Mark Keller – Alcohol Studies Archives

Mark Keller (1907-1995) began his career with the Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol as an editorial assistant and would later become its editor as well as that of its successor, the Journal of Studies on Alcohol. Additionally, he published numerous journal articles, books and chapters on a variety of topics related to alcohol and literature documentation. He was instrumental in developing the library at the Center of Alcohol Studies. In 1977, he was named editor emeritus of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and professor emeritus of Rutgers University.

In addition to his work on the Journal, Keller was also instrumental in advancing the scientific aspects of Alcohol Studies. He laid the framework for the development of the Alcohol Studies Library by establishing the Classified Abstract Archive of the Alcohol Literature (CAAAL), the first and most extensive alcohol-themed collection at the time of its inception. Its manual offered the very first taxonomy and classification in the field.

Keller edited the International Bibliography of Studies on Alcohol and many other special publications and monographs as well as a pioneering dictionary on words related to alcohol. He also lectured and taught extensively all over the world.

He donated his papers to the Center of Alcohol Studies. The Mark Keller Papers contain early and mid-20^th century correspondence between Keller and members of the alcohol studies community regarding seminars, conferences, committee meetings and travel notes. Files contain notes on Keller’s views on disease concept, research, relationship between alcohol and religion and alcohol and various aspects of society. The collection is also a treasure trove of information about the Keller’s involvement with the National Institute of Health, the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and his reports to the Congress and President.

Born in Austria on February 21, Mark Keller came from a humble background. He immigrated with his family to New York in 1913 without a formal education or any university degrees. Despite this setback, Keller began working as an editorial assistant at various New York newspapers in 1924. His talent was soon noticed by Dr. Norman Jolliffe, the head of medical service of the psychiatric division at Bellevue Hospital. Jolliffe hired Keller as an editorial assistant.

In 1939, Keller moved to the New York University’s School of Medicine with Dr. Jolliffe. A grant from the Carnegie Corporation soon added E. M. Jellinek to their group. The goal was to create a review of literature on “the biological effects of alcohol on man.” This marked Keller and Jellinek’s beginning in the field of alcohol studies.

Both men soon moved to Yale University, in 1941, upon the invitation of Haggard to work on the Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol. There, they were able to complete the literature review. Keller quickly moved up the editorial ranks from 1942 to 1959 when he was named editor of the journal. His efforts helped found the first Center of Alcohol Studies. While still at Yale, Keller began compiling the annual Statistics on Consumption of Alcohol and on Alcoholism.

In 1962, Keller moved to Rutgers University with the Center of Alcohol Studies. As the Center’s Document Division Director, he was responsible for abstracting and indexing world scientific literature on alcohol as well as documentation and publication tasks besides the journal, such as Classified Abstract Archive of Alcohol Literature (CAAAL), the International Bibliography of Studies on Alcohol, and other pamphlets and scholarly manuscripts.

Throughout his career, Keller received numerous awards even following his retirement in 1977 from the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Rutgers University. He continued to teach at numerous universities around the country and served on several government commissions. Keller died in 1995. Following his death, the NIAAA Mark Keller Honorary Lecture Series was established, to honor researchers who make significant contributions to the field each year.

Keller is best remembered for his influence on the field of alcohol studies. He was able to move the field from the post-Temperance period into modernity. He insisted on the inclusion of control groups in alcohol research and was very critical of research done at the time. His strict nature allowed the field to develop. Keller also fostered the growth of the world’s most complete alcohol-related library, as well as the Classified Abstract Archive of the Alcohol Literature.

Keller began his career in alcohol research in the 1930s and over his long career was a major contributor to the field. In particular, Keller was influential in helping to create the Center’s library, as well indexing and abstracting alcohol literature.

1907: Born in Austria on February 21st
1913: Immigrates to the New York on June 4^th from Hungary
1924: Works as an editorial assistant at various newspapers
1933: Begins work for Dr. Norman Jolliffe as an editorial assistant
1939: Moves to the New York University’s School of Medicine with Dr. Jolliffe; Joins Jellinek to create a review of literature on “the biological effects of alcohol on man” thanks to grant from the Carnegie Corporation
1941: Joins by Howard W. Haggard at the Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol at Yale University; Completes literature review
1942: Becomes editorial secretary for Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol
1943: Becomes assistant editor for Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol
1950: Becomes managing editor for Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol
1952: Begins compiling and publishing annual compendium, Statistics on Consumption of Alcohol and on Alcoholism
1959: Becomes editor for Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol
1962: Moves to Rutgers University with Center for Alcohol Studies; Becomes Document Division Director
1967: Receives North American Association of Alcoholism Programs Recognition Award
1974: Serves as visiting scientist for National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; Teaches at Columbia University; Serves as consulting editor on the First and editor of the Second Special Report to the U.S. Congress on Alcohol and Health
1976: Receives Hammond Award for Distinguished Medical Journalism from American Medical Writers Association, Metropolitan Chapter
1977: Retires as editor of Journal for Studies on Alcohol and Professor at Rutgers University; Serves as Task Force Member on Presidential Commission on Mental Health, appointed by President Jimmy Carter
1978: Becomes Emeritus Professor at Rutgers University; Mark Keller Award established by Center for Alcohol Studies
1979: Serves on Science Advisory Board, Mary Cullen Research Trust
1980: Becomes Adjunct Professor at Brandeis University
1981: Becomes acting editor for Journal of Studies on Alcohol
1982: Retires from acting editor for Journal of Studies on Alcohol
1983: Becomes Visiting Professor at Rutgers University
1995: Dies on August 12^th in Brookline, MA
1996: NIAAA Mark Keller Honorary Lecture series established

Keller’s editorial talents are primarily what he is remembered for. However, it is difficult to forget that he was a frequent author with over 200 publications during his lifetime.

Selected Works

Keller, M. (1962). The definition of alcoholism and the estimation of its prevalence. In D.J. Pittman and C.R. Snyder (eds.), Society, Culture, and Drinking Patterns. New York: Wiley.

Keller, M. & MacInnes, M. (1968). A dictionary of words about Alcohol. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers Center of Alcohol Studies.

Keller, M. (1972). On the Loss‐of‐Control Phenomenon in Alcoholism. British Journal of Addiction to Alcohol & Other Drugs, 67(3), 153-166.

Keller, M. (1972). The Disease Concept of Alcoholism Revisited. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 37(11), 1694-1717.

Edwards, G.; Gross, M.M.; Keller, M.; Moder, J.; Room, R. (1977). Alcohol-Related Disabilities. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.

The Mark Keller Papers at CAS Library

A collection of

over 1,000 letters and documents, including correspondence or personal papers, from Yandell Henderson, several European scientists, Howard Haggard, Norman Jolliffe, Morris Chafetz (first director of NIAAA), and many others
constitute the finest collection of primary source materials in the entire field
rich and irreplaceable scholarly resource