Long-time University archivist Harold Cox received recognition for his work in preserving Wilkes’ past with the official dedication of the University Archives on the third floor of the Farley Library.

On August 21, President Patrick Leahy and Library Dean John Stachecz dedicated the archives to Cox, who has served at the university in various capacities since 1963. The room selects, preserves and makes available records that document the programs, people, and history of Wilkes and the Wyoming Valley.  They also seeks to educate members of the Wilkes community and the public about the university’s history by providing access to the collections and contributing to campus cultural events and publications. The archives provides educational opportunities for students so that they can learn the research process and develop skills that will prepare them to enter the workforce.

The collection currently consists of Wilkes publications and the papers of faculty, staff, administration and board members.  Highlights of the collection include papers from the Flood Recovery Task Force, the Wilkes University Institute of Regional Affairs and the Gilbert McClintock Collection, which includes records documenting the early history of the Wyoming Valley and the Revolutionary War.

Cox has served as a member of the history department until his retirement in 2003, upon which he assumed the role of university archivist. Throughout the 1960s until the early 1980s, Cox spent his summers helping develop and test training programs for the Department of the Army, where he served as a reserve command sergeant major.

He has held numerous positions at Wilkes, including coordinator of graduate education, chair of the history department, faculty advisor to the president, and most recently as a member of the creative writing graduate program faculty. Cox earned his doctorate in history from the University of Virginia and his undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary.