Diocese hires Burns as new archivist

By KENNY KEANE, Globe staff reporter
July 10, 2003

About a year ago, the diocese's new archivist, Dan Burns, came to Sioux City from the Salina Diocese in Kansas - a move prompted by his wife, Susan, accepting a teaching position at Morningside College.

Initially, he said finding gainful employment was a struggle, but eventually he ended up working at the Sioux City Public Library as a reference librarian.

"I did that for awhile, but when this position came up it was just an opportunity that I couldn't pass up," said Burns about accepting the job as diocesan archivist - a role filled by Sister Kevin Cummings, PBVM, for the last 19 years until her retirement on June 30. "I can definitely see the work that goes into this position. It requires dedication for sure, and Sister has really stepped up to the plate for a good number of years.

"She has really put forth that effort, and it's evident in everything that I see - all of the organization that's been put into the archives and everything else. I can appreciate that right off the bat."

As far as the future goes, Burns said he is definitely standing on the shoulders of Sister Kevin, who he has been training under since May 27. In addition to her tutelage, Burns' preparation for taking over the archivist position will include archive classes from July 7-18 at the Catholic University in Washington, D.C.

Burns said his experience at the Catholic University will hopefully give him a foundation to add to what Sister Kevin has already taught him and give him a little bit more of a rounded background in archives. It may also help him deal with the overwhelming feeling he said he has experienced from discovering how much Sister Kevin has retained over the years.

"I guess the word overwhelmed just keeps coming into my head as far as what she knows and how little I know," Burns said. "She has been very patient in communicating to me and working with me to try to get me up to speed.

"I'd like to find a way to make some of the information a little bit more accessible eventually. Right now there are times when we have no other choice but to shuffle through papers to find what we're looking for, and eventually it would be nice to be able to automate some of that process. That's kind of a long-range goal, but it's something that I've definitely got my sights on."

As for everything that Sister Kevin has accomplished, Burns said that will live on, and he will rely on her at times even after she leaves Sioux City.

"I'm looking towards different technologies as well - something that Sister I'm sure would have done if she had stuck around for another few years," he said. "I'm comforted by the fact that Sister will be reachable by e-mail. I take great comfort in that - that I can actually correspond with her when I'm in a jam."

The new archivist said he and his wife are firmly rooted in Sioux City now and are especially happy to be parishioners at Nativity Church.

"We love it out at Nativity. I'm very excited to be here, and my wife loves her position," Burns said. "I'm very appreciative of the past and everything that Sister has done, and I'm looking forward to the future."