1933-1981
Milo Barrett Howard Jr. (1933 – 1981) served as the Alabama Department of Archives and History’s fourth director from 1967 until he died in 1981. Howard is remembered as a consummate Southern gentleman with an encyclopedic memory revered for advancing the cause of historic preservation in Alabama, both as the inaugural State Historic Preservation Officer and as co-founder of the Landmarks Foundation of Montgomery.
Born and raised in Montgomery, a love of history was instilled in Howard at a young age by his mother and grandmother. Howard graduated from Sidney Lanier High School and continued his studies at Auburn University, graduating in 1955 with a triple major in history, English, and foreign languages. While in college, Howard took a summer job with the Alabama Department of Archives and History that would impact his future. Howard continued working at the Archives through the remainder of his undergraduate studies.
He then served for two years with the U.S. Army Reserves, achieving the rank of Lieutenant and specializing in military intelligence. After his discharge, Howard returned to Auburn University to pursue a master's degree in history. His part-time work at the Archives resumed and, in 1958, he was hired by the agency's director, Peter Brannon, in a full-time archival position. When Brannon died in January 1967, the Archives Board of Trustees immediately designated Howard as the agency's fourth director. His directorship lasted for the rest of his life and was marked by observances of the Alabama Sesquicentennial in 1969 and the United States Bicentennial in 1976.
Owing to the dozens of historic lectures he delivered across Alabama, Howard was renowned statewide as a man of great intellect, exceptional memory, and wise counsel. His profile was further elevated through the receipt of such awards and honors as the Montgomery Junior Chamber of Commerce's Distinguished Service Award in 1968, and an honorary doctorate from Livingston University (now the University of West Alabama) in 1978.