Margaret C. Norton
Encyclopedia
Margaret Cross Norton served as the first State Archivist
of Illinois
from 1922 to 1957 and co-founded the Society of American Archivists
in 1936, where she served as the first vice president from 1936–1937 and president from 1943-1945. She also served as editor of the American Archivist
from 1946-1949. Norton was recently recognized in the December, 1999 American Libraries
article naming "100 of the most important leaders we had in the 20th century" for her influence and forward-thinking for the future direction and scope of the archival industry.
Norton promoted the establishment of archives as a profession separate from history or library science and developed the American archival tradition to emphasize an administrator/archivist rather than an historian/archivist. She encouraged learning through experimentation, practical usage, and community discussion. While editor of The American Archivist she emphasized technical rather than scholarly issues, believing that these issues were more pertinent to the daily issues an archivist faced.
By stressing the legal authority of government records, Norton believed archives could gain funding and government support through educating potential users about the legal protection records could provide them. Her influence and writings within the field of archives remain, for the large part, unchallenged.
and her father held the position of Deputy County Clerk. Her parents' work impressed upon her the necessity of record keeping in the public sphere. Her parents frequently discussed their work with her and her father brought her into work with him often. Between both of her parents' professions, the use and preservation of official governmental records became common everyday notions, which undoubtedly influenced Margaret greatly at a very young age.
After graduating from high school, Norton obtained her bachelor's degree in History from the University of Chicago
in 1913 and continued on at the University of Chicago to graduate in 1914 with a master's degree in the same discipline. Limited to the professional careers that were acceptable for women at the time, Norton saw librarianship as her only suitable option and subsequently enrolled in the Library Science
program at the University at Albany, SUNY
in Albany, New York
. She graduated in 1915 with a Bachelor of Library Science
degree. She then began her first professional position at Vassar College
in Poughkeepsie, New York. However, Norton soon developed doubts regarding her current profession, finding it too dry and rigid for her own taste and quickly began to seek refuge in the field of historical librarianship.
During this pivotal point of flux within her professional life Norton attended an American Historical Association
lecture presented by Waldo Gifford Leland
. In his lecture Leland distinguished between historical manuscripts and archives; highlighting the importance of and the need for a government archive center. Greatly inspired by this lecture, Norton quickly and immediately resolved to become an archivist.
With her new found resolve and professional goal in mind, Norton left her work in the library and began work calendaring manuscript collections at the Indiana State Library Department of Archives and History. From there she went into a two-year fellowship at the University of Chicago. The completion of her fellowship led her into a cataloguer position at the Missouri State Historical Society in Columbia. While working as a cataloguer, Norton was asked to become the first head archivist at the new Illinois State Archives in Springfield, Illinois. Hesitant at first, Norton finally accepted the position in January, 1922 and subsequently began in April, 1922. At the time she was just 30 years old.
. Because of this it was extremely difficult for her to gain the funding necessary to run the archive center productively. In order to gain funding Norton felt that she needed to provide evidence that proved to the state policy makers the importance of public archives and their legal implications; she found that in order to gain funding, she would have to show how archives could benefit the state on a social and legal level. Rather than speaking of their intrinsic value, Norton avidly promoted the instrumental value of archives. It was this pragmatic approach and developing theory of practicality that allowed Norton to gain funding and to distinguish the archival center from both the library and the historical society.
One of the big breaks for the Illinois State Archives came when Norton discovered paperwork that provided proof of Illinois' land ownership. With the Illinois State Archives considered a subdivision of the public library, Norton was provided with no additional support or clerical staff and often found herself combing through the refuges of state buildings. On one venture she found a governor's letter book from 1823 which gave evidence that a "Post and Paul survey" of the Illinois and Michigan
canal had been done and that the map had been forwarded to the federal government. This find, by clarifying land ownership, quite possibly saved the state large amounts of money that could have been spent on ensuing court fees. This find also gave Norton some of the repertoire and evidence needed to convince her superiors of the utilitarian value of archives.
Through years of persistence, written correspondence, and positive utilistic publicity Norton finally gained the funding necessary to build a new state archives center for Illinois. Construction began in 1936 and the building's doors opened in 1938. The building was designed and built upon Margaret Norton Cross' specifications. At this time the Illinois State Archive building was only the third public archives building in the United States. Through her advocacy and theory the Illinois State Archives has become one of the premier archival institutional models.
In addition to giving the field of archives its distinct role separate from that of historical manuscripts and librarianship, Norton was also a pioneer woman of her time. She believed in and upheld the solidarity of her own thought and practices and in turn, was one of the first females to hold many of her professional titles.
. Upon the SAA's examination of her house they discovered a framed picture of the Illinois State Archives Building on her bedside nightstand.
Archivist
An archivist is a professional who assesses, collects, organizes, preserves, maintains control over, and provides access to information determined to have long-term value. The information maintained by an archivist can be any form of media...
of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
from 1922 to 1957 and co-founded the Society of American Archivists
Society of American Archivists
The Society of American Archivists is the oldest and largest archivist association in North America, serving the educational and informational needs of more than 5,000 individual and institutional members...
in 1936, where she served as the first vice president from 1936–1937 and president from 1943-1945. She also served as editor of the American Archivist
American Archivist
The American Archivist is the official publication of the Society of American Archivists . The American Archivist seeks to reflect thinking about theoretical and practical developments in the archival profession, particularly in North America; about the relationships between archivists and the...
from 1946-1949. Norton was recently recognized in the December, 1999 American Libraries
American Libraries
American Libraries is the official news and features magazine of the American Library Association. Published six times per year, along with four additional digital-only supplements, it is distributed to all members of the organization...
article naming "100 of the most important leaders we had in the 20th century" for her influence and forward-thinking for the future direction and scope of the archival industry.
Norton promoted the establishment of archives as a profession separate from history or library science and developed the American archival tradition to emphasize an administrator/archivist rather than an historian/archivist. She encouraged learning through experimentation, practical usage, and community discussion. While editor of The American Archivist she emphasized technical rather than scholarly issues, believing that these issues were more pertinent to the daily issues an archivist faced.
By stressing the legal authority of government records, Norton believed archives could gain funding and government support through educating potential users about the legal protection records could provide them. Her influence and writings within the field of archives remain, for the large part, unchallenged.
Early life
Margaret Cross Norton was born into a household where civil service and record keeping were of the utmost importance. At the time of their marriage Norton's mother was the Deputy County Treasurer for Winnebago County, IllinoisWinnebago County, Illinois
Winnebago County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 295,266, which is an increase of 6.1% from 278,418 in 2000...
and her father held the position of Deputy County Clerk. Her parents' work impressed upon her the necessity of record keeping in the public sphere. Her parents frequently discussed their work with her and her father brought her into work with him often. Between both of her parents' professions, the use and preservation of official governmental records became common everyday notions, which undoubtedly influenced Margaret greatly at a very young age.
After graduating from high school, Norton obtained her bachelor's degree in History from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
in 1913 and continued on at the University of Chicago to graduate in 1914 with a master's degree in the same discipline. Limited to the professional careers that were acceptable for women at the time, Norton saw librarianship as her only suitable option and subsequently enrolled in the Library Science
Library science
Library science is an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary field that applies the practices, perspectives, and tools of management, information technology, education, and other areas to libraries; the collection, organization, preservation, and dissemination of information resources; and the...
program at the University at Albany, SUNY
University at Albany, SUNY
The State University of New York at Albany, also known as University at Albany, State University of New York, SUNY Albany or simply UAlbany, is a public university located in Albany, Guilderland, and East Greenbush, New York, United States; is the senior campus of the State University of New York ...
in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. She graduated in 1915 with a Bachelor of Library Science
Bachelor of Library Science
The bachelor of library science is a degree sometimes awarded to students majoring in library science...
degree. She then began her first professional position at Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
in Poughkeepsie, New York. However, Norton soon developed doubts regarding her current profession, finding it too dry and rigid for her own taste and quickly began to seek refuge in the field of historical librarianship.
During this pivotal point of flux within her professional life Norton attended an American Historical Association
American Historical Association
The American Historical Association is the oldest and largest society of historians and professors of history in the United States. Founded in 1884, the association promotes historical studies, the teaching of history, and the preservation of and access to historical materials...
lecture presented by Waldo Gifford Leland
Waldo Gifford Leland
Waldo Gifford Leland was an American historian and archivist whose work for the Carnegie Institution and the Library of Congress was instrumental in the founding of the National Archives...
. In his lecture Leland distinguished between historical manuscripts and archives; highlighting the importance of and the need for a government archive center. Greatly inspired by this lecture, Norton quickly and immediately resolved to become an archivist.
With her new found resolve and professional goal in mind, Norton left her work in the library and began work calendaring manuscript collections at the Indiana State Library Department of Archives and History. From there she went into a two-year fellowship at the University of Chicago. The completion of her fellowship led her into a cataloguer position at the Missouri State Historical Society in Columbia. While working as a cataloguer, Norton was asked to become the first head archivist at the new Illinois State Archives in Springfield, Illinois. Hesitant at first, Norton finally accepted the position in January, 1922 and subsequently began in April, 1922. At the time she was just 30 years old.
Professional Impact
When Norton began as the Illinois State Archivist, the archive center was minute in comparison to the large and vast historical center that the state of Illinois had in place and was one of three parts of the Illinois State Library, with each division head reporting directly to the Secretary of StateSecretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
. Because of this it was extremely difficult for her to gain the funding necessary to run the archive center productively. In order to gain funding Norton felt that she needed to provide evidence that proved to the state policy makers the importance of public archives and their legal implications; she found that in order to gain funding, she would have to show how archives could benefit the state on a social and legal level. Rather than speaking of their intrinsic value, Norton avidly promoted the instrumental value of archives. It was this pragmatic approach and developing theory of practicality that allowed Norton to gain funding and to distinguish the archival center from both the library and the historical society.
One of the big breaks for the Illinois State Archives came when Norton discovered paperwork that provided proof of Illinois' land ownership. With the Illinois State Archives considered a subdivision of the public library, Norton was provided with no additional support or clerical staff and often found herself combing through the refuges of state buildings. On one venture she found a governor's letter book from 1823 which gave evidence that a "Post and Paul survey" of the Illinois and Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
canal had been done and that the map had been forwarded to the federal government. This find, by clarifying land ownership, quite possibly saved the state large amounts of money that could have been spent on ensuing court fees. This find also gave Norton some of the repertoire and evidence needed to convince her superiors of the utilitarian value of archives.
Through years of persistence, written correspondence, and positive utilistic publicity Norton finally gained the funding necessary to build a new state archives center for Illinois. Construction began in 1936 and the building's doors opened in 1938. The building was designed and built upon Margaret Norton Cross' specifications. At this time the Illinois State Archive building was only the third public archives building in the United States. Through her advocacy and theory the Illinois State Archives has become one of the premier archival institutional models.
In addition to giving the field of archives its distinct role separate from that of historical manuscripts and librarianship, Norton was also a pioneer woman of her time. She believed in and upheld the solidarity of her own thought and practices and in turn, was one of the first females to hold many of her professional titles.
Death and afterward
Norton retired in 1957. After retirement she made every effort to limit her influence and weight in the workings of the Illinois State Archives. She felt that she had contributed all she could and that it was time that the new leaders take over. She also mentioned that she much preferred to walk by the lake and watch the bunnies. When she died at the age of 92 she left all of her personal holdings to the SAASociety of American Archivists
The Society of American Archivists is the oldest and largest archivist association in North America, serving the educational and informational needs of more than 5,000 individual and institutional members...
. Upon the SAA's examination of her house they discovered a framed picture of the Illinois State Archives Building on her bedside nightstand.
Influence
- Norton's memory is carried on every two years at the Midwest Archives Conference when an author is awarded the Margaret Cross Norton Award for the article which is judged to be the best article from the previous two years in the "Archival Issues"
- Norton is also remembered through the Margaret Cross Norton Fund organized by the Society of American ArchivistsSociety of American ArchivistsThe Society of American Archivists is the oldest and largest archivist association in North America, serving the educational and informational needs of more than 5,000 individual and institutional members...
which was originally established from the estate left to the Society of American Archivists by Margaret Cross Norton; this is an unrestricted fund is generally used to further the educational activities of the Society.
- Today the Illinois State Archives Building bears the namesake of the "Margaret Norton Cross Building".
Published works
- Norton, M. C. (1938) "Catalog Rules: Series for Archives Material." Springfield.
- Norton, M. C. (1996) "Illinois Census Returns, 1820." Clearfield.
- Norton, M. C. "The Margaret Cross Norton Working Papers", 1924-1973, microfilm edition (Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1993).