Diana Lachatanere facts for kids

Diana Lachatanere is an American archivist. An archivist is someone who takes care of important historical documents and records. Diana worked for many years at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, which is part of the New York Public Library. She retired in 2013.

At the Schomburg Center, she helped manage all the collections, which are like special libraries of historical items. She also looked after old manuscripts, archives, and rare books. From 1995 to 2013, she was the assistant director for Collections and Services. Before that, from 1988 to 2013, she was the Curator of the Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division. She also managed a program for scholars who came to study at the center.

Education and Early Career

Diana Lachatanere studied at the City College of New York, graduating in 1969. She then earned her master's degree in Library and Information Science from the University of California, Berkeley. This degree taught her how to organize and preserve information.

She started her career in 1976 at the California Historical Society in San Francisco. She began by processing documents, which means organizing them. By 1978, she became the Assistant Manuscripts Librarian, helping to manage old handwritten papers.

Working at the Schomburg Center

In 1980, Diana joined the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. She started as an Assistant Archivist in the Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division. By 1988, she became the Curator of that division, meaning she was in charge of its valuable collections.

During her time at the Schomburg Center, Diana helped plan many exhibitions for the public. She also worked on projects that received funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities. These projects helped process and organize important historical materials.

Diana also shared her knowledge by consulting for other archival programs. She advised places like the Center for Black Music Research and the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University.

Helping Archivists of Color

Diana Lachatanere played a big role in making the field of archives more welcoming for everyone. Her first meeting with the Society of American Archivists (SAA) was in 1978. At that meeting, a librarian named Ann Allen Shockley invited many young people of color to dinner. She pointed out that it was the first time so many Black people were at the SAA meeting.

In 1981, Diana was part of a discussion about how to include more minority groups in archival work. After this discussion, a group of archivists decided to take action. They created a resolution for the SAA to approve. This led to the creation of the Task Force on Minorities.

Diana was invited to represent the SAA on a special committee focused on recruiting minority archivists. She also helped push for a membership committee. She believed this committee could create programs to specifically encourage Black people and other minority groups to join the profession.

In 1987, the Task Force on Minorities recommended creating a special group for archivists of color. This led to the establishment of the Archivists and Archives of Color Roundtable. Diana Lachatanere was one of the first leaders of this new group. She helped create its first newsletters and set its goals. This roundtable still exists today, helping to support and connect archivists from diverse backgrounds.

Diana served in many roles within the SAA and other archival organizations. She was on various committees that helped shape the future of archives.

Other Important Work

Diana Lachatanere was involved with many other groups and projects throughout her career. She served on advisory committees for various cultural and historical initiatives. These included projects focused on Afro-Latino archives, Caribbean collections, and the history of the Underground Railroad.

She also reviewed grant applications for organizations like the National Endowment for the Humanities. This meant she helped decide which historical projects would receive funding. Diana also gave guest lectures about archives administration at Queens College.