Timothy Nutt tapped to lead special collections department at UA

A nationwide search led University of Arkansas officials to find the right person to serve as head of the special collections department in their own proverbial backyard.

Timothy G. Nutt has served as the interim head of special collections since February 2012 and according to a press release from the University of Arkansas, he was named head of that department this month.

“I am honored to have been selected to lead special collections, one of the premier academic archives in the southeast, as it continues its mission of preserving and promoting the rich history of Arkansas,” Nutt said. “Throughout our history, Arkansans have significantly contributed to the state, national and international communities, and special collections will continue to document their stories.”

Prior to serving as interim head of special collections, Nutt was the assistant head of the special collections department beginning in 2009 and was the manuscripts and rare books librarian since 2005. In that time, he has acquired more than 300 manuscript and book collections and overseen the processing of 185 collections.

Nutt’s experience also includes imparting his knowledge to others. The University of Arkansas Honors College awarded Nutt the Distinguished Faculty Award in 2011 for mentoring Honors College students in archival practices as well as for his contributions to teaching and research. He has published extensively on Arkansas history and also writes, directs and performs in historical reenactments for the Washington County Historical Society. He currently serves as the president of the Arkansas Historical Association.

“I’m delighted to welcome Tim to this new role,” said Dean of Libraries Carolyn Henderson Allen. “He brings a wealth of knowledge, years of leadership and relationship-building experience, and his good humor to the position.”

Nutt, a native Arkansan from Bigelow, holds a bachelor of arts in history from the University of Central Arkansas and a master of library and information studies from the University of Oklahoma. In 2005, Nutt was inducted into the Academy of Certified Archivists—one of only 13 certified archivists in the state of Arkansas.