Harry Ransom Center Appoints New Director

By Gaby Guajardo in 40 Acres on April 11, 2013 at 11:42 am | No Comments

The Harry Ransom Center’s director of 25 years, Thomas F. Staley, will retire on Aug. 31, and the HRC has appointed the head librarian of the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., to take his place. Stephen Enniss will become the seventh director in the Center’s 56-year history when he starts work on Aug. 1.

Since 2009, Enniss’ leadership at the Folger Shakespeare Library has allowed the collection to be expanded and strengthened, drawing in more than 100,000 visitors annually. In his new position, Enniss will officially oversee the HRC’s research library and museum.

“The HRC is known nationally and internationally as an extraordinary research collection,” Enniss says. “I’m most looking forward to continuing the good work that’s been done there and extending it forward through more acquisitions.”

Although Enniss has collaborated with members of the HRC staff in the past, he’s eager to become more acquainted with the entire team and discover new opportunities to advance its work. He says his focus will be on sustaining the strong record of excellence that’s been in place at the Center for decades.

“It’s not an easy thing to sustain the investment and  growth to create opportunities for the future success and expansion of a program such as the Ransom Center,” he says. “But it’s certainly a high priority of mine—the number one priority.”

There may not be much time for rest and relaxation once Enniss begins work at the HRC, but when he does find a moment, he hopes to catch a glimpse of an old Texas trademark.

“I’m not sure that I’m going to have free time,” he laughs, “but I’d love to see a tumbleweed.”

Photo courtesy Julie Ainsworth/Folger Shakespeare Library.

Tags: collection, College of Liberal Arts, director, harry ransom center, Stephen Enniss, Thomas Staley