In Memory of Jane S. Long

By Mary Ryan, Office of Strategy and Communications

Jane S. Long, NARA Preservation Officer

Jane S. Long, a preservation program officer who oversaw new initiatives that extended the impact of preservation programs both inside NARA and to the public, died of cancer at her home in Arlington, VA on July 25. She was 66 years old.

Mrs. Long came to NARA in February 2011 from Heritage Preservation, where she was vice president of Emergency Programs and founding director of the Heritage Emergency National Task Force, a partnership of government agencies and national associations. "Jane's bright, energetic spirit and quick wit combined with a keen and curious intellect made her a delightful colleague," said Doris Hamburg, Director of Preservation Programs. Ann Seibert, Deputy Director of Preservation Programs noted, "Her ability to put timely new words to old tunes livened many a meeting." Hamburg said that Mrs. Long was widely known for "many innovative initiatives and accomplishments championing emergency preparedness and response for cultural heritage." "Her contributions to NARA and to the broader profession have made us all better guardians and stewards of our rich cultural and historic resources," Hamburg said. "It is because of Jane's vision, enthusiasm, and commitment that archives, museums, and libraries are far better prepared than ever before to deal with disasters."

At Heritage Preservation, Mrs. Long created and provided leadership for numerous, ground-breaking initiatives, including the Emergency Response and Salvage Wheel, now available worldwide in more than five languages, with more translations in the works, for the nationwide Alliance for Response teamwork; for the Field Guide to Emergency Response; for a report, "Cataclysm and Challenge," on the impact of 9/11 on cultural heritage; and for the Risk Evaluation and Planning Program.

At NARA, Mrs. Long managed the Preservation Programs Communication and Outreach initiative, coordinating social media, web, outreach, and publication teams. She also managed external emergency response initiatives, partnering with FEMA and the Department of the Interior. In this role, she worked with colleagues within and outside NARA across the country and participated in internal NARA records emergency initiatives, including Eagle Horizon exercises.

Mrs. Long was the lead on NARA's responsibilities under Federal Emergency Support Function 11 for records as part of the National Response Framework, and was active in NARA's Continuity of Operations program. As a long-time advocate for the preservation of cultural heritage, Mrs. Long co-authored with her husband and NARA volunteer, Richard W. Long, Caring for Your Family Treasures, a guide to helping families care for their personal possessions, whether of sentimental or monetary value.

In the 1990s, Mrs. Long served as project director for the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. She held an M.A. from the University of Chicago and B.A. from the College of Wooster in Ohio.

In addition to her husband of 37 years, Richard, Mrs. Long is survived by a son, Christopher, daughter-in-law Lisa, and grandchildren Marissa and Alex. A memorial service will be held later this fall. If you would like to make a contribution in Jane's memory, please visit Heritage Preservation.