In an age of decline, Historical Society moves into high-tech, toward consolidation By John H. Adams The Layman Online Tuesday, October 14, 2003 PHILADELPHIA – The Presbyterian Historical Society, which has archived three centuries of Presbyterian history in America, plans to move ahead with major changes – even if it has to swim against the tide. The society's director, Fred Heuser, unveiled – and got support for – some of those changes during the meeting of the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly in October. The committee oversees the society and approves its budget, including some funding from the denomination's per-capita requests. Heuser spoke with confidence about the society's work. "Preserving and sharing the story of the American Presbyterian church for posterity has been this institution's core mission since its creation in 1852," he told COGA members. At the same time, he said the society serves a church less interested in its history. "Now, some may question, "Will there even be a Presbyterian Historical Society a decade or two from now? I believe that is a legitimate question. We live in a culture where the past is neither appreciated nor valued, where the preoccupation with the future is viewed as a cure-all for the ills of the past. History and progress are not necessarily viewed as compatible. "Such a sentiment is not new, of course. Hegel noted that neither people nor their governments learn anything from history. Even Allen Ginsburg weighed in on the value of history: 'There is nothing to be learned from history anymore,' he proclaimed. 'We are into science fiction now.' Indeed, the world has changed so rapidly and radically in the past quarter century that it might appear to some that we are living in a fictitious state." But Heuser said there has always been a long list of "history bashers" and that he believes "there will always be a need for institutions like the Presbyterian Historical Society." He quoted Henry McCook, the society's first president when it was begun in 1852, who said the society represented the "best instincts, traditions, and values of a civilized humanity" – organized to "give inspiration to the Present Generation and to instruct and elevate the future." "I believe that purpose will be no less important a century from now than it was a century ago" – that is, to "collect, preserve, and share the story of the American Presbyterian experience," Heuser said. Heuser reviewed the society's response to two consultant reports – one calling for structural reorganization and more high-tech use of the Internet to make its archives accessible and the other calling for consolidation of archive collections, now mostly at the society's quarters in Philadelphia and Montreat, N.C. The society is moving ahead on the first report, including, at the COGA meeting, getting permission to restructure its board. Currently, prospective board members are nominated by the General Assembly Nominating Committee and elected by the General Assembly. Under the new structure, the board members will be chosen by COGA and confirmed by the General Assembly. The board, in turn, will select a leadership council of 12 to 25 people to assist the council in implementing high-tech changes, fundraising and other areas. Members of the leadership council will not have to be Presbyterians. Heuser himself was affected by the reorganization. A long-time archivist, he now spends most of his time in fundraising and development. Margery Sly, a former archivist for the late Strom Thurmond, a U.S. senator from South Carolina, is deputy director and in charge of day-to-day operations. She led COGA members on a tour of the exhibits – including a collection of communion tokens – and archives. Most of the society's archives are stored in a below-ground area that runs between the society's office and Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church, which dates back to the 18th century and the early years of Presbyterianism in America. It is the only standing pre-Revolutionary War Presbyterian structure in Philadelphia. Heuser expressed concern about preserving the Presbyterian archives – for other Presbyterian denominations as well as the PCUSA – in an age of decline or dissension. "We all followed the crisis in Kosovo – appalled by the genocide and hatred that was at work there," he said. "You may not be aware that the Serbs were committing cultural genocide as well. They attempted and often succeeded at depriving individual Kosovars of their personhood by destroying basic records and depriving the Kosovar people of their group identity by destroying the records of their accomplishments as a people. Destruction of the archives eliminated their vital connection to their past and destroyed their ability to learn about themselves. Once destroyed, archives cannot be recreated. The Serbs were doing their best to see that the Kosovars had no future." But he said the Presbyterian Historical Society can and should be preserved. "Our most daunting challenge for the future involves technology," Heuser said. "How and what we collect, preserve, and share will continue to challenge us in light of new technology. While I do not expect that paper will ever completely disappear, the challenge of collecting and preserving electronic records will remain a formidable one. In order to fulfill our mission in the brave, always new world of emerging technology, PHS will need a seemless technology infrastructure, with an adequate budget to support its work … Without it, the administrative record and the history of the PCUSA will evaporate.…" Heuser said it is "unavoidable" that the society will eventually have to consolidate its operations in Philadelphia and Montreat – and that it will be expensive. "In a perfect world, with perfect financial resources, our current arrangement is, perhaps, ideal," he said. "Whether consolidation takes place in an existing location or a new one, there will be significant costs involved. Rather than view it as an obstacle, we must view it as a challenge to strengthen this institution for the next generation. Ultimately a physical consolidation will result in better care and access to the holdings. The virtual world makes the actual location less significant."

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