Chester County Appoints Cliff Parker As New Director Of Archives, Public Records

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — An archivist with 26 years' experience in government records management is the new Director of Chester County's archives and records services, the County said on Thursday.

Chester County History Center President Conor Hepp, and County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell, and Michelle Kichline on Thursday announced the appointment of Cliff Parker as Director of Chester County Archives and Record Services (CCARS).

Parker served as Archivist and Deputy Director of Chester County Archives and Record Services for 18 years under the direction of Laurie Rofini, who retired in September.

"Cliff's creativity and enthusiasm, and his obvious love of history have greatly benefited Chester County," the County Commissioners said in a joint statement. "He uses the latest technologies to educate and highlight the importance of our records and the immense history of our county."

Over the course of his career with CCARS, Parker established a record inventory system, created an unprecedented level of access to historic Chester County records, developed interactive touch screens for the Chester County History Center’s Civil War exhibit, and created an online portal, “Slavery in Chester County.”

"His projects bring history to life, and we know that he will lead a team that continues to engage the public in historical research, while also ensuring that preservation and records management keep pace with professional standards," the Commissioners' statement said.

In addition, Parker created the 1777 Chester County Property Atlas, for which the County earned an award from the National Genealogical Society earlier this year.

Conor Hepp, Chester County History Center President said, "Our community is extraordinarily lucky to have such a dedicated and talented person as Cliff Parker serving them. He brings to this position a passion for history and historical research that benefits all of us."

Parker brings twenty-six years of experience in government records to this new position. Prior to his joining Chester County Archives and Record Services in 2002, he spent seven years as Reference Archivist, then Research Room Supervisor for Delaware Public Archives, a news statement said. Parker earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History, with a Minor in Political Science from Clemson University, and received training from the Modern Archives Institute, National Archives in Washington DC.

Chester County Archives and Record Services is administered by the Chester County History Center in cooperation with the County of Chester.

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