A HISTORICAL FOOTPRINT
©2021 Russell Louis Gasero
ISBN: 978-1-7360489-3-1 Library of Congress Control Number: 2021945493
Wit & Intellect Publishing East Brunswick, New Jersey www.witandintellect.com
A Historical Footprint
Reflections on a Life in the Archives
Russell L. Gasero
My dear wife, Maria, My friend, my supporter, my soulmate
without whom I would not have been able to accomplish anything in life.
You have always been there alongside me,
holding me up when I was ready to fall,
and laughing with me when it was time to celebrate. If anything is of value in these pages, it is because you supported me and helped me think
through issues and learn how to say the right thing! I will always love you!
vi
Contents
Preface xv 1. 2.
The Historical Footprint: Three Meditations
1
RCA Footprints Selections
19
No. 6: A Note on Records and Archives
20
No. 18: Evangelism from the Past 2: Using History in Service to the Church
23
No. 17: Evangelism from the Past # 1
No. 19: Historical Footprints and The Three R’s of Christian Heritage
21
24
No. 38: Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story? 26 No. 44: Computerwocky
No. 46: Where does History Come From?
27 28
No. 50: Interlude—An Autobiographical Reflection 30 No. 57: What I Have Been Called
33
No. 98: My Personal Journey and God’s Guidance, part 1
36
No. 64: What is the Historical Footprint All About? 35
No. 99: My Personal Journey and God’s Guidance, part 2
39
No. 100: My Personal Journey and God’s Guidance: Acknowledgements, part 3 42
3. 4. 5.
Archival Aphorisms: Starting and Managing an Archival Program
49
Reference and Research in the Archives
93
The Story of the RCA Archives
6. A Look Back at Twenty-Five Years of Religious Archives (1978–2003) 7.
“The Archives Man”
65
103 111
Preface
This is a book by and about me. It is an illustration of a good part of my life as it was spent working in the archives. I have made it personal and in the first person on purpose. This is how I write—a stream of consciousness style. Often the first draft is the final draft since I had little time to review and modify much with a heavy workload. I kept it that way since that is who I am, and I do want this to reflect that. These writings represent various chapters of my life as I grew and understood what I was doing more fully. I never set out to be an archivist. My earliest inclination was to be a chemist and that is where I began in college. The Mole Concept ended that. For whatever reason, I had the hardest time understanding it and wound-up majoring in philosophy. My start in archives came when I served as the Keeper of the Archives for a semester in my fraternity—you can read some about that in the Footprints section. After college, I ended up working in the Archives of the United Nations for five years and then going to start the Archives of the Reformed Church in America. I served there for forty-two years and two months and then retired. ix
Probably my reaction of great joy when, in 1952, I learned I would grow up to be an archivist
Myself ca. 1979
Myself quite a few years later and hawking books from the Historical Series
The chapters in this book reflect on various aspects of archival and historical work. I called this A Historical Footprint because that is where I ended up my career. I talked with churches and other groups
about their historical footprints, and you can see that reflected in the three meditations recorded here. These were presented at a weekend retreat held at the Warwick Conference Center in Warwick, New York. I had the privilege and joy of engaging with a group of pastors and their spouses to reflect on the idea of a historical footprint and to engage in some group think about our own individual, personal histories. The section titled “RCA Footprints Selections” represents a selection of writings about my own journey and history. I wrote a bimonthly tidbit for staff in the Reformed church relating to aspects of the denomination’s history. It was simple and lighthearted with the intention of helping others understand a little bit more about how we came to be where we are and, maybe, why. The ones included here were personal and include the last three (98–100) which were my farewell upon my retirement. “The Archival Aphorisms” are a collection of just that and were taken from several presentations made at the Society of American Archivists and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference. I have combined them all together and hope that they will offer some advice to new archivists—not technical aspects about how to do archives, rather practical advice about how to survive as an archivist in a larger organization. “The Story of the RCA Archives” is how the Archives of the Reformed Church in America came to be. It was written to help others understand what the work is all about, why it is important, and how it grew. A good part of it was published in Tools for Understanding, a festschrift for Donald J. Bruggink, professor emeritus at Western Theological Seminary. The chapter on reference was a paper I presented at a Society of American Archivists (SAA) session at a time when many in the religious archives community were struggling with how we best should handle reference requests. Many confused reference with research and struggled as lone arrangers to meet the demands on their time made by administrators and researchers. I presented this hoping it would stimulate some discussion and thinking about that issue. The “Look Back” chapter, similarly, was a conference presentation in which I reflected upon the recent history (in 2003) of religious archives and my role in them. In my career, I have served as a
xii
A HISTORICAL FOOTPRINT
founding member of the Archivists of Religious Institutions in the New York City area, the co-founder of the Lone Arrangers Roundtable in the SAA, the moderator of the Archivists of Religious Collections Section in the SAA, and some other groups in both archival and historical circles. This is not to brag, but, rather, to lead into some brief acknowledgements about how I cam to be where I am and who I am. The book is dedicated to my loving wife, and as stated, I would not have accomplished anything without her support and love. Certainly, my parents formed me and pushed me along. They gave freely and with great love, sacrificing all along the way. But there are many others—teachers throughout my life, fellow staff, colleagues, and friends. The list is so long, but there are some that I want to call out especially when it comes to my life as the Archivist for the Reformed Church in America (RCA). Norman Kansfield first informed me about the position they were creating in the RCA. He was the person most responsible for me obtaining the position and leaving the United Nations Archives. Norm has been a pastor, a colleague, and a friend. He has known me since he was a pastor in Astoria, Queens, New York, and I was in high school. He has seen me at my worst and at my best—fortunately, he believed in my best and pushed me forward. You can see how Norm fits into these events by looking at how he is mentioned in so many parts on pages 31, 38, 41–42, 45–46, and 80. John Coakley has also been a colleague and is a friend. I remember him introducing himself as the RCA held its General Synod in New Brunswick in 1984. He came to the meeting place and introduced himself to me as the new professor of church history at New Brunswick Theological Seminary (NBTS). That alone impressed me—that he thought I was important enough for him to introduce himself. John’s humility and passion for research were always inspiring to me. Over the years, his friendship has meant so much. When I encountered problems in the continuity of the RCA Archives, John was always there lending a generous ear and offering valuable advice. I could bring ideas to him and discuss issues. Working alone in my office and the only RCA staff person at NBTS, he helped to keep me sane in trying times.
xiii
Donald Bruggink greeted me at my first commission on history meeting after the RCA approved the archivist position and appointed me with the statement, “We only get one chance at this and you’re it. It’s on your shoulders now.” That really scared me! Don remained a good friend and supporter all these years. He accepted my offer of assistance to design and typeset the volumes of the Historical Series of the Reformed Church in America in 1984. He was the general editor and began the series for the RCA in 1968. That enabled me to use the newly released Apple MacIntosh and LaserWriter to prepare camera ready pages for the printer. That task continues to the present—and book making became a labor of love for me. And that story brings me around to high school. New York City has a system of specialized high schools, and I did not want to go to my local school. Instead, I was accepted into the academic program at the New York School of Printing (NYSP). I had fallen in love with printing in Junior High School shop in the 7th grade and spent as much time after school as I could working in shop— hand typesetting, running C & P letter presses and becoming good enough to run the electric Heidelberg. That love led me to NYSP where I spent a year doing hand typesetting from a California Job Case and studying offset presswork and offset platemaking, layout, and design, and working in a print shop, Denlo Business Services, in my senior year for twenty hours a week. When desktop publishing was birthed, it was a natural fit for me and my role in the Historical Series took shape. There are so many more—teachers, bosses, friends, relatives— that I cannot begin to list them and not turn this into a 100-page preface. I hope to do another book that is more reflective and autobiographical to name and to thank those others who helped shape my historical footprint. Russell L. Gasero August 2021
xiv
A HISTORICAL FOOTPRINT
CHAPTER 1
Historical Footprints: Three Meditations
Introduction The meditations that follow were presented at the Freedom in Ministry retreat held at the Warwick Conference Center, Warwick, New York, January 7–9, 2011. The retreat provided for moments of serious self-reflection, sharing together on common themes and journeys, and times to enjoy old friends and gather new ones. The idea of a historical footprint developed there. As a group, there was an opportunity to discuss common journeys and explore individual footprints that have been made in the lives of the attendees. It was a very interesting experience and a type of group historythink. I continued to use and develop the historical footprint idea through sermons, presentations, and other writings. You will see that reflected in the writings collected here. I hope it may be meaningful to you as well. 1
2
A HISTORICAL FOOTPRINT
Meditation 1 In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the LORD our God has commanded you?” 21 tell him: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 Before our eyes the LORD sent signs and wonders—great and terrible—on Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. 23 But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land he promised on oath to our ancestors. 24 The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. 25 And if we are careful to obey all this law before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.” Deut. 6:20-25 20
Do your best to come to me quickly, 10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. II Timothy 4:9-13 9
Our Scripture passages for this weekend will cover the entire span of biblical history—from the earliest to the latest writings. We begin with a positive message found in Deuteronomy that assures us that God is concerned about us as he was concerned about the children of Israel. This we believe—God is concerned about us enough to deliver us from our troubles. We begin with the message of deliverance—being delivered from something to something wonderful. As we know the message of that deliverance encompasses Biblical history. The process of OUR deliverance encompasses our historical footprint. It is the notion of a historical footprint—our own individual historical footprint—that I will be focusing on during our time together. A historical footprint begins with remembrance. We remember our past; we remember the past that provides the context in which
Historical Footprints: Three Meditations
3
we live; we remember the past that goes before our lives and brings us to where we begin to make our own footprint. A historical footprint takes shape with reflection. We reflect on all those pasts together with a particular focus on our own past to determine what does it mean for who we are. Finally, a historical footprint is seen clearly through recommitment. Remembering the past with appropriate reflection brings us to a point of recommitment for the future. So, in popular slogan style it might be said that we look back to see ahead. As I reflected on what a historical footprint might be—how it might be shaped—how one might begin to think about it, the letters to Timothy seemed to provide the proper backdrop for this time together as we reflect on a historical footprint. I think the nature of the church as it is seen in Paul’s advice to Timothy fits into this idea of a historical footprint. This is especially significant for us since we have lived our lives in the context of the institutional church—either as members or as leaders—we have been involved in its growth, its life, and its development. Like Paul in First Timothy 3:15, we see the church as the assembly of the living God, the pillar, and the firm foundation of the truth. And we are all part of that pillar—holding up the truth. For me, this idea of a historical footprint is an experiment in process—without government funding. This weekend we will explore how that might work out and I will learn if it is a useful concept for further development. This experiment is not just an opportunity for me to present an idea, but an opportunity for us to engage in some groupthink. Our footsteps when made in faithfulness and when analyzed and examined together help us to see a God who is not manageable and not predictable by our standards; we see the sovereign God who is not controlled by us. The puzzle pieces of our footprints fit together and show us the bigger picture of our interaction and profile with God. And what we know is that God reveals his power not THROUGH human efforts but in the response of faith—and faith alone in the ultimate revelation of God in Jesus Christ. We begin tonight with memories because memories are immensely powerful. Sometimes something happens that transforms memories and gives them more significance than you ever knew they
4
A HISTORICAL FOOTPRINT
had. In the remembrance of our lives some of us may remember when we first realized we were in love, and we remember that the conversations we had on long walks were something more than just ordinary talks between friends. They were conversations in which we revealed ourselves one to another—at the greatest most intimate depth possible between two people. We may remember the birth of a child where our life becomes focused on a new person who was not even in our thoughts a year ago. That is one of my memories of the birth of my first child. They were the normal ones of the excitement and the fears of being a parent for the first time, but also, strangely, there was a sudden realization that my life would have an endpoint. It was a strange, but not fearful or negative thought, just the realization that as I would watch this newborn baby grow into adulthood, I would be getting older— and hopefully growing into seniorhood. Something I can honestly say in which I am beginning to demonstrate some success. It is at that point we find Paul in the passage I just read. Paul knows that he is near his end. He is old but he is comforted by what he has done in his life—“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race.” Paul is very much aware, at this point, of his historical footprint. He is looking to Timothy as the next in line in the succession of the saints and he is leaving behind what he has received, and Timothy will take that and move forward into the future. Paul is urging Timothy to come with haste—he desires to see his friend once again before he dies. And as he reflects on where he is at this point in the end of his life, we see several conflicting items in his writing: is it lonesomeness? Is it complaining? Is it sorrow? I do not think it is any of those. If one reads this quickly one could have the idea that Paul is at the end of his rope. Demos has left him, perhaps that was a misplaced trust or a bond that had been broken somehow in misjudging someone now that he is at the end of his life. There are others who cannot be trusted, and he warns Timothy to watch out for them. And he is alone—only Luke is with him. He is old and he knows he will be cold in the winter and so he urges Timothy to pick up a cloak that he left behind. He needs his heavy winter overcoat—we age we need to keep warm, I know that well.