Alice Prochaska (born 12 July 1947) is a former archivist and librarian, who served as Pro-vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford and Principal of Somerville College, Oxford, from 2010 to 2017.[1]
Alice Prochaska studied at Somerville College in the University of Oxford and received BA and DPhil degrees in Modern History.
Prochaska was initially a museum curator, and then an archivist at the Public Record Office, now The National Archives. From 1984 to 1992 she was administrator and deputy director at the Institute of Historical Research, University of London. From 1992 to 2001 she was Director of Special Collections at the British Library. She then became head librarian at Yale University, United States, from 2001 to 2010.[2] [3] She became Principal of Somerville College from 1 September 2010.[4] [5] She was affectionately known as 'Ali P' by the student body.[6] She stepped down at the end of her seven-year term in August 2017.[7]
Prochaska was involved with the design of the first National Curriculum for history in the United Kingdom during 1989–90. She was a governor of London Guildhall University, now part of London Metropolitan University. She chaired the National Council on Archives and was a member of the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts. Prochaska is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and served as vice-president from 1995 to 1999. In the US she chaired the Center for Research Libraries and several committees of the Association of Research Libraries, served on the board of Yale University Press, and lectured on subjects relating to archives and special collections. During her tenure at Somerville she served as a Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford. She chairs the Sir Winston Churchill Archive Trust. She also lectures and publishes on topics related to national heritage and national identity.
Prochaska is an Honorary Fellow of Somerville College.[8]
Alice Prochaska is married to the historian Frank Prochaska.[9]