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In keeping with the spirit of National Archives Month, County Executive Andy Spano is set to be recognized by the New York Board of Regents as well as by one of the nation’s largest archival organizations for his leadership and support of the county’s archival programs.
The 2009 William H. Kelly Annual Archives Award for Excellence in Local Government Archival Program Development will be presented on Oct. 26 by the Board of Regents and the State Archives. Westchester is being honored as a local government that has “demonstrated leadership in developing a soundly administered archival program.”
In addition, the Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York (ART) selected Spano to receive one of its three annual awards. The awards typically go to archivists – not local officials - but Spano has played a particularly pivotal role in the development and growth of Westchester County’s archival programs, according to Michael Simonson, president of ART, which represents more than 300 archivists, librarians, and records managers in the New York metropolitan area.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be cited for maintaining and preserving something so crucial to our lives,” Spano said. “As a passionate believer in the value of history, I’ve tried to do everything I can to ensure it gets passed on to future generations. Westchester County will continue to place a high value on records management and public accessibility.”
Simonson noted that Spano is one of the first individuals to receive an award for work done outside the five boroughs of New York City. As he accepts the Award for Outstanding Support of Archives, Spano will be honored alongside Columbia Center for New Media Teaching and Learning and Andy Lanset of WNYC Radio.
The Westchester County Archives, which is located at 2199 Saw Mill River Road in Elmsford, is the central repository for the historic public records of Westchester County dating back to 1680.
“This award is a credit to the vision that County Executive Spano had in 1985 as county clerk - and still has - for preserving our county’s rich history and making it accessible. His leadership in this area has been exemplary and clearly worthy of recognition,” stated Patty Dohrenwend, director of the Westchester County Archives and Records Center.
The Board of Regents award recognized the county for promoting the “identification, protection, preservation and the use of local archival government records for research and educational purposes as demonstrated by the ‘Virtual Archives.’” It also commended the county for managing disasters quickly and effectively.
A former history teacher, Spano was responsible for founding the Archives in 1985 during his first term as county clerk. ART notes that county government has since sustained the archive for its own public records covering a 24-year period and also provided space in the same facility for the Westchester County Historical Society library. In effect, Westchester County offers a center for local history to all who use these two collections.
ART also notes that 2009 support included $1.6 million for the Westchester County Archives and Records Center and $180,000 for the Westchester County Historical Society. Staffing the archives unit has “ensured regular hours for patrons, timely response to research requests, continued processing of collections, a vibrant volunteer program, expert imaging of irreplaceable and historically valuable records, and online access to indexes and virtual exhibits that demonstrate the county’s rich history,” according to the award citation.
The County also has plans to rehabilitate and expand the existing archival and records storage facility and has approved $8.9 million in bonds.
The state award will be presented to Dohrenwend on Oct. 26 at the Cultural Education Center in Albany. Spano will be honored with the ART award on October 23 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.