The Mark Keller Papers: A Legacy in Alcohol Studies
Mark Keller, a pivotal figure in the mid-20th century alcohol studies, is best known as the editor of the oldest modern-day addiction journal, the Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol (QJSA), which later became the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs (JSAD), published at the Center of Alcohol Studies (CAS). Calling himself a “documentalist,” Keller defined organizing and disseminating information in alcohol studies for the future. This exhibit highlights his significant role in substance use studies as bibliographer, editor, and facilitator of research.
The Mark Keller Papers were donated to the Center of Alcohol Studies in 1997 by his daughter, Ita N. Wiener, following the donation of his book collection in 1996, to become a permanent historical resource installed in a separate section in the library at the Center. The collection documents the career of a prolific author, editor, bibliographer, and scholar—one of the brightest intellects who defined modern-day alcohol studies since its inception at the end of the mid-1930s. The Keller Papers consist of materials accrued during his professional career working in various roles at the Center of Alcohol Studies at Yale University (1941-1961) and at the Center of Alcohol Studies, Rutgers University, after 1962.
The collection dates from 1929 to 1995, with the bulk of the material from 1960 to 1977. Reflecting Keller’s role in alcohol studies, it includes extensive correspondence with key people in the evolving field, copious notes regarding seminars, conferences, committee meetings, and travel notes to many countries and states, all focusing on the field from multiple perspectives. Many files contain notes on his ideas on the disease concept of alcoholism, research areas in alcohol studies, the relationship of alcohol and religion, and alcohol and various aspects of society. The collection also preserved Keller’s manuscripts related to his teaching at Brown, Brandeis, Columbia, and Rutgers; conference presentations all over the world; his work with NIH, where he was the first and key advisor to them in organizing the NIAAA; his work on reports to the congress and President, and many files on the history of alcohol research and treatment.
This exhibit aims to honor the original threefold purpose of the donation:
To commemorate a key contributor to the field of alcohol studies
To be a resource for students of the history of alcohol studies and scientific journalism
To provide information to researchers in the field of alcohol studies-related fields.
The Mark Keller papers can be considered as one of the finest collections of primary source materials in the entire field.
Keller at the Mark Keller Recognition Dinner, October 7, 1977
The event was a spectacular demonstration of appreciation and support on behalf of various scholarly, government, and other organizations from all over the world, such as the Addiction Research Foundation, the Jellinek Memorial Fund, the National Council on Alcoholism, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the International Council on Alcohol and Addiction, confirming Selden Bacon’s description of Mark Keller as the “scholars’ scholar” in his article on Mark Keller’s retirement published in JSA in the same year.
Memories from the event have been preserved in Keller’s photo album featuring nearly 100 images.
From the Digital Alcohol Studies Archives
- Visit the Mark Keller page in the Digital Alcohol Studies Archives
- Browse documents related to Mark Keller in RUcore, the Rutgers University Community Repository
- View the inventory sheets of the Mark Keller papers in RUcore, the Rutgers University Community Repository
- Visit the Digital Alcohol Studies Archives