Boston University’s Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center founder and namesake Howard Gotlieb died in Boston Thursday from complications following surgery. He was 79.
Center Director Vita Paladino said Gotlieb had no blood relatives and said she was one of his closest and oldest friends.
Gotlieb was born Oct. 24, 1926 in Bangor, Maine and was part of the U.S. Army Signal Corps in post-World War II Germany, where he discovered archival work through gathering Nazi government materials.
When he returned from Europe he earned a bachelor’s degree in history from George Washington University, a master’s degree from Columbia University and a doctorate in International Relations from Oxford University in Great Britain.
Gotlieb was appointed Special Collections Director at BU in 1963 after working at Yale University as a curator for historical manuscripts for seven years.
“Howard Gotlieb had a visionary mission to collect contemporary archives when no other institution was doing it,” Paladino said. “He accomplished his dream in the 43 years he worked here in the fact that he amassed 65 million dollars worth of material.”
Gotlieb and his staff amassed a collection that includes the personal and professional works of BU alumnus Martin Luther King Jr., Fred Astaire, Elie Wiesel and most recently Mary Louise Parker.
“He had no competition and he pioneered the archiving of contemporary people and the idea took flight and today that is why you are able to look at material from Martin Luther King Jr., Bette Davis and other icons of the 20th century,” Paladino said.
Gotlieb amassed a collection that included the works of more than 2,000 individuals known for their work in literature, journalism, drama, music, film and national affairs, among other fields.
When Gotlieb arrived at BU, the Center was originally referred to as the BU archives or Special Collections. It was named for him in October 2003 on its 40th anniversary.
While the Center has materials as old as the 16th century, including work of Abraham Lincoln and signers of the Declaration of Independence, much of the collection focuses on contemporary works from the last decade, including authors and celebrities.
Journalist Dan Rather said in a statement released by the Center Thursday that he donated many of his materials to he collection and called Gotlieb a close friend.
“I consider Dr. Gotlieb a national treasure,” he said. “He was a first-rate scholar, a premium expert in his field and a friend of mine for more than 40 years. His passing will be deeply mourned by not just myself, but by hundreds of others.”
Gotlieb also worked with author and “Murder She Wrote” actress Angela Lansbury to collect many of her personal works.
“Howard’s generosity of spirit and enthusiastic pursuit of excellence in his life’s work leaves an irrevocable marker in the lives of all of us who knew and loved him,” she said in the statement.
BU spokesman Colin Riley said Gotlieb will be missed by the university.
“He is certainly recognized as a giant among those who recognized the value in passing along the legacy of the past century,” he said. “For the university this is a great loss, he is certainly a giant in the work that he established and he made a lasting contributing to the world through the Boston University Special Collections, which is so aptly and deservedly named after him.”
Paladino said it wasn’t just Gotlieb’s professional relationships with people that helped him to amass the collection, but also his character.
“He was one of the most unique men, an old world gentleman with great charm,” she said. “He was kind and generous to the point that people would trust to him their most intimate papers.”
Paladino said a memorial service will be held in his name at Marsh Chapel Jan. 6 at 2:30 p.m.
