Teresa Wallman, LMB Archive Assistant and previously joint Library and Archive Assistant for over 12 years, died on Thursday 5th January, at the age of 48, following long-term health problems associated with a congenital heart defect.
Teresa was born in Cambridge and attended Chesterton Community College and Cambridge Regional College. She studied Early Modern History and Irish Studies, at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham, London. Returning to Cambridge, she worked as a Museum Attendant at the Fitzwilliam Museum and then joined the Government Office for the East of England. Her first role was as an Administrative Officer in Human Resources for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), before moving to the Business Support Team.
She joined the LMB in October 2010, on secondment from the Business Support Team. Looking for a career change, and keen to work in libraries and information services, she was taken on as a joint Library and Archive Assistant. She became a permanent member of staff from April 2012, and changed to working solely in the LMB Archive in 2018.
In the Library, she oversaw document delivery requests for material from other libraries, and was also responsible for the book catalogue and loans and keeping electronic journal lists up-to-date. She assisted with Open Access requests, keeping compliance records and helped train new Library staff and new Library users. She was the first port of call for many visitors to the Library, particularly when we moved to the new LMB building in 2013, where she occupied the front information desk.
In the Archive, she helped keep key databases up-to-date, including the list of LMB Alumni, the LMB’s Collected Papers (scientific publications) and newspaper articles. She also assisted with enquiries, displays, writing biographies and news stories, and helped at many Alumni and Public Engagement events, including the official opening in 2013, the Alumni Symposium in 2014 and Open Days in 2013 and 2017.
Although quiet and unassuming, she was a very friendly and helpful member of both teams, and to many visitors to the Library and Archive, greeting people with her lovely, warm smile. Those who came to know her well enjoyed her understated but keen sense of humour.
Teresa’s funeral service is on Wednesday 25th January, 10:30am, at St Laurence Roman Catholic Church, Milton Road, Cambridge. Friends, colleagues and former colleagues are all welcome to attend.