Emily Carpenter Appointed Manager of Oliver Archives Center

Chautauqua Institution today announced the appointment of Jonathan Schmitz as historian emeritus, an honorary title that recognizes his 24 years of service and impact as the Institution’s archivist and historian. Schmitz becomes just the second individual to be honored with the emeritus title, following his predecessor, Ross Mackenzie.

“It is a true honor to recognize Jon’s exemplary quarter-century of service to Chautauqua, our mission and community, with this well-deserved appointment,” said Jordan Steves, the Emily and Richard Smucker Chair for Education, and the last of six heads of the Institution’s Department of Education who oversaw Schmitz’s tenure leading the Chautauqua Institution Archives. “One of Jon’s many lasting contributions here was to uplift and elevate the stories of ‘Giants of Chautauqua’ history, so that new generations can understand the contributions and impact of those who came before. It is no exaggeration to say that Jon belongs to that cohort of Giants, and the Historian Emeritus title is one way to honor and celebrate his significant legacy and impact.”

From 2002 to 2025, Schmitz was Chautauqua Institution’s archivist and historian, serving as the primary steward of records, artifacts and institutional memory. During his tenure, Schmitz modernized and organized the Institution’s historical collections, making them accessible to researchers and the public. One of his primary achievements was overseeing the opening of the Oliver Archives Center as the primary home of the Institution Archives. Schmitz also oversaw preservation and digitization efforts that placed most archival photographs online, along with The Chautauquan Daily’s archive, and the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle magazine The Chautauquan. His work also included acquisitions, appraisal, arrangement, description, copyright and public education through writing, lecturing and mentoring. Many of his mentees have gone on to positions with major institutions, including the Smithsonian, university libraries and the White House.

Along the way, Schmitz contributed research that clarified or corrected several long-held Chautauqua stories, including claims about the origins of the Chautauqua name (which the Institution shares with its namesake lake, town and county) and the number of U.S. presidents who have spoken at Chautauqua. He also played a significant role in documenting and advising on major institutional projects, including the rebuilding of the Amphitheater.

Throughout his tenure, Schmitz emphasized the importance of archives in preserving institutional identity and enabling shared experience. His book on Chautauqua Institution’s history, based on a pamphlet series and a number of his Heritage Lecture Series lectures is forthcoming in the next few years; one of the completed chapters became the well-received and celebrated booklet ChautauqWhat? released in 2024 to coincide with the Institution’s sesquicentennial.

Before joining Chautauqua, Schmitz worked as director of the Record Management and Archives Department of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. He also taught records management, archives and preservation at George Brown College in Toronto.

Schmitz’s appointment as Historian Emeritus is the culmination of a transition and change in structure at the Chautauqua Institution Archives, which has seen longtime Department of Education staffer Emily Carpenter elevated to the new role of Manager of the Oliver Archives Center. In this role, Carpenter is responsible for managing the OAC building and access to its research and exhibition spaces, receiving and responding to internal and external inquiries and overseeing and stewarding Chautauqua Institution’s physical and digital archival collection.

In 10-plus years in her previous role as Education Department Coordinator, Carpenter served as administrator of The Chautauqua Prize, lecture assistant and assistant archivist, among other responsibilities. She received her master’s degree in American history from American Military University and bachelor’s degrees in social studies education and history from the State University of New York, Fredonia.

Carpenter maintains a regular presence in the Oliver Archives Center and welcomes inquiries by community members and outside researchers by appointment at ecarpenter@chq.org. The OAC will be open to the public from 12 to 4 p.m. weekdays during the Institution’s nine-week Summer Assembly, with expanded hours also available by appointment.