Commissioner Idilio Gracia Peña records

Collection REC0018 - RG 043. Department of Records and Information Services

Abstract

Idilio Gracia Peña served as the Director of the New York City Municipal Archives from 1978-1989 and Commissioner of the New York City Department of Records and Information Services from 1990-1995. This collection contains the records of his tenure.

Extent

43.5 cubic feet (87 boxes)

Dates

1961-1995, bulk 1977-1995



Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Advance notice is required for using original material. Please contact us to arrange access.

Physical Location

Materials are stored onsite at 31 Chambers Street in Manhattan.

Processing Information

Series 1 of this collection was processed by Municipal Archives intern Nathalie Belkin in 2015, with additional description provided by Alexandra Hilton in May 2018. Series 2 was processed by intern Elizabeth McKinnon in May 2019.
This collection contains the records of Idilio Gracia Peña during his tenure as Director and Commissioner of the Department of Records and Information Services. It contains extensive and diverse materials arranged by subject, which covers every aspect of his work. Some of the significant documents include agency-wide reports, pamphlets, newsletters, correspondence, news clippings, human resources information, agency policy information and other materials. There is a sizeable collection of archival association newsletters and conference materials.

The records are particularly strong in a few areas. These include the files on Department of Records and Information Services budgets, the Commission on Public Information and Communication with the Office of the Comptroller, Commissioner Invitations, finances and reports, Municipal Reference and Research papers, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Commission and initiatives set up by the Mayor's Office.

There are also various reports, budgets, grants and microfilm information regarding the Municipal Archives, as well as detailed information and applications for National Endowment for the Humanities grants during 1990-1993.

Idilio Gracia Peña began his long and distinguished career working at the New York City Municipal Archives and Records Center in 1964. Gracia Peña served as the Director of the New York City Municipal Archives from 1978-1989. He became Commissioner of the New York City Department of Records and Information Services (DORIS) and served in this capacity from 1990-1995.

During his tenure as Commissioner of DORIS, Idilio Gracia Peña functioned as the chief archivist, chief public records officer, and chief librarian for New York City. He administered the City's $4 million archives, library records management, and information services programs. In that capacity, he advised the Mayor, the City Council, and borough presidents on matters that related to government archives, library and records management, and information services. Idilio Gracia Peña was a member of the New York State Governor's Task Force of Recording and Filing, the New York State Local Government Records Advisory Council, and the New York City Commission on Public Information and Communication.

Gracia Peña has also served on the boards of several academic, professional and community organizations. The list includes the Pratt Institute School of Library and Information Science Board of Advisors, New York Archival Society Board of Directors, Long Island Archives Conference Board of Directors, Latin American Integration Center Board of Directors, and Queens Borough President's Historical Advisory Committee. He was a member of several professional organizations including the Society of American Archivists, the Academy of Certified Archivists, Association of Records Managers and Administrators, National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators, Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference, and the New York Association of Local Government Records Officers.

The records of this collection are separated into two series.
Title
Guide to the Commissioner Idilio Gracia Peña records, 1976-1995
Status
Completed
Author
Nathalie Belkin, Municipal Archives intern
Date
2015
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English

Revision Statements

  • 2019 July: Series 2 updated with processed container list.