Lehigh Athletics Archives Manager Rob Kaufman ’68 is passionate about sports—and persistent. And that, he says, was what made the yearslong job of organizing Lehigh’s many athletics records, files, objects and photographs the perfect task for him.
Before Kaufman became involved with the archives, they were “rooms full of stuff,” he says. If someone requested a specific artifact, it was nearly impossible to find.
“I spent six years reading sports sections and articles and sorting them out,” says Kaufman, who finished the process about two years ago. Now, files and photographs are sorted chronologically and are separated by sport, and all paper documents are in archival envelopes and folders to protect them from aging.
Kaufman reflected on the project fondly. As a Lehigh graduate, he says, it was gratifying to reconnect with his past experiences at the university.
“It was always a great adventure—so much of it is stuff that I experienced live, and then I got to relive it,” he said. “More importantly, it has provided the opportunity to bring a smile to so many alums as they get to relive some of their school experiences.”
Whether he’s sifting through decades of memories for a team reunion, honorary alumni dinner or memorial service, Kaufman said his work as an archivist is “more than he could ask for.”
By Emily Segal ’21
