Variety
is the spice of life for College Archivist Kim Butler. "It's always something
different," Kim comments in explaining why she still enjoys what she's been
doing for nearly ten years. "Some days my job is working to organize and
figure out which papers, photographs, videotapes, or 3D objects to keep
permanently as they come in from offices that no longer need them. I love
coming across treasures that have been buried for a long time and now I've
been able to make them accessible once again. Other times my job is working
with researchers or doing research using the materials I've already organized
in the Archives; the questions and subjects are always different."
Kim was initially attracted to the job as the school's first full-time professionally trained archivist because it offered the opportunity to do all facets of archival work. "The opportunity to organize an archives from scratch is not something an archivist gets to do too often, if ever, in their careers." She regularly creates displays for the library lobby and around campus on subjects that pique her interest. Kim has a missionary zeal for teaching faculty and students how many ways the Archives' primary resources can be used.
Kim holds a bachelor of arts degree in American history from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a master of arts degree in history from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Her previous work experience includes the Smithsonian Institution, National Archives, Chicago Historical Society, and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Archives. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, camping, traveling, and playing with her two dogs.
Kim Butler: Archivist/Associate Director of Archives
Phone: (630) 637-5714
Call us: (630) 637-5715
