Idilio Gracia Peña
Chief Archivist
Dominican Archives
CUNY Dominican Studies Institute

Idilio Gracia Peña was named chief archivist of the Dominican Archives, CUNY Dominican Studies Institute at the City College of New York in 2004 by Director Ramona Hernández. He is the former commissioner of the New York City of Records and Information Services (DORIS), 1990-1995 and the Director of the New York City Municipal Archives, 1978-1989. As commissioner of DORIS, he functioned as the chief archivist, chief public records officer, and chief librarian for New York City and administered the City’s $4 million archives, library records management and information services programs. In that capacity, he advised the Mayor, the City Council, and borough presidents on matters relating to government archives, library and records management, and information services. He began his career with the New York City Municipal Archives and Records Center in 1964. From 1997 to 2004 he was the project archivist for the Center for Puerto Rican Studies Archives of the Puerto Rican Migration Processing Project. Mr. Gracia Peña is a 1974 graduate of The City College of New York with a B.A. in American History.

Mr. Gracia Peña is also a consultant specializing in archives, records management and information services, grants proposal writing, project management, and non-profit administration. His consulting projects include the Asociaciones Dominicanas, Inc. Reorganization Project; Casa Cultural Puertorriqueña Library and Archives; the Newark Public Library Hispanic Research and Information Center and Puerto Rican Community Archives; City University Construction Fund Records Management Program; Flatbush East Community Development Corporation Records Management Program; The New York Archival Society Restructuring Project; Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition Records Management Program; Archivo General de Puerto Rico Archives workshop; Center for Puerto Rican Studies Archives; and the Staten Island Institute of Art and Science  Archives. He began his work with the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute in 2002 as a a consultant.

Mr. Gracia Peña was a member of the New York State Governor’s Task Force of Recording and Filing, the New York State Local Government Records Advisory Council, the New York City Commission on Public Information and Communication. He also served on the boards of several academic, professional and community organizations including the Pratt Institute School of Library and Information Science Board of Advisors; the New York Archival Society Board of Directors; the Long Island Archives Conference Board of Directors; Latin American Integration Center Board of Directors; and the Queens Borough President’s Historical Advisory Committee. He was a member of several professional organizations including the Society of American Archivists; the Academy of Certified Archivists; Association of Records Managers and Administrators; National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators; Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference; and the New York Association of Local Government Records Officers.