Lawson Appointed Archivist for Diocese of Youngstown

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Bishop David J. Bonnar has appointed Joan Lawson as archivist for the Diocese of Youngstown. The diocesan archivist is a new position, providing administrative and policy leadership for the diocesan archives, records management program, and electronic document management systems.

The appointment of Lawson as diocesan archivist, within the Office of the Chancellor, follows the earlier appointment of Father David Misbrenner as curator of the patrimony. “We need to give joyful witness to our history. It has been my dream since I arrived to establish a diocesan archives,” Bonnar says.

Lawson is a native of Youngstown. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Youngstown State University, a master’s in history and certificate in historical agency administration from Northeastern University in Boston. After extensive professional experience in public history, she later earned a master’s of religious education from Loyola University of New Orleans in their extension program (with the Diocese of Youngstown).

She has served in professional parish ministry at St. Paul in Salem, St. Brendan in Youngstown, Immaculate Heart of Mary in Austintown, and St. Michael in Canfield.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.