Judith Schiff

Judith Schiff (November 26, 1937 – July 11, 2022) was an American archivist. She was chief research archivist at Yale University and historian for the city of New Haven, Connecticut.

Early life Schiff was born in New York City, but grew up in New Haven, where she attended Hillhouse High School.

Career as a librarian Schiff's first job at the Yale University Library was to catalog the papers of William Dwight Whitney and Josiah Dwight Whitney.

In addition, Schiff organized exhibitions. She served on the group investigating Yale's slavery history.

Schiff was inspired by a "history from below," and her work often focused on telling the history of marginalized people, including women and people of color.

Beyond Yale, Schiff was a founder of New England Archivists, the Jewish Historical Society of Greater New Haven, and the Ethnic Heritage Center of New Haven.

While working at Yale, she earned a master's degree in history from Columbia University and a degree in library science from Southern Connecticut State College.

Recognition Schiff won the Edward Bouchet Legacy Award for her research, the Linda Lorimarr Award for Distinguished Service, and the Yale Medal from the Yale Alumni Association.