By Robb Haberman
Elizabeth M. Nuxoll served as the editor of The Selected Papers of John Jay from the commencement of the project in the early 2000s to its completion in 2021 with the publication of the seventh and final volume. Betty hailed from Brooklyn and received her doctorate in American history from CUNY Graduate Center. Before coming to Columbia RBML to head the JJ Papers Project, Betty acquired extensive editing experience with The Papers of Clarence Mitchell Jr. and The Robert Morris Papers. Betty shepherded the Morris Papers Project to a successful conclusion, coediting volumes 7-9 with Mary A. Y. Gallagher, who later served as senior associate editor of the JJ Papers Project.
When I asked about how she came to be an editor, Betty related that when she finished graduate school, it proved difficult for many women historians to find employment in academia and that she opted for a career in documentary editing because it was a field more open and welcoming to women scholars. Those in the field knew her as an editor par excellence with a keen eye and a keener mind; I found Betty’s skill, diligence, and judgment as an editor and project director, combined with her friendly and unassuming manner as a colleague, to be unmatched. She led the editorial staff—Mary, Jenn, Brant, and me—in producing seven letterpress volumes for the University of Virginia’s The Selected Papers of John Jay, overseeing Columbia’s John Jay Papers Image Database, and transferring JJ scholarship to the virtual editions Rotunda: American History Collections and the National Archives Founders Online. In addition to these projects, Betty raised JJ’s profile by publishing journal essays and giving presentations about his life and legacy. Her broader commitment to furthering public knowledge of America’s past is evidenced by her extensive involvement with the Association for Documentary Editing, a professional organization that advocates for the increased accessibility and availability of historical papers and private correspondence.
It was my good fortune to have Betty as my mentor while working for seven years at the JJ Papers Project. Through her example, I learned that documentary editing was a profession that required patient and prudent labor, as well as attentiveness to the demands of rigid deadlines and administrative oversight. Betty guided me with steady advice on how to proof, annotate, and index a volume properly. To this day, I am amazed at Betty’s ability to transcribe a messy document that contained sections of deleted text: trust me, this is no small feat in the editing world. Betty also fostered my professional development by encouraging me to explore and write editorial headnotes on topics of personal interest. One of my favorite memories from my time at the JJ Papers was when Betty and I wrote a collaborative essay entitled “Riding the Circuit,” which discussed JJ’s travels during his tenure as Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Betty did a phenomenal job of surmising the judicial cases and explaining the legal process of circuit riding. Betty’s dedication, talent, and leadership continue to inspire me in my current editing work with The Papers of Martin Van Buren.
To honor Betty’s memory, the Nuxoll family is holding a Celebration of Life ceremony at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock on August 9. Betty and her husband Bob were active members of this church for several years. Those interested in attending the event may do so in person or online via a livestream. More information may be found here.