Prospective students wondering if they are distantly related to the Duke family know who to turn to for an answer: University Archivist Tim Pyatt, Trinity '81.

Pyatt, who said he gets asked about the genealogy of the University's founding family more frequently when admission applications are due, looks into and answers questions about nearly every facet of the school for students, faculty and members of the administration.

Pyatt and his staff are responsible for a wide range of historical artifacts, from Duke memorabilia to alumni scrapbooks.

His job goes far beyond research, however. Pyatt's office contributes to news releases and presentations, works with documentary filmmakers and responds to media inquiries.

Shortly after he started his job in February 2002, even the number-crunching sports network ESPN turned to Pyatt for help about a question pertaining to the history of Duke basketball.

"I was like, 'I've finally arrived! SportsCenter wants stats from me,'" Pyatt said.

He explained that his years at Duke have been dynamic both because of the extensive library renovations underway and the changing nature of the archives, much of which is now electronic content.

For example, Pyatt said, his office is working with the Graduate School to encourage students to submit their dissertations electronically.

"It's been an interesting time to be working at the library because so much is being transformed," he said.

It is fitting that Pyatt is so deeply involved with Duke's history. His father and wife are both graduates of the University, and his daughter, Laura, is currently a senior.

While earning a degree in history at Duke, Pyatt was drawn to the University's libraries. He got his start in the music library and then worked for the Rare Book Department his junior year.

"I always thought I would want to come back to the library at Duke," he said.

After earning his degree in library science at North Carolina Central University and then working at the University of Oregon, the University of Maryland and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Pyatt got his chance to return to his alma mater.

"It's been a good fit for me and hopefully a good fit for Duke," he said of his experience as the archivist.

Most recently, Pyatt has been working on a Duke history display in the Gothic Reading Room in Perkins Library, a project that will be completed by the end of the semester. "It's been one of the most gratifying things I've done," he said.

A large portion of the project, which addresses topics from the history of the Blue Devil mascot to the desegregation of the University, is already on display in the Gothic Reading Room.

"We see this room as becoming a real University history destination," Pyatt said.