Mar 09, 2018 A Note of Appreciation to a True Friend

Roger Paxton, Ph.D. has been working quietly and diligently as a volunteer behind the scenes of Special Collections for years. Since February of 2005, Roger – as he prefers to go by – has logged more than 2,000 days – that’s 7,000 hours – processing collections in the Manuscripts Division.

The work Roger does involves organizing collections and writing inventories that are then made available online to assist patrons with their research. In fact, Roger just recently completed processing of the Rosenblatt Family Collection – a wonderful collection chronicling the life of businessman, philanthropist, and community leader Joseph Rosenblatt and his family.

Roger attained his Bachelor degree from Stanford University. He then moved to Ohio for his Master’s degree at Ohio State before returning to Stanford for his Ph.D. in Eastern European History. In 1964 Roger joined the faculty at the U and taught Eastern European History for the next 40 years.

“I’ve been spending time in libraries since I was in junior high,” explains Roger. “I enjoy being immersed in history in this way. Working with primary source materials such as diaries and scrapbooks really provides you with a sense of the era and the personality of the individual that you wouldn’t get any other way.”

So, the next time that you come to level 4, think of Roger Paxton, quietly working away on the latest collection, making it possible for us all to enjoy the history and the treasures in Special Collections.