well. In particular, she loved
collecting and cataloging recipes and cookbooks.
She had a huge collection of both, and she
co-produced, with fellow Library staffer Tom
Nichols, a subject guide to specialty cookbooks.
Harriet Ostroff Dicker was described variously
by those who knew her as meticulous,
well-organized, kind, personable, somewhat shy,
and as a possessor of a great sense of humor. She
also had a reputation for not suffering fools
gladly. David Smith, chief of the Special
Materials Cataloging Division at the time of
Dickers 40th anniversary of Library service,
noted that two his favorite memories of her were
her habit of drawing herself to her full height
in order to pronounce some perceived LC idiocy
totally outrageous or totally
unacceptablewith just a hint of I can retire,
you know in the background. But I never believed
it for a minute.
Page 1 of 2
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Harriet Ostroff Dicker (1930-2009)
Another former chief of the Special Materials
Cataloging Division, Jeffrey Heynen, said
Harriet was one of the most committed,
outspoken, and contentious of supervisors, and
always with the best of intentions. She could be
a thorn in the side of policy specialists, an
obstreperous spokeswoman for the mission of her
section, a stubborn defender of the value of
archival cataloging methods, and an independent
voice in an environment in which consensus was a
highly valued quality. Few worked more closely
than she with the professionals and technicians
under them few were more attentive to the needs
of the institutions and individuals that
benefited from the products created. She was a
dedicated public servant. Heynen continued.
Working in a department of the Library of
Congress that devoted almost all its resources to
the cataloging of books and serials, she pursued
the quite different goal of cataloging archival
resources. The methods she advocated were
parallel to and congruent with the process
employed in the main enterprise authoritative
headings, hierarchical subject terms, detailed
and highly detailed descriptive elements, and
above all consistency and rigor in applying these
fundamental tools. But she had her own ways of
implementing this methodology. The result was her
individual achievement, attained in conjunction
with the repositories she served and tempered
through oversight by those responsible for
overall cataloging policies and procedures.
Alan Virta, a former NUCMC staffer and currently
an archivist and head of special collections at
Boise State University, recalled that one of
HOs great professional joys was to kill people
off in the Official Catalog. She was an avid
obituary clipper she would accumulate stacks of
them in her office. And from time to time, she
would methodically go out into the Official
Catalog and pull each name authority card to
do the deed, i.e., add the year of the
subjects death to the heading. Harriet was an
orderly and methodical person, and an open date
in a bibliographic entry of someone she suspected
was no longer alive was a disorderly loose string
she could not abide. They must be dead, I heard
her say more than once. Im sure I remember them
dying. The same day as Chester Bowles, one of
her staff invariably would chime in, and Harriet
would laugh out loud, remembering the day (long
before the Internet) when we fruitlessly searched
for the obituary of the aged but very-much alive
American diplomat. The day I learned that
Harriet had passed away, after the initial shock
had worn off, one of the first things I thought
of doing was to remind my former colleagues they
had an important job to do. But when I got online
to look at her record in the LC catalog, I found
I could rest easy someone had already done the
deed. Harriet was a cataloger of great
accomplishments, but she was also a modest
woman, Virta said. As justifiably proud as she
was of NUCMC, I dont think any memorial would
have given her greater satisfaction than a death
date on her own authority record. Her final
years involved volunteer work, book clubs, and
enthusiastic support for her synagogue, Tifereth
Israel Congregation. Dicker is survived by her
children, a sister, and four grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Tifereth
Israel Congregation, 7701 16th Street NW,
Washington, D.C. 20012. By Anthony J. Gonzales
(Rabbi Jason Kimelman-Block, David Smith,
Jeffrey Heynen and Alan Virta all contributed to
this article.)
Page 2 of 2
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Emily White Zehmer (1949-2009)
Obituary Emily White Zehmer Dies Emily White
Zehmer, 60, highly regarded by her Manuscript
Division colleagues for the breadth and depth of
knowledge that made her an able manuscript
cataloger and an unbeatable knowledge-game
player, died at Alexandria Hospital on Feb. 17.
She had worked at the Library for 32
years. Zehmer began her career at the Library in
1972 in the Manuscript Section of the Special
Materials Cataloging Division, which produced the
National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections
(NUCMUC). While specializing in collections
dealing with the South, she was responsible for
accessioning cataloging data from cooperating
manuscript repositories from around the country.
She served on various reference and automation
committees and was on the Library of Congress
Editorial Committee that helped shape the second
edition of Archives, Personal Papers, and
Manuscripts compiled by Steven L. Hensen and
published by the Society of American Archivists
in 1989. For two years in the 1980s she was
co-editor of the Library of Congress Professional
Associations LCPA Newsletter. In 1987, Zehmer
joined the Manuscript Division as a senior
manuscript cataloger, the position from which she
retired in 2004. With Janice Ruth, now assistant
head of the Manuscript Division, Zehmer helped
develop the divisions first automated accessions
database. She was an amazing cataloger of
Manuscript collections, commented one colleague,
who said she created extensive headings that were
of great help to researchers. Her work was
highly and widely respected, said Allan J.
Techroew, assistant head of the Preparation
Section of the Manuscript Division. She was
authoritative, hard-working and a pleasure to
work with as a colleague. Techroew continued
She was knowledgeable on many subjects,
positive, humorous, and absolutely indomitable in
defying the juvenile diabetes that had afflicted
her with increasingly dire complications from
childhood. Doctors had given her two or so
decades to live she stretched that by a few more
and lived vibrantly as a friend, Library
employee, church worker in her beloved Parish of
St. Monica and St. James Episcopal Church on
Capitol Hill, domestic and world traveler, bridge
player, even a game-show contestant. Her
friends at the Library recalled that her
knowledge of history, literature, movies, music
and other topics, and her quick recall of events
and facts, made her unbeatable at Trivial
Pursuit. She was so good that people wouldnt
play with her, one said. In 1992, she finished
second in a final round of Jeopardy. Zehmer
enjoyed reading and discussing books with
friends, the opera (for years she had season
tickets to the Washington National Opera), movies
and theater, and friends knew better than to call
her during University of Virginia basketball
games. A longtime Capitol Hill resident, she
enjoyed shopping at the Eastern Market and dining
at local restaurants. She was the daughter of the
late John G. Zehmer Sr. and Emily Butterworth
Zehmer and grew up in McKenney, Va. She graduated
with honors from Westhampton College of the
University of Richmond and was elected to Phi
Beta Kappa. She earned a masters degree in
library science from the University of
Pittsburgh. Zehmer is survived by two brothers,
John G. Zehmer Jr. of Richmond and Dr. Reynoldson
B. Zehmer of Alexandria and their wives,
respectively, Frances Nimitz Zehmer and Nancy
Hardy Zehmer four nephews, Reynoldson B. Zehmer
Jr., John G. Zehmer III, James D. W. Zehmer and
Lewis Hardy Zehmer a niece, Mary Campbell Zehmer
Akers and a great-nephew, David E.Akers Jr. She
is also survived by a Zehmer family friend,
Estelle H. Lanier of McKenney. Memorial
contributions may be sent to the Juvenile
Diabetes Research Foundation, Central Virginia
Chapter, 3805 Cutshaw Avenue, 212, Richmond, VA
23230 the Church of the Good Shepherd, c/o L. M.
Harrison III, 19915 White Oak Road, McKenney, VA
23872, or to the Parish of St. Monica and St.
James, 222 8th Street N.E., Washington, DC 20002.
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Thank you for helping us to celebrate!
dmh, 5-09-COIN
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