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Fredric M. Miller Papers
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Held at: Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Fredric M. Miller was born in Brooklyn, New York on March 17, 1947. He trained as a social historian and spent his professional career in American urban history. He received a B.A. in Social Sciences from S.U.N.Y. Binghamton in 1967; an M.A. in history from the University of Wisconsin in 1969; an M.S. in Library Science from the University of Wisconsin in 1973; and a Ph.D. in history from the University of Wisconsin in 1972.
Miller joined Temple University in 1973 as curator of the Urban Archives where he built a collection documenting the social, economic, and political development of Philadelphia. As an adjunct history professor, he also founded an archival program which was offered through the Public History program at Temple University. Miller also coauthored two books both pictorially documenting the history of Philadelphia: Still Philadelphia: A Photographic History, 1890-1940, published in 1983, and Philadelphia Stories: A Photographic History, 1920-1960, published in 1988.
In 1989, he moved to Washington D.C. to become a program officer with the National Endowment for the Humanities. He also collaborated with Professor Howard Gillete, Jr. on producing another pictorial book entitled Washington Seen: A Photographic History, 1875-1965, published in 1995.
Throughout his career he was involved with local, regional, and national archival professional organizations. He actively participated in the Delaware Valley Archivist Group (DVAG), the Mid-Atlantic Archives Conference (MARAC), and the Society of American Archivists (SAA). In memory of Mr. Miller, MARAC established the Fredric M. Miller Finding Aid Awards in his name. He helped shape the emerging field of archival administration, by authoring Arranging and Describing Archives and Manuscripts, published in 1990. After his death in 1998, a memorial fund was established in his name, which supports an annual lecture in public history in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia.
The collection contains materials related to Fredric M. Miller's professional involvement in various archival associations including the Society of American Archivists and the Mid Atlantic Regional Archives Conference from 1973-1997. The collection also includes materials related to his work in the Temple University Libraries, Urban Archives, and as Adjunct Professor in the History Department at Temple University during the 1970s-1990s.
Series 2: Consultant Work, 1989-1991, undated
Series 3: Correspondence, 1973-1992
Series 4: Manuscripts, 1970-1993
Series 5: Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference (MARAC), 1980-1986
Series 6: Publications, 1970-1986, undated
Series 7: Society of American Archivists, 1973-1995
Series 8: Temple University, 1998-1997, undated
Donated on November 21, 1998.
The collection was processed by Urban Archives staff. Finding aid revised according to contemporary archival standards in June 2015.
Organization
- Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference
- Society of American Archivists
- Temple University. Libraries. Urban Archives
Subject
Place
- Publisher
- Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
- Finding Aid Author
- Machine-readable finding aid created by: Rajkumar Natarajan, Sky Global Services India (P) Ltd.
- Finding Aid Date
- April 2024
- Access Restrictions
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Collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
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The Fredric M. Miller Papers are the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. Intellectual property rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for determining the identity of rights holders and obtaining their permission for publication and for other purposes where stated.
Collection Inventory
Series 1: Conferences. This series is arranged alphabetically and includes information relating to the conferences that Miller presented papers to or worked on setting up panels or workshops.
Series 2: Consultant. Materials, arranged alphabetically, document Miller's activities as a consultant in the archival profession and as a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grants officer.
Series 3: Correspondence. This series is arranged alphabetically and contains correspondence to and from Miller regarding his work as an archivist, Temple instructor, and grants officer.
Series 4: Manuscripts. Materials, arranged alphabetically, include writings in preparation almost exclusively for his work entitled Arranging and Describing Archives and Manuscripts.
Series 5: MARAC (Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference). MARAC is a regional archives professional organization in which Miller was one of the early members. He worked closely with the group by doing presentations, working on local arrangement committees and holding various offices.
Series 6: Publications. This series is arranged alphabetically and includes brochures, flyers, pamphlets, and other published works collected and written by Miller.
Series 7: SAA (Society of American Archivists). This series is arranged alphabetically. The Society of American Archivists (SAA) is a national archives professional group that Miller was actively involved with doing presentations and serving on various committees.
Series 8: Temple University. This series is arranged alphabetically and includes, primarily, information relating to his work in the Urban Archives and Curator and Adjunct Professor in the history Department at Temple University where he formulated and taught archival courses.