University Archives Digitizes Gwen Ifill Papers Collection

To jump-start this project, Hannah Gershone ’25MS, a current School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) graduate student in the Master of Library and Information Science program (with an Archives Management Concentration), assisted Kolbet as an Archives and Digital Initiatives Fellow.

Previously, Gershone served as the Systems and Web Applications Fellow, performing technical maintenance and troubleshooting for the Simmons University Library. In November 2024, she began working on the Ifill Papers. As an Archives Fellow, she receives tuition remission while gaining valuable hands-on training and mentorship from experienced archivists like Kolbet.

“Essentially, we digitized the collection and organized the content into several thematic groups,” Gershone explains. For instance, the archives team organized the Ifill Papers into several categories, including publications and research (e.g., drafts of Ifill’s 2009 book, The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama, and her commencement addresses), awards and honorary degrees, correspondence, photographs, events-related ephemera, academic regalia, and memorabilia. 

An additional student worker, Tinsley Allen ’26, assisted in scanning and photographing the many materials. The total collection comprises 33 linear feet (encompassing 17 record cartons and three oversized flat boxes), which amounts to 749 digitized objects, as well as many non-digitized materials.    

Such an ambitious undertaking did pose challenges. According to Gershone, “One of our biggest challenges … was figuring out how to digitize oversize materials.” The archivists used two scanners of different sizes and borrowed a special camera from the Office of University Communications to photograph three-dimensional objects.

“When photographing those items, the trickiest part was getting the right lighting and determining how to stage them, since Ifill won a lot of awards,” says Gershone. Some of the more fragile awards created an additional obstacle, as select glass objects had been damaged when being transported to/from offsite storage.

“I’m really impressed by how Hannah was able to accomplish this,” Kolbet says. “It was truly record speed for this size of a collection.”

Promoting Future Research

The University Archives welcomes all researchers, Simmons affiliates, and the general public alike. The newly digitized Gwen Ifill Papers offer researchers a browsable, user-friendly collection.

“Since most of this collection is available in an open-access, digital format [with the exception of Ifill’s published works under copyright with their respective publishers], you can peruse and look through the collection,” Gershone says. “I envision archives students, history students, and communications students at Simmons conducting research here … I can also see people interested in learning more about Ifill’s writing process and interview preparation being drawn to the collection.”

Kolbet adds: “Anyone who wishes to see the undigitized materials is welcome to come to campus and consult them in person … Examining the trajectory of Ifill’s writings, you can see how her writing evolved through time … as a companion to her [unpublished] notes, readers can get a sense of Ifill’s thought process, her interest in contemporary issues, and the diligent way she went about doing her work.”

Of the many items that enliven the collection, Gershone’s favorite object is a handmade box made for, and given to, Gwen Ifill. This object, whose creator remains unknown, was crafted around 2009, in conjunction with the release of Ifill’s The Breakthrough. 

“It has a see-through plastic window and a cardboard cutout of Gwen Ifill. It’s decorated on the outside with bells and sparkles,” Gershone describes. “It was obviously made with care, and I really love that.”  

Additionally, Gershone admires photographs of Ifill moderating the 2008 Vice Presidential debate as well as Ifill’s research notes, which document her methods for interview preparation.

Likewise, Kolbet adores the archival photograph collection, which charts a visual record of Ifill from her early childhood through the latter part of her career. Many of these photographs depict Ifill alongside other national luminaries, including (former) President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and President Bill Clinton.

“When I did meet with Gwen Ifill’s brother [Dr. Bert Ifill], he was able to identify other [lesser-known] individuals in several of the photographs. He also offered personal stories associated with these images,” Kolbet says. “Meeting someone with all that rich oral history was very special.”

Furthermore, Kolbet appreciates seeing the arc of Ifill’s professional progression in these photographs. “The imagery shows how she carried herself … Although Ifill was always confident, the photos show how she grew into her role and recognized the effect that she had on American society … The visual medium portrays that narrative, which I find fascinating.”

“We are so excited to see the Gwen Ifill Papers online,” Gershone exclaims. “It’s a really colorful collection … [Since] it was our first time digitizing a manuscript collection, it was fun to witness.”

A Lasting Legacy at Simmons

For Kolbet, Ifill exemplified a true embodiment of the University’s founding mission, namely that women can attain an independent livelihood. Moreover, Ifill’s career advancement mirrors Simmons’ longstanding commitment to equity.

“Ifill became the first Black national correspondent and the first Black moderator of a US vice presidential debate,” Kolbet explains. “She received the well-rounded, liberal arts kind of education that John Simmons had envisioned … and then she could graduate, advance in her field, and grow exponentially.”

While a student at Simmons, Ifill became involved in the Black Student Organization and the Chorale (since renamed as the Chamber Choir). She also served as an editor of the Little Black Book, which is Simmons’ yearbook for Black students. “Leadership was something she got from Simmons,” says Kolbet.

Moreover, Ifill received formative mentorship at Simmons. Her most pivotal mentor was Professor Alden W. Poole, a longtime Executive Editor of The Boston Herald who helped Ifill procure her first job in journalism. “Poole very much saw her potential,” Kolbet says.

According to Dr. Bert Ifill, “Simmons was a launching pad for Gwen, and prepared her well … professionally to embark upon her journalism career. It all started at Simmons.” In Gwen Ifill’s own words, “Simmons gave me the opportunity to be a leader, to take charge, and [to] express myself.”

Throughout her career, Ifill served many mentorship roles, “She kept the door open for others, and especially for people who are not typically represented in the media and other positions of leadership,” Kolbet explains. “Being able to pay it forward, so to speak, was always important to her.”

As Gershone adds, “deep care and mentorship [were so important to Ifill], as well as valuing personal and professional relationships.” Ifill’s legacy as a mentor lives on through the Ifill School’s Mentors-in-Residence program and the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Gwen Ifill Mentorship Program.

Beyond helping others succeed, Ifill embraced the virtue of curiosity, which propelled her investigative journalism. “Gwen Ifill emphasized publicly that she was there to be a truth-teller, even if the truth was inconvenient or difficult,” Kolbet says. “She realized how important it was to tell and share the truth … In our contemporary moment, Ifill provides a wonderful example for us all to follow.”