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News Division SLA Award Winners |
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The Newspaper Division, seeking to honor its members for their various
endeavors in the newspaper library field, has established memorials and awards
through the years. Some of these have been continued while others have not been
funded after the first few awards were presented. The first verified awards presentation occurred on the 30th anniversary of the Newspaper Division's founding. A luncheon in May 1954 during the Cincinnati-Louisville convention honored the remaining charter members: Maurice Symonds, Agnes Joy Petersen, Matthew Redding and Harry Pence. On behalf of the Newspaper Division, Ralph J. Shoemaker presented each charter member with a bronze plaque. Each plaque was a miniature replica of the front page press plate of the recipient's newspaper with a cut of the individual being honored. There was a short-lived award, sponsored by The Washington Post in honor of one of its chief librarians, Jack K. Burness who died in 1963. It was not a News Division award, but it was presented at the annual conferences. The award recipients were Chester Lewis, formerly with The New York Times, in 1964 and David Rhydwen, formerly with the Toronto Globe and Mail, in 1965. Not until 1977 did the Newspaper Division of SLA renew its awards planning. The suggestion was made by member Homer E. Martin, jr., chief librarian for The Record in Hackensack, NJ. Lou Thomas, library director with the State-Times Morning Advocate in Baton Rouge, LA worked with Martin and other Division members to establish the criteria for the awards. The current Newspaper Awards were initially presented at the annual conference in Kansas City in June 1978. The Awards Committee was then headed by Joe Mehr, library director for the Providence Journal in Providence, RI.
This award consists of a plaque and a $500 grant. It is the highest recognition of the News Division. It is given for major achievement in the field of news librarianship and for outstanding service to the News Division to a member who has actively participated in the Division's programs and projects for a continuous period of ten years or more. Joseph Kwapil (1882-1933) worked in several newspaper libraries (Minneapolis Tribune in 1902, Chicago Tribune in 1903-1908, Philadelphia Evening Bulletin in 1908-1910, Washington Times in 1911, Pittsburgh Post & Sun in 1912-1913) before he was chosen by the Philadelphia Public Ledger to create a modern newspaper library in 1914. Nine years and many innovations later, he left the Public Ledger in the capable hands of his employee, Ralph Shoemaker, and began to work full-time on a new project, the Newspaper Division of the Special Libraries Association. It was Joseph Kwapil who, in 1923, had the vision to promote the organization of a professional group for newspaper librarians. He gave countless hours to typing hundreds of letters to newspaper librarians and managing editors, asking them to join with him in this venture. At the time, cooperation between newspapers was frowned upon, so it was a bold venture to suggest that newspaper librarians share their expertise. Kwapil was persistent and managed to convene five other librarians (William Alcott from the Boston Globe, Maurice Symonds from the New York Daily News, Mary Louise Alexander from Batten, Barton, Durstine and Osborn Advertising Agency, Walter Murphy from the Boston Post and Myrta Goodman from the Goodman Congressional Index) for the first meeting of newspaper librarians in Atlantic City in 1923. The next year the group affiliated with the Special Libraries Association and the Newspaper Division was launched with Kwapil as chairman. Besides giving leadership to the fledgling organization, Kwapil continued to promote the profession within the industry. He was dedicated to newspaper preservation and became an active advocate of microfilming bound newspaper files. Recipients
1978: Agnes Henebry, Lindsay-Schaub Newspapers 1979: Rose Vormelker, Kent State University 1980: Ralph J. Shoemaker, Louisville Courier-Journal & Times 1981: Chester M. Lewis, New York Times 1982: David Rhydwen, Toronto Globe and Mail 1983: William D. Chase, Apple Tree Press 1984: Clement Vitek, Baltimore Sun 1985: Lou Thomas, State Times-Morning Advocate (BatonRouge,LA) 1986: Andrew Ippolito, Newsday 1987: James S. Scofield, St. Petersburg Times 1988: Joy Hill, retired, USA Today 1989: Homer Martin, The Record (Bergen County, NJ) 1990: Joseph O. Mehr, Providence Journal-Bulletin 1991: Bob Isaacs, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel 1992: Shirley Mooney Aabjerg Pacific Press Ltd., retired 1993: Carol Lindsay Toronto Star 1994: Ben Lightman Time, Inc., retired 1995: Barbara P. Semonche UNC-CH School of Journalism and Mass Comm. 1996: Catherine A. Jones Congressional Research Division (in memorium) 1997: Barbara Newcombe (retired from the Chicago Tribune) 1998: Lany McDonald Time, Inc. 1999: (no award given; celebrated the Division's 75th anniversary 2000: Sandy K. Hall THE AGNES HENEBRY ROLL OF HONOR AWARD This award, consisting of a certificate, is given to a member or former member in appreciation of professional excellence in the news library field and distinguished activity in division programs and projects. Agnes Henebry (1911-1982) was a librarian for the Decatur, IL newspapers from 1930 to 1973. Subsequently she became Office Operations Assistant with the Lindsay-Schaub Newspapers from 1973 to 1982. She was Chairman of the Newspaper Division in 1948-49. Agnes Henebry occupied a position of respect and affection in the Newspaper Division which is unparalleled and unprecedented. She held every Division office and served on numerous committees. It was through her dedication as Division Archivist that the record of history and development of the Division was preserved. Further, it was through her interest and leadership and that the Pre-Conference and Regional Newspaper Library Seminars were begun, a legacy which continues to be one of the Division's strongest programs. She was one of the authors and served on the Editorial Board for the inaugural Guidelines for Newspaper Libraries published by the American Newspaper Publishers Association in 1974. She taught, she shared, she inspired and encouraged. Following Miss Henebry's death in 1982, the Fall issue of News Library News was dedicated to her. Librarians and reporters paid her tribute in a feature article. Recipients
1978: John J. Doohan, Kansas City Star Joseph F. McCarthy, New York Daily News Ralph J. Shoemaker, Louisville Courier-Journal & Times 1979: William D. Chase, Flint Journal David A. Rhydwen, Toronto Globe and Mail 1980: Beatrice Dubois, American Newspaper Publishers Assn. Roy T. King, St. Louis Post-Dispatch Joseph E. Molloy, Philadelphia Inquirer 1981: Anne B. Jennings, Riverside Press & Daily Enterprise Josephine R. Johnson, Louisville Courier-Journal & Times Alison Oppedahl, Detroit Free Press 1982: James L. Criswell, Houston Post Edward Quill, Boston Globe Rex Schaeffer, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle 1983: Sandra K. Hall, Arizona Daily Star Grace Parch, Cleveland Plain-Dealer Lou Thomas, State Times-Morning Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA) 1984: Virginia Carter Hill, National Geographic Helen M. Orcutt, Toledo Blade Chester Sanger, Christian Science Monitor Marian Orgain, Houston Chronicle 1985: James S. Scofield, St. Petersburg Times Joy Hill, USA Today Ernest Perez, Chicago Sun-Times Nancy Stoddard, St. Louis Post-Dispatch 1986: Homer Martin, The Record (Bergen County, NJ) Mark Hannan, Washington Post Joe Mehr, Providence Journal Barbara Newcombe, Chicago Tribune (retired) 1987: Carol Lindsey, Toronto Star Shirley Mooney, Pacific Press Ltd. 1988: Beverly Russell,(retired) Seattle Times Harish Trivedi, Dayton Daily News 1989: Louise LeGette, (retired) Tampa Tribune Ben Lightman Time, Inc. 1990: Joseph D. DiMarino, VU/Text Information Services, Inc. Barbara Semonche, UNC-CH School of Journalism and Mass Comm. 1991: Kathy Foley, Washington Post Carolyn Hardnett, Baltimore Sun 1992: M. J. Crowley Philadelphia Newspapers 1993: Yvonne Egertson Newspaper Association of America Jo Kirks Knight-Ridder, Inc. Kathy Trimble U.S. News & World Report 1994: Richard Geiger San Francisco Chronicle Nora Paul Poynter Institute for Media Studies 1995: Elizabeth Haworth Midlands Technical College Library Diane Sponsler Logsdon (Bloomington, IL) Pantagraph 1996: Mary Ann Skinner Newsday George Schlukbier (formerly with The News & Observer) 1997: John Jansson Chicago Tribune Donna Scheeder Congressional Research Service 1998: John Cronin Boston Herald Linda Paschal (formerly with DataTimes) John Mark Paschal (formerly with DataTimes) THE RALPH J. SHOEMAKER AWARD OF MERIT This award is a certificate given to the News Division Chair given upon the completion of his or her term of office. In 1984 the Award of Merit's name was enhanced with the addition of Ralph J. Shoemaker. Ralph J. Shoemaker (1907-1980) undertook the responsibilities of library director for the Philadelphia Public Ledger after Kwapil's resignation in 1923. He remained there until he assumed the position of librarian with the Louisville Courier- Journal from 1947 to 1963. During this period he wrote a weekly column for the Sunday paper. He was chairman of the Division in 1935-36. Shoemaker was one of the Newspaper Division's most prestigious pioneers, who made significant contributions to the advancement of newspaper librarianship and played an outstanding role in the development and growth of the Division. Among his accomplishments and significant contributions to the profession were: the first index of subject classifications and picture files with the American Newspaper Publishers Association in 1958; the invention of the first microfilm reader printer; and the organization of the picture library at the Pentagon during World War II. Recipients
1978: Lou Thomas, State Times-Morning Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA) 1979: (no award given) 1980: Sandra K. Hall, Arizona Daily Star 1981: Julia Vance, Atlanta Journal Constitution 1982: Shirley Mooney, Pacific Press Ltd. 1983: Harish Trivedi, Dayton Daily News 1984: Barbara Semonche, Herald-Sun (Durham, NC) 1985: Carolyn Hardnett, Chicago Tribune 1986: Kathy Foley, Washington Post 1987: Diane Miller, Pantagraph (Bloomington, IL) 1988: Bob Isaacs, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel 1989: Richard Geiger, San Francisco Chronicle 1990: Sharon Ostmann, Orange County Register 1991: Lany McDonald, News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) shared with Elizabeth Whisnant Newsday 1992: Margaret Neu Corpus Christi Caller Times 1993: John Cronin Boston Herald 1994: Donna Scheeder Congressional Research Service 1995: Mary Kate Leming Palm Beach Post 1996: Charles Campo Bangor Daily News 1997: Teresa Leonard The News & Observer 1998: Tom Lutgen Los Angeles Times THE VORMELKER-THOMAS STUDENT AWARD This award is presented to a graduate student Special Libraries Association member who demonstrates interest in and knowledge of news librarianship. Applicants are judged on the basis of a submitted essay, a resume, recommendations and work experience. The award consists of a certificate and a monetary stipend to be applied toward expenses to attend the Special Libraries Association annual conference. Over time the amount of the stipend grew from $200 to its present $1,500. The stipend is made possible by a joint contribution from the News Division and University Microforms, Inc.. Rose Vormelker taught many students about newspaper libraries. After a full career as a news librarian with the Cleveland newspapers, she went to Kent State in 1963 and began teaching what was then the only college course in the U.S. on newspaper librarianship. In addition to numerous activities on behalf of the News Division, she served as SLA president in 1948-49 (two other Newspaper Division members who became SLA president were William A. Alcott in 1929-30 and Chester M. Lewis in 1955-56); helped establish war and defense information centers in 4,000 libraries around the nation, was elected to the Ohio Library Hall of Fame, the Graphic Arts Hall of Distinction, and SLA's Hall of Fame. Lou Thomas, retired director of the State-Times Morning Advocate in Baton Rouge, LA, has strongly influenced the education of many current news librarians through her work devoted to news librarianship and the News Division. An early and powerful advocate of Division seminars and regional workshops, she has been active in the News Division and the Louisiana Chapter of SLA holding offices and chairing committees for both. In 1990 Mrs. Thomas received SLA's John Cotton Dana award. She is also a recipient of the News Division's Henebry and Kwapil Awards. Recipients
1978: Anita Gauthier Dorsett UNC-CH School of Information &
Library Science
1979: (no award given)
1980: Gloria Colvin UNC-CH School of Information &
Library Science
and Chris Kucharski
1981: Sandra Cotuli
Doris Hinson N.C. Central Univ. School of
Library Science
1982: Reyes Vila-Belda
1983: Patricia Anne Wood UNC-CH School of Information &
Library Science
1984: Carol E. Bjork University of Denver
1985: Christine S. Malesky Catholic University (Washington, DC)
1986: Elaine J. Campbell Ames, Iowa
1987: Teresa G. Leonard UNC-CH School of Information &
Library Science
1988: Robert Davidsson Florida State University
1989: Jacquelyn Cenacveira University of South Florida
1990: Susan L. Hill UNC-CH School of Information &
Library Science
1991: Maureen Morrow Long Island University
1992: Teresa Prince University of Michigan
1993: Julie Bolding Univ. of Illinois-Champaign Urbana
Sch. of Info. & Lib. Sci.
1994: Glenn Johnson-Grau UCLA School of Library & Information Science
1995: Catherine Cino Western Ont. (Canada) Sch. of Lib. & Info. Sci.
1996: Elizabeth Larson University of Michigan
1997: Leigh Pointinger University of Texas-Austin
1998: Susan Ebbs UNC-CH School of Information &
Library Science
Joanne Miller Univ. of Calif. Berkeley School of
Information & Library
Science
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