Summary Information
Larry J. Hackman Papers
1970-2018
UWM Manuscript Collection 337
6.2 cubic ft. (8 boxes)
UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)
These professional and personal papers document Larry J.
Hackman's influential career as an archivist, presenter, and author. The collection
reflects Hackman's wide-ranging activities and his contributions to archival
practice and theory, including documentation strategy and strategic archival
advocacy. Types of records in this collection include correspondence, a personal
biography on his professional career, presentations, and published material
including his drafts and notes.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-mil-uwmmss0337 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
Larry J. Hackman (1942- ) received a BA and MA in history from the University of
Missouri at Columbia and an MPA from Harvard University. His long career has
primarily been centered around the archives profession. He was the first director of
the Records Grant Program of the National Historical Publications and Records
Commission (1975-1881) and Director of the New York State Archives and Records
Administration (1981-1995). In addition, Hackman also served as Director of the
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum (1995-2000) and President of the
Truman Library Institute for National and International Affairs, the Library's
non-profit partner.
Hackman is a Fellow of the Society of American Archivists, and has served on its
Council, Executive Committee, and chaired the Program Committee. He has served on
the board of directors for the National Council on Public History, the Rockefeller
Archives Center, the New York State Forum for Information Management, and the
Missouri Humanities Council, among other organizations. Hackman has written and
lectured widely on archives, public history, presidential libraries, and the
development of archives, history, and museum programs.
After retirement, Hackman served as a consultant for the National Frontier Trails
Museums and the Missouri State Historical Society Records Advisory Board, and
continued to be involved in professional organizations like the Society of American
Archivists. Hackman continued to write and present, especially on advocacy for
archives and on public policy and practice relating to presidential libraries.
Selected Publications
"From Assessment to Action: Toward a Usable Past in the Empire State." The Public Historian 7, no. 3 (1985): 23-34.
"The United States Needs a National Historical Records Policy!" History News 43, no. 2 (1988): 32-37.
"Case Studies in Archives Program Development." American
Archivist 53, no. 4 (1992): 548-560.
"State Government and Statewide Archival Affairs: New York as a Case Study."
American Archivist 55, no. 4 (1992):
578.
"'With a Little Help from my Friends': External Advisory and Oversight Bodies in
the Development of Archives." Archivaria 39 (Spring
1995): 184-195.
"Ways and Means: Thinking and Acting to Strengthen the Infrastructure of
Archival Programs," in Leadership and Administration of
Successful Archival Programs , edited by Bruce W. Dearstyne. Westport,
CT: Greenwood Press, 2001.
Guest Editor. Presidential Libraries: Programs, Policies,
and the Public Interest . Public Historian
28, no. 3 (2006).
"Toward Better Policies and Practices for Presidential Libraries." The Public Historian 28, no. 3 (2006): 165-184.
"Love Is Not Enough: Advocacy, Influence and the Development of Archives."
Journal of the Society of Archivists 33, no. 1
(2012): 9-21.
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains Hackman's personal and professional papers, including
documentation of his roles and activities at the National Historical Publications
and Records Commission, the New York State Archives and Records Administration, the
Truman Presidential Museum and Library, and the Truman Library Institute for
National and International Affairs, as a member of the SAA and other professional
organizations, and as an advocate on national issues of interest to archivists.
Records include a personal biography, correspondence, presentation materials,
working drafts and published works, and both typed and handwritten notes.
Arrangement of the Materials
These files were organized into eight series by Larry J. Hackman. Original order has
been preserved.
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Personal and
Biographical Papers, 1972-2014
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Professional
Correspondence, 1970-1995
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Documentation
Strategies, 1983-2009
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Professional
Association Activities, 1970-2007
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Publications and
Writing, 1972-2018
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Many Happy Returns:
Advocacy in the Development of Archives, 1972-2012
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Influencing Archival
Issues at the National Level: Advocacy, Appointments, Policy, Resources,
1980-2009, bulk 1992-1995
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New York State Archives
Publication, 1981-1995
Preferred Citation
Citation Guide for Primary Sources
Related Material in the UWM Libraries
Related Archival Material
Administrative/Restriction Information
There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to
all members of the public in accordance with state law.
The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel,
privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection
(Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).
Larry Hackman donated the papers in May 2014 (accession 2013-050).
Abigail Nye and Greg Comly processed the collection in August 2014.
Contents List
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Series: 1. Personal and Biographical Records,
1972-2014
: This series contains a short biography, curriculum vita, an extended
statement of "Reflections on a Career in Archives
and Historical Programs Administration, with References to Writings and
Publications," a listing of all writings and publications written
by Hackman. It also includes a list of selected distinguished archivists who
served on Hackman's staff, as well as copies of various awards and other
recognition. A 2014 oral history transcript is also included in this
series.
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Box
1
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Personal and Biographical Records,
1972-2014
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Series: 2. Professional Correspondence,
1970-1995
: Miscellaneous professional correspondence, primarily with other archivists or
related to archival subjects. One folder contains correspondence with Robert
Warner, the sixth Archivist of the United States, a friend and professional
colleague.
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Box
1
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Professional Correspondence,
1970-1995
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Series: 3. Documentation Strategies,
1983-2009 This series begins with notes and drawings which reflect Hackman's earliest
ideas on documentation strategies, followed by writings and presentations on
the subject. The development of his ideas are indicated in folders on
presentations, especially the presentations that Helen Samuels and he made
at the SAA Annual Meeting in September 1984, the presentation to Bentley
Mellon Fellows in the summer of 1985, and the presentation at the NAGARA
annual meeting in July 1986. There are several folders on his participation
with documentation initiatives and his research and drafts for his 2009
article in the American Archivist titled
"The Origins of Documentation Strategies in
Context: Recollections and Reflections." An additional folder on the evolution of this article is in series 5;
there are also folders on some other writings and presentations on
documentation issues during this period. Throughout this period there are
many exchanges of views on documentation with Helen Samuels. There are also
several folders on Hackman's participation with committees and working
groups on documentation initiatives.
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Box
2
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Documentation Strategies,
1983-2009
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Series: 4. Professional Association Activities,
1970-2007These wide-ranging files begin with several folders on Hackman's activities,
presentations, and writings on oral history for the Oral History
Association, leading up to his participation in the SAA’s Oral History
Committee during 1972-1973. There are also folders on several SAA Annual
Meetings: by 1975 he was a member of the SAA’s annual meeting program
committee, the first of four he served on. In addition, there are folders on
his presentations at several SAA workshops, on other sessions or meetings he
chaired or arranged or presented, on his participation in several SAA
committees and professional affiliation groups, and a variety of other
activities. There is also material on the SAA 1986 China Tour, during which he was one
of the several members of the delegation who often made presentations to
Chinese archives groups; files when he was nominated as a candidate for SAA
Council and then SAA President. Lastly, in this box are his files as chair
of the Program Committee for the May 1980 MARAC meeting in Washington, and
files from presentations he made for SAA and other organizations on
fund-raising and legislative advocacy.
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Box
3
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Professional Association Activities,
1970-2007
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Series: 5. Publications and Writings,
1972-2018These folders document Hackman's preparation of articles for publication.
They are mostly concerned with broad archival policy matters and other
issues of profession-wide importance. Many of the articles appeared in the
American Archivist, The Public Historian, and JANUS. There are also folders on book chapters, technical
leaflets and magazine articles, e.g. State Government
News, Empire State Report, which he authored, and folders on
some presentations that did not result in a publication. Some of the publication files contain drafts of presentations, especially
keynote, plenary, and core sessions papers delivered at professional
meetings, including the Society of American Archivists Annual Meetings.
Folders often contain correspondence, feedback from other archivists,
background materials, and working drafts. These boxes do not include the more extensive files relating to preparation
of his book Many Happy Returns, which is
included in series six. Files on the special issue of the Public Historian, which he edited, reside at the
Truman Library. The files on his publication concerning the partnership
between the Harry S. Truman Library and the Truman Library Institute for
National and International Affairs, are at the Truman Library (See Related
Archive Materials).
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Box
4
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Publications and Writings,
1972-1989
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Box
5
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Publications and Writings,
1990-2018
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Series: 6. Many Happy Returns: Advocacy in the
Development of Archives,
1972-2012
: The files here include Hackman’s rough initial ideas for such a publication,
reactions and suggestions he sought from other archivists, drafts of
Hackman's proposal in response to the SAA's RFP which had called for a
publication on advocacy and outreach, and other issues prior to formally
beginning work on the publication itself. Also there are exchanges with the
chair of the SAA's Publications Board throughout the proposal and
publications process, folders documenting Hackman's many interactions
through extensive reviews, recommendations and revisions with individual
authors of proposed case studies and essays, including with several authors
whose drafts were ultimately not accepted or who decided to withdraw.
Additionally, there are the reactions and recommendations by the two readers
selected by SAA to review the initial draft of the publication, reviews of
the publication in archival journals in the United States and several other
countries, reactions to the publication by several participants, and
outlines for Hackman's presentations after publication.
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Box
6
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Development of and Reaction to the SAA's 2011 Publication, "Many Happy Returns: Advocacy in the Development
of Archives," 1972-2012
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Series: 7. Influencing Archival Issues at the National Level: Advocacy,
Appointments, Policy, Resources, 1980-2009, bulk 1992-1995
: These folders document a range of activities including advocacy relating to
NHPRC funding; his proposed national historical records policy for the
United States; the policies, priorities, and performance of the National
Archives and Records Administration; selections of Archivists of the United
States; intergovernmental archives and records issues; and other national
level issues. Researchers might find the files especially revealing
regarding: the development of a campaign for the survival of NHPRC funding
in 1981; the George H.W. Bush to Clinton transition during 1992-1993,
including policy recommendations via contacts with key Congressional offices
and staff and with the Clinton Transition and appointments office to obtain
early appointment of an experienced high-level person to be appointed
Archivist of the United States; and the long and difficult process to obtain
appointment of a new Archivist of the United States following the
resignation of Don Wilson. Files here on the appointment extend to 1995 when
John Carlin was finally appointed. The files offer a good illustration of
the ways in which policy interests in a better, stronger National Archives
interact of necessity with political considerations and relationships. The
documents here include correspondence with other archivists and historians.
There is also a folder on support by archivists and others for Hackman to be
appointed Archivist of the United States, contacts with White House staff on
this appointment, and related matters.
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Box
7
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Influencing Archival Issues at the National Level: Advocacy,
Appointments, Policy, Politics Resources, 1992-1995, bulk 1980-2009
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Series: 8. New York State Archives Publications,
1981-1995
: The materials in this series illustrate through a wide range of studies and
reports, promotional and educational materials, and other publications how
the New York State Archives was able to develop rapidly from a relatively
new and small state archives to a program that received the SAA’s
Distinguished Service Award and other SAA awards and the election of more
new SAA Fellows from its staff than any other archives during this period.
The analyses, agendas, strategies, and engagement with the archives and
records communities, governmental leaders and the public indicated in these
publications suggest some of the ways the State Archives was able to grow in
size, performance, and prominence as it pursued an ambitious agenda for
state and local government records and for statewide archival program
development. Overall, the documents here show why the New York State
Archives came to be considered an example to emulate by other government
archives in the United States and beyond, including for assessment and
agenda-setting, education and outreach, quality promotional materials,
advocacy for legislation and resources, engagement with the archives and
records community statewide, and for building a very strong professional
archives staff highly active in the SAA and other associations. Among the
files here are some examples of coverage of the New York State Archives in
magazines and newspapers.
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Box
8
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New York State Archives Publications,
1981-1995
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