Born in Dallas, Texas, in 1954, journalist and author Herbert “Herb” P. Weiss graduated from the University of Texas in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a concentration in Social Work. He received his Master of Arts in Studies in Aging in 1977 and a Specialist Certificate in Aging in 1979 from North Texas State University (now called the University of North Texas). Weiss also completed 24 hours of doctoral courses in public policy administration at the University of Maryland’s Baltimore County Campus from 1980-1985.
Weiss began to establish himself as a journalist in 1980 and continued to write and contribute to various publications covering aging, healthcare, and other medical issues for over 45 years. He oversaw editorial content for seven nationally published trade publications, newsletters and newspapers. These include founding editor of Aging Network News (1985-1988); editor of three medical-related national newsletters on CPT, CPR coding, as well as Medicare reimbursement issues for physicians (1988-1999); editor of Senior Law Report and Marketing to Seniors (1990-1991); managing editor of Brown University LTQ Quality Letter (1993); the Blackstone Valley beat for the Providence Journal (1994); and founding editor of Senior Living, now called Prime Time (1997-1998).
From 1983 to 2000, Weiss served as a member of the editorial board for five national publications covering nursing home and aging issues, including Contemporary Long Term Care (1993-1990), The Journal of Long Term Administrators (1985-1995), Aging Network News (1991-1993), McKnight’s TLC News (1992-2000), and Brown University Long-Term Quality Letter (1993).
Additionally, Weiss has published Taking Charge: Collected Stories on Aging Boldly (2016), followed by Taking Charge: Volume 2 More Stories on Aging Boldly (2021). The third sequel, Taking Charge: Volume 3 Lots More Stories on Aging Boldly, was published in 2025. These volumes compile a collection of his commentaries published in Blackstone Valley Call & Times and RINewsToday.
The collection consists of the works of Herbert P. Weiss and documents related to him and his accomplishments. Much of the collection contains various publications to which Weiss contributed as a writer, editor, or as a member of the editorial board. These include magazines, newspapers, newsletters, and trade publications all dealing with the topics of aging, senior life, healthcare, and federal and state public policy issues. Also featured in the collection are the degrees, certificates, and awards Herbert P. Weiss received through higher education and his career as a journalist.
Researchers are advised to contact Rhode Island College Special Collections for questions regarding permissions to reproduce, distribute, or otherwise publish material from this collection. Although Rhode Island College has physical ownership of the collection, it does not necessarily hold literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
The collection is open for research.
Herbert P. Weiss papers, MSS-0149, Special Collections, James P. Adams Library, Rhode Island College.
The collection has been arranged into the following series and subseries based on format:
The collection was donated to Adams Library Special Collections in 2024 by Herbert P. Weiss. A deed of gift was signed by Weiss at the time of donation.
The collection was arranged and described in 2024 by Hydin Stallman, Special Collections student worker, under the supervision of Veronica L. Denison, Digital Archivist and Special Collections Librarian. Additional description was added by Denison in 2025.
Several publications within the collection have been fully digitized and had their physical copies removed for preservation purposes. These materials are available within the Herbert P. Weiss papers on
Books written by Herb Weiss have been cataloged and added to the Herb Weiss Rare Books Collection within Special Collections.
Several newspapers, magazines, and other publications were digitized and removed from the physical collection due to their condition. These materials are available within the Herbert P. Weiss papers on RIC Digital Collections and are listed by file title in Subseries 2a within the collection inventory. A majority of the electronic files have been modified to display only Weiss’s articles due to copyright. Any publication in which Weiss was involved in the editorial process is available to view in its entirety.
The
This series contains various physical materials published by, or relating to the accomplishments of, Herbert P. Weiss. It includes articles and reports written by Weiss, publications Weiss played an active role in the editorial process for, and certificates and degrees awarded to Weiss throughout his life.
File only available electronically.
This series is only available electronically.
This subseries contains digitized articles authored by Herbert P. Weiss and publications where he contributed to the editorial process. The subseries is largely organized by publication and a majority of the electronic files have been modified to display only Weiss’s articles due to copyright. Any publication in which Weiss was involved in the editorial process is available to view in its entirety, however they are not available online. All folders in this subseries but 3, 15, 27, 29, 42, and 45 are available online within the
Not available online but available in the Special Collections Reading Room. Folder contains full editions of Aging News issues which Weiss’s articles were published in. For the articles he wrote, see Box 2 Folder 2
Not available online but available in the Special Collections Reading Room
Not available online but available in the Special Collections Reading Room
Not available online but available in the Special Collections Reading Room
Not available online but available in the Special Collections Reading Room
Not available online but available in the Special Collections Reading Room
Not available online but available in the Special Collections Reading Room
The Herb Weiss blog contains a variety of publications Weiss published through the years. It has been preserved online by RIC Special Collections and can be viewed through the Herb Weiss collection on Archive-it.org. The blog is continuously being updated by Herb Weiss and preserved monthly by Special Collections.