Working with Judith
Judith worked at Princeton from 1964 to 1998. One of her dear colleagues at Princeton, Bobray Bordelan, wrote this: "Judith was the founder of the Data and Statistical Services at Princeton University in 1964 and headed the service until her retirement in 1998. She received many awards during her career, including the 1997 William H. Flanigan Award for Distinguished Service as an ICPSR Official Representative, and in 1990, the American Library Association’s GODORT James Bennett Childs Award. She was the first non-faculty Official Representative elected to the ICPSR Council (served 1980-1984).
"Judith was a prolific author. She was constantly lobbying for improved government statistical reporting and was considered a foremost expert on the USA census. She was a pioneer in the creation of the Census Bureaus' State Data Center program in 1979. She also had elected positions in the Association of Public Data Users (1980-1982) and the Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics (1982-1983). She was one of the great pioneers of the social science data field. In 1999, Judith reflected her life in data in “The Decades of My Life” (doi.org/10.29173/iq575). Judith was a mentor to me and so many others internationally. She led a remarkable life, and we owe much of the foundations of our profession to her."
Other colleagues comments below.
Lois Timms-Ferrara (Data Independence; formerly of the Roper Center) - I was so saddened to hear of Judith’s passing. She was a larger than life figure for so many of us and our field owes her a debt of gratitude.
Chuck Humphrey (University of Alberta - retired) - Judith was the Madeleine Albright of social science data. she created opportunities for women in the data world that were seen as the domain of male political scientists in the 1960’s & 70’s. She was also a role model for a new generation of male data librarians and archivists about the importance of respecting others regardless of academic status. I will always remember Judith sitting in the front row of a hot, stuffy hotel meeting room at an IASSIST conference appearing to nod off. when the session chair would call for questions following a presentation, Judith would raise her hand and ask a question that indicated that she had been attentive even while taking a catnap.
Carolyn Geda (retired - ICPSR) - Yes, we were called "functionaries". It was actually "those female functionaries". Needless to say, these words were not spoken with kindness. As Judith and I continued to work to establish IASSIST there was a question of setting forth policies which we said was not going to be done. Compatibility of data and uniform documentation were the primary goals. And a forum for discussion to achieve what was most important. It was Peter that said "This is a worker bee organization that is being established" and he was right. Up until
them, if we were good little assistant directors and did not say anything, we could attend other professional meetings. Between Judith and I, we knew most of the presidents of the various social science organizations. They were very helpful and always provided rooms without charge for our initial meetings. So not all of the men called us "female functionaries" just one in particular. It was a very intense time and one group wanted an organization of organizations. Ultimately, both were established. Please forgive me for not speaking sooner. I have been over whelmed by grief and memories since Judith and I shared the same history and activities. I have always been proud of the individuals in IASSIST. We share a very strong work ethic. Extremely hard workers who also shared a joy in working and as you know all IASSIST people have a good time while working and blazing the trail.
Wendy Watkins (retired – Carleton University) - This is sad news indeed. Thanks for the warm
remembrances all. As Paul says, she will be greatly missed. Laine called her a giant and she
was that. Thank you, Bobray, for your thoughtful announcement. Thanks to my three amigos
for awakening other Judith memories for me. Her mentoring of all new IASSISTers made us all
want to join the club. So we did and so we stayed. Thank you Judith. And thanks again
amigos.
Ann Gray (Princeton University – retired): The story I hear was that the male European Heads thought of Judith and her like as "functionaries" with no academic creds back in the days. But IASSIST exists today because Judith and her bar room friends made those guys understand that the social sciences needed a scientific grounding that required sharing of data resources. No matter who male or female (or him her we they whatever) . Thanks for this vision and thanks for Judy, who persevered.
Orley Ashenfelter (Professor of Economics – Princeton University): She was one of the great characters.
David Card (University of California, Berkeley; 2022 Nobel Prize Laureate for Economics, formerly of Princeton University): - She was a force of nature!
Ilona Einowski (retired - University of California, Berkeley) - Oh, Judith! You gave us so much, you led us from the beginning, we will always benefit from what you helped create. Rest In Peace Dear Friend.
Peter Burnhill (United Kingdom Data Archive – retired) - Sad news indeed for someone who will be remembered fondly for her kindness and feisty good humour as well as her wisdom and profound contribution to the work of data professionals. Sleep well Judith.
Laine Ruus (retired – University of Toronto) - Judith Rowe was one of the pillars of our profession, a giant on whose shoulders I was privileged to stand. From our first meeting at, I believe, the first ICPSR 'data library workshop' in July of 1974 to our last encounter at an IASSIST conference (obviously 'the best one ever'), Judith was always generous with insights, advice, and a fresh perspective. Honoured be her memory!
Ann Green (retired – Yale University) - Bobray’s summary of Judith‘s contributions reminds us of the multitude of ways that Judith contributed to protecting and improving access to public data. For decades, we would seek her out for advice and counsel in setting up and growing data archives and data services around the world. In meetings and at conferences, we would look forward to her insightful summary of presentations and her articulate criticism of something off track. Her intellect and humor were sharp, creative, and powerfully analytical. We have lost a bright light, but from the foundation she helped build and the vision she articulated, her impact undoubtedly continues. May her memory be for a blessing. I share your sadness at this news of Judith’s death. Thank you for the summary of her career in your message. We all have so many stories and memories of Judith. I carry her with me always, she had such a strong influence on me and my career. She was a model of perseverance, brilliant humor, and insight. We have lost a bright light.
Hank Farber (Princeton University Professor of Economics) - I am sorry to hear about Judith’s death. She was a friend, valuable colleague, and interesting person. A real character! She really pushed things forward on the data front for all of us.
Myron Gutmann (former ICPSR Director): When I arrived at Princeton as a very green beginning graduate student in 1971, for some reason Judith Rowe was one of the first people I met, and she quickly became a friend, guide, mentor, and teacher (and arranged for Sonia Sotomayor to keypunch my dissertation data). Nearly 51 years later, and at every stage of my career and friendship, she was there. Very much missed.
Dan Gillmann (Bureau of Labor Statistics) - I met Judith at the very first IASSIST conference Iattended (Odense in 1997). She, among many others, welcomed me to the fold. But I was from the Census Bureau, and she had a hundred million questions and lots of advice I was supposed to take back with me. Anyone I mentioned she had a story about. It was quite an introduction. She was one of a kind.
Paula Lackie (Carleton College) - Bobray, This is a lovely tribute to Judith. Thank you. It is from the work of Judith and a few other titans in early Social Science data organization that we can see the foundation for Open Science and an environment of collaboration. I don’t think that Judith thought she was a pioneer when she was working on all of these important organizational principles. She told me that she was just trying to make data useful. She saw the future. Remember this; it’s really only in retrospect that we (and sometimes others) realize our impact on the world. In the moment, we are just trying to do something that makes good sense. In Judith’s memory, and because it is the right thing to do, let’s all keep working toward safe and open data. Rest In Peace Judith.
Paul Bern (Syracuse University) - Yes, truly sad news, indeed. I don’t know what more I can add to Bobray’s eloquent tribute, or all the other wonderful things that have been shared, except to say that she will be greatly missed. I was lucky enough to work with Judith at Princeton for a few short years and it was her mentoring and encouragement that convinced me to stay in the field.
Wendy Thomas (University of Minnesota) - I've been thinking of 'Judith moments' since seeing
Bobray's notice. While many have been in organizational settings, working with the 1970 Census
or talking about career options and interest, the best have been personal. Traveling in the
Highlands and chatting in her office about family and life. She was a very special lady and will
live on in the way she has touched so many lives, professionally and personally.
Nancy Pressman Levy (retired – Princeton University) - Judith was unforgettable. She had a
very unusual speaking style. I was always happy when she spoke up at meetings or whatever.
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