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Mark Keller

Portrait
Mark Keller (Photo: Rutgers Alcohol Studies Archive)

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-20th 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.

Biography

Born in Austria on February 21, 1907, Mark Keller came from a humble background. He immigrated with his family to New York in 1913. Listing his education as "private" on his cv, he had no formal education or any university degrees. The talented, well-read, and well-spoken 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 the 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 the 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 Howard 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 and the Classified Abstract Archive of the Alcohol Literature.

Career Highlights

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

1942    Becomes editorial secretary for Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol           
1944    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; receives the Jellinek Memorial Award         
1978    Becomes Emeritus Professor at Rutgers University; Mark Keller Award established by Center of 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 12th in Brookline, MA          
1996    NIAAA Mark Keller Honorary Lecture series established 

Selected Publications

Additional Resources

The Mark Keller Papers curated by the Information Services Division of the Center of Alcohol Studies:

  • 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
  • one of the finest collection of primary source materials in the entire field
  • a rich and irreplaceable scholarly resource
  • currently housed in the Rutgers University Libraries Annex (Location code: A79K02-A79K05)
  • partially digitized and available in RUcore, the Rutgers University Community Repository 

From the Digital Alcohol Studies Archives