Knowles' appointment will be effective July 1, when present Schlesinger Library Director Mary Maples Dunn becomes the interim leader of Radcliffe.

"We are fortunate to be able to turn to Jane Knowles to sustain momentum in the Schlesinger Library's development and services at this significant time in Radcliffe's history," said Wilson. "Ms. Knowles brings strong professional credentials and a record of exceptional dedication to her new assignment."

Knowles, who joined Radcliffe in 1978, is currently responsible for cataloging manuscript collections, acquiring special collections of alumnae papers, and recording oral histories. She has lectured extensively about archiving and about the Schlesinger Library, including most recently at last fall's "Gender at the Gates" Conference at Harvard and Radcliffe. An associate of Harvard's Pforzheimer House, Knowles is the chair of the Schlesinger Library Research Support Committee.

"Jane will do an exceptional job as head of the Library," said Dunn. "She has vast and deep knowledge of Radcliffe and the Schlesinger and I look forward to working with her in her new capacity."

Previously, Knowles worked as an editorial assistant at the Massachusetts Historical Society, as an archivist for the Boston Athenaeum, and as a history teacher in Oxford, England. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Oxford University.