AUSTIN, Texas—With a $1 million gift from former Supreme Court of Texas Justice William Wayne Kilgarlin, the School of Information at The University of Texas at Austin will establish the William and Margaret Kilgarlin Center for Preservation of the Cultural Record.
Through research and graduate education, the center’s mission is to advance knowledge and practice in the preservation of the record of human enterprise, creativity and discovery. Building on the School of Information’s top ranking programs in archives and preservation management, the new center will also address pressing concerns in digital preservation and promote research, education and public outreach in the broad area of cultural records management.
“The Kilgarlin Center is a tremendously exciting undertaking which will bridge traditional intellectual divisions to advance research and education on the significant preservation management problems facing our society,” said Andrew Dillon, dean of the School of Information.
The center’s focus on preservation marks a significant step towards advancing a broader view of cultural records management that incorporates research in archival studies, conservation science and advanced digital technologies.
Effective Sept. 1, Ellen Cunningham-Kruppa will serve as director of the Kilgarlin Center.
William Kilgarlin was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from Harris County, 1959-60. From 1962-1978, Kilgarlin practiced law in Houston. Subsequently, he served on the 215th Judicial District Court of Harris County from 1978-82. In 1983, Kilgarlin was named to the Supreme Court of Texas, a position he held until 1988. From 1992-93, Kilgarlin was appointed court master to formulate a plan for equality of Texas funding of public schools. Kilgarlin is of counsel with Popp and Ikard LLP of Austin, Texas. He lives in Santa Fe, N.M.
For more information contact: Andrew Dillon, School of Information, 512-471-3828.
