Preserving the Documents of the Past and Making Them Accessible to the Future! Volume 43, Number 2 (169) www.midwestarchives.org October 2015

It’s Not Too Early to Start Thinking About It: Ready to Renew? ArchivesFest in the City of Festivals! It’s autumn—and that means it’s almost time to renew your MAC membership! Keep an eye out for membership renewal reminders in your e-mail. And, when you renew, consider sup- porting MAC’s scholarship funds and other financial obligations.

Fall Symposium 2015 Learn all about what hap- pened at the Fall Symposium, “Hard Skills for Managing Digital Collections in Archives,” in the January issue of the Howard Heston Bailey Map of Milwaukee, 1872. Image courtesy of the American MAC Newsletter! Geographical Society Library at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Summerfest, Polish Fest, PrideFest, Germanfest, Feste italiane, Labor Fest, Arab In This Issue… World Fest, Mexican Fiesta, Petfest, Oktoberfest, Indian Summer Festival! What do these have in common? President’s Page...... 2 (Continued on page 3)

MAC News...... 3 MAC Seeks Nominations for Presidents’ Award News from the The MAC Presidents’ Award was es- region. Each state committee may Midwest...... 15. tablished in 1986 as a means for MAC put forward only one nomination per Archival Resources to recognize significant contributions year. As many as three awards may on the Web...... 17 to the archival profession by individu- be presented each year. Recipients are als, institutions, and organizations invited to attend the Members’ Meet- Electronic Currents...... 20. not directly involved in archival work ing held at MAC’s Annual Meeting to Mixed Media...... 23 but knowledgeable about its purpose receive their awards. and value. A committee comprising MAC uses this award to reward, Preservation Essentials...... 27 the three most recent past presidents and to shine a light on, many indi- of MAC chooses recipients based on Up-and-Comers...... 30. viduals and organizations—profit nominations submitted by committees People and Posts...... 32 in each of the 13 states in the MAC (Continued on page 5) MAC Contacts...... 34. President’s Page

September 2015

Hello MAC members, I want to thank the previous MAC president, Amy Cooper Cary, for leaving the organization in such an excellent state. As I have acclimated to my new role this summer, Amy has graciously and patiently responded to my questions as I settle in. My summer has been busy here at Cargill. We are midway through our 150th anniversary year, and the archives has wrapped up its contributions to 150 stories about Cargill’s heritage. We are also arranging artifacts to go on display during the employee celebration in October. In addition, our building is being gutted and redesigned over the next two years, which has entailed relocating Cargill’s art collection and will involve moving the archives next spring. Although summer is a light time for MAC business, there have been a few notable events. On May 27, the MAC Speakers Bureau sponsored a workshop on preservation in Abilene, Kansas, which was well attended and well received. Plans are underway for our Annual Meeting in Milwaukee this spring. A big thank you for all of the excellent program proposals already submitted. Program Committee and Local Arrangements Committee chairs have been selected for our meeting in Omaha in 2017, please see the announcement in this newsletter for additional details. And, if you were able to attend the annual meeting of the Society of American Archivists, I hope you had a chance to visit the MAC table and say hello. My focus this fall is on the next Council meeting, which, by the time you read this, will have been held prior to the Fall Symposium. During the meeting, we will undertake a strategic planning session. MA­C’s current strategic plan takes the organization through 2015, and we will look forward to 2020. A draft will be made available for review later this fall, but if you have thoughts about where MAC should be in the next five years, do not hesitate to get in touch with me at [email protected]. Lastly, I want to draw your attention to a new career planning discussion forum, archivescareerplan .proboards.com, which grew out of the open forum on Career Planning during the Lexington Annual Meeting. Check it out and join the conversation. Sincerely,

Jennifer Johnson President, Midwest Archives Conference

2 MAC Newsletter • October 2015 MAC News—Daria Labinsky, Assistant Editor, National Archives at St. Louis

ArchivesFest in the City of Festivals (Continued from page 1) In Milwaukee, if we love something, we fest it, As part of your festival travels, you may get to know most often on the lakefront. Milwaukee as a place of history. Traveling very far back Just as the snow is (probably) melting and spring is (theo- into that history—and just down the street at Milwaukee retically) here, from April 27 to 30, 2016, the Midwest Public Museum—see the most complete mammoth skel- Archives Conference will further this noble tradition and eton discovered in the United States. The mammoth lay celebrate ArchivesFest in the city of festivals. buried south of Milwaukee until the 1990s and represents the multiglaciated geological past of Wisconsin. Walk While many of the festivals in Milwaukee honor the mul- farther to the Milwaukee County Historical Society for titude of immigrant groups that have arrived on the shores city and regional history, and marvel at the 1913 Second of Lake Michigan for more than two centuries, other Ward Savings Bank that houses MCHS. It served as the festivals celebrate new cultures and common interests—so backdrop for the bank-robbery scene in the 2009 Johnny why not ours? Archivists descending on this city deserve Depp and Christian Bale movie Public Enemies. For a celebration as well. We envision a jovial and merry An- much more recent pop culture history, wander the lovely nual Meeting—a long weekend with food, drink, music, Riverwalk along the Milwaukee River and take a selfie motorcycles, and mingling to celebrate and expand the with the 2008 Bronze Fonz statue, commemorating the horizons of our unique archivists’ culture. set-in-Milwaukee Happy Days sitcom. But to fully participate in the events, you should learn from Wisconsinites How to Fest Properly. We offer the following helpful tips. First, get to know the festival grounds. The Hilton Milwaukee City Center Downtown will serve as the home base of ArchivesFest, where you can attend the conference workshops, sessions, and meetings, but also from which you can easily explore a lively city. From your ArchivesFest epicenter, you may discover that Milwaukee is home to many renowned art venues. The Milwaukee Art Museum on the Lake Michigan shore houses more than 25,000 items and features a set of movable wings (the work of architect Santiago Calatrava) Irish Fest is one of many held at Henry Maier Festival Park. whose 217-foot span opens and closes twice daily. It In the 1920s, the land served as an airport, and, in the 1950s, is within walking distance from the hotel. Marquette as a Nike missile site. Since 1970, it has been the grounds of University’s Haggerty Museum is also minutes away. On Milwaukee’s many festivals. Marquette’s campus, you can visit the Joan of Arc Chapel, Irish Fest Grounds, 1983. Image courtesy of the Ward Irish which originally stood in a French village south of Lyon Music Archive, Milwaukee. in the fifteenth century. Disassembled brick by brick, it was transported across the Atlantic and, after a few stops, To experience some of the ethnic flavor of Milwaukee’s was reassembled in 1964. festivals and to discover the city’s immigrant-rich history, you should find your way into the many distinctive urban Also close is the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, neighborhoods that lie closest to ArchivesFest. Explore, home of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, which will for example, the Historic Third Ward, just south of the be performing Brahms Symphonies No. 1 and No. 2 dur- hotel, nestled between downtown, the Milwaukee River, ing the weekend of the Annual Meeting. For theater fans, and the lake. Originally home to a large number of Irish the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre will present August immigrants, the Ward has a rich heritage. The walking Wilson’s Tony-winning drama Fences over ArchivesFest weekend. (Continued on page 4) MAC Newsletter • October 2015 3 MAC NEWS—Continued Daria Labinsky, Assistant Editor

(Continued from page 3) tour, available as a download, features buildings from the ignite, accelerate, and travel the open roads of the world. late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, built both You can even sit on “archive bikes” in the experience before and soon after a massive fire in 1892. Other delight- gallery—and take photos! ful nearby neighborhoods include Bay View, Walker’s During the reception, The Shop, purveyor of Harley- Point, the East Side, and Brady Street. Davidson art, attire, and accoutrements, will be open. You’d be amiss to attempt a Milwaukee festival without finding the sources of beer. ArchivesFest proves no Reserve your seat for your favorite shows. exception, and honestly, beer is not hard to find. The city Having become acquainted with the festival grounds and boasts at least 15 breweries, from the giant Miller-Coors attended the opening ceremony, you should be ready to to productive craft breweries like Lakefront Brewery, take in the heart of the ArchivesFest—the presentations, Milwaukee Brewing Company, and Sprecher Brewery, workshops, and vendor fairs that make up the Annual to tiny brewpubs offering their own lagers, pilsners, Meeting. and ales, such as the Water Street Brewery, not far from On the main stage at ArchivesFest will be our plenary the conference hotel. Some breweries offer their own speaker, Dennis Meissner, 2015–2016 president of the entertainment complex. Explore, for instance, the Horny Society of American Archivists. He serves as head of col- Goat Hideout—a brewery, bar, grill, and casual sports lections management at the Minnesota Historical Society and games complex on the Milwaukee River. and is an advocate and contributor to the development of Proper celebration of a Milwaukee festival also requires EAD. With Mark Greene, Meissner is a More Product, good food. While the fest committee and our sponsors Less Process prophet and guru. Come and give it up for will provide some local flavor at breaks during the meet- an archivist who gave us all license to save ourselves a lot ing, don’t miss the many excellent dining experiences in of time! Milwaukee. Our committee will put together a list of Beyond the main act, festivals in Milwaukee feature suggestions and descriptions of close-to-fest restaurants, hundreds of great performances in multiple venues, and diners, and bar-and-grills for your culinary adventures. ArchivesFest will be no exception. In keeping with the Our tours committee is arranging a variety of interesting, diverse nature of our hometown festivals, the Program enjoyable, engaging, and more-or-less archival preconfer- Committee has structured the Annual Meeting to offer ence tours to acquaint you with Milwaukee’s best qualities. many kinds of presentations concurrently, so that you can Stay tuned for tour announcements in upcoming articles. experience a breadth of style as well as content. Premeeting offerings will include the opportunity to register for an Wear appropriate attire (black leather and SAA Digital Archives Specialist workshop, in addition to boots). other workshop selections. Our opening reception will take place at a site celebrated Unique this year will be the depth of the poster session in honor of our hometown industry the world over—the participants. The Program Committee will ask recent Harley-Davidson Museum. Besides great entertainment, graduates—from 2013, 2014, and 2015—to present post- quintessential Milwaukee flavor, and a chance to network, ers as well, making it a Students and New Graduates Poster you’ll receive complimentary admission to this spectacular Competition. Come to ArchivesFest to experience what museum. the newest generation of our particular culture has to offer. Visit the museum to experience the history of the And, of course, at ArchivesFest, act like a true festgoer— Harley-Davidson Motor Company and culture from its post and tweet your experiences, photos, discoveries, and beginnings in the family shed to its current global acclaim. good times using #MAC16. You’ll see bikes—including Serial #1, bikes owned by celebrities, and bikes appearing in classic films. You’ll be Party with old friends and total strangers. stunned by a board track for daredevil racers! You’ll learn Who better to meet up with at a festival than old pals from about the development of the four-stroke engine and listen grad school, work colleagues, and network peers? Maybe a to recordings of classic Harley-Davidson engines in the total stranger! MAC Pals will again link experienced MAC hallowed Engine Room as they evolved to be bigger and Annual Meeting attendees with those new to the meeting more sophisticated. You’ll witness a motorcycle culture

4 MAC Newsletter • October 2015 MAC NEWS—Continued Daria Labinsky, Assistant Editor

to help them find their way around ArchivesFest and reap the greatest benefits from our quality programming. MAC Nominate a Special MACer for the Pals has brought together new-ish and old-ish archivists Distinguished Service Award! successfully. You can sign up to participate when you register for the meeting. MAC’s Distinguished Service Award recognizes the otherwise unsung contributions of our MAC Stay too long and go home too full. friends and colleagues who have given a great deal It’s not a festival if you go home early or hungry. Using to the organization. Please take a moment to think these tips, we guarantee that ArchivesFest in the City of of all the people you know who have been quietly Festivals will fill you up with many quality experiences, contributing their time and talents to MAC: the new contacts, professional knowledge, ideas, innovation, people who offer to serve on committees and are ready and excitement about our common endeavors. We hope to fill in as workshop leaders or session participants to see you at ArchivesFest in the City of Festivals—Mil- at the last minute, or those who will happily work at waukee in April 2016! the registration table when they learn that someone has just canceled, or those who can whip up a quick article for the newsletter when you need to fill that last quarter-page. Now take a few minutes to put into words why MAC should recognize at least one of those people, and submit your description on the MAC Distinguished Service Award nomination form posted on the MAC website, www.midwestarchives.org/ MAC Seeks Nominations for Presidents’ Award assets/documents/dsaform.pdf. The Distinguished Service Award was created to recognize individuals (Continued from page 1) who give generously of their time and talent with and nonprofit—who have directly benefited archival little or no formal recognition and who likely have repositories in MAC’s region. Awardees have included never served in an elected MAC position. Since its folks who provided resources that helped MAC members inception, MAC has made this award to a very small acquire and care for important collections; volunteers and group of deserving individuals. benefactors who made notable contributions to the success Please consider nominating someone for his or her of an archives; public officials who went to bat for archival dedication to MAC. The deadline for nominations programs in their states or regions. The Presidents’ Award is January 31, 2016. For guidelines, visit midwestarc gives us a way to recognize the important contributions of .memberclicks.net/distinguished-service-award. For our stakeholders. As such, it is one of the more important more information, contact Tanya Zanish-Belcher at advocacy tools that MAC possesses. Sadly, no awards [email protected]. were made in 2015; that means that we squandered an opportunity to thank some people who have helped us. Let’s not let that happen in 2016! Please start thinking about people who have made an important difference to your program, and then nominate one of them for the Presidents’ Award. To nominate someone, please complete the nomination form on the MAC website and address it to the appropriate state chair no later than January 15, 2016. Full contact information for the state chairs can be found on the MAC website under “MAC Presidents’ Award,” www .midwestarchives.org/presidents-award, along with a list of the award’s past recipients. For additional information about the award and guidelines, please contact Tanya Zanish-Belcher at [email protected]. MAC Newsletter • October 2015 5 MAC NEWS—Continued Daria Labinsky, Assistant Editor

Winners of the 2015 Archie Motley Memorial Scholarship Share Their Experiences My interest and involvement in My first MAC Annual Meeting archival use and scholarship con- provided a memorable gateway to tinues to grow. Being a part of archives as a profession. An added MAC’s Annual Meeting allowed bonus was that I was able to share me to meet new people in the field, my own research and experience share my passion for archival work in audio preservation with a poster as social activism, and learn from titled “Deafening Silence: Preserva- others new and innovative ways to tion of Sound Recordings.” understand the past. Truth be told, I did not know I am especially passionate about an Angelica Bullock what to expect at a conference for Treshani Perera archives’ ability to help empower archivists. I considered myself an silenced communities, voice their narratives, and expand amateur in archives, with only one short-term internship their collective memories. My academic intent is to advance under my belt prior to attending MAC 2015. As an aspiring diversity and social justice. Currently, I am a first-year gradu- music archivist, I thought of myself as a newbie in unfamiliar ate student at the University of Louisville in the pan-African territory, but little did I know that I was about to find myself studies doctoral program with a certificate in public history. quite at home! My concentration is African American history, more specifi- I was very excited to attend MAC 2015 for many reasons, cally focusing on the civil rights era. including its program heavy with sessions focusing on My interest in archival studies lies in its ability to hold much audiovisual (AV) archives. It was my deep interest in issues importance in society, because it concerns the preservation related to preservation and access of archaic audio formats of people and communities. I truly believe archives are the that led me to take my first archives course last fall, and the “first” places that hold a person’s and a community’s voice. sessions at MAC 2015 truly ignited a passion for seeking Archival research, because of its importance in vocalizing opportunities in AV archiving. Recently, I landed my first societies, is an act of social justice. Archival studies attempt preprofessional position as a student assistant for AV collec- objective assessments of marginalized groups that have been tions at UW–Milwaukee Archives, in addition to ongoing misunderstood and/or historically misrepresented. volunteer work at Marquette University Archives and Special Collections exploring all aspects of archives as a profession. Several experiences have allowed me to make a connection The inspiration to pursue these opportunities came after between the importance of archival work and the ability to witnessing the tireless efforts and unmeasurable wealth of be a tool to empower the black community. This includes knowledge shared by professionals at MAC 2015! learning the techniques of archival management and histori- cal preservation, while a class featuring oral history allowed What drew me to a professional interest in archives is simply me to conduct interviews, transcribe, and index. My training a moral obligation as an information specialist to preserve in archival studies provides me with the opportunity to what is old. However, my journey so far has allowed me preserve and highlight the black experience. I am currently to look at preservation from a different angle—not just as writing a paper looking at the connection of archives and a means of conserving what is old, but also how it creates public memory and at how black women have recently used access for others to be inspired by the past. traditional and nontraditional methods of archiving to create I am extremely grateful to have received the Archie Motley change and agency for black people. Memorial Scholarship for Minority Students, which will I am delighted to receive the Archie Motley award, especially allow me to continue graduate studies as a second-year MLIS in remembrance of Archie Motley, his legacy to the field of student at UW–Milwaukee. MAC 2015 was a wonderful archival studies, and his place in creating a space and voice for opportunity for a budding music archivist like myself, who the black community and other marginalized communities. was nervous about how to fit into a community of seasoned Additionally, I am honored to be in such great company with archivists and curators. Thank you for changing that mindset all the other winners. Thank you for awarding me this schol- and welcoming me to be a part of the MAC family. I am arship and the opportunity to experience such a wonderful already looking forward to MAC 2016 in Milwaukee! conference. I am excited to be a part of the MAC community, By Treshani Perera, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and I look forward to attending more conferences! Archives and Marquette University Archives and Special Collection By Angelica Bullock, Pan-African Studies and Public History, University of Louisville

6 MAC Newsletter • October 2015 MAC NEWS—Continued Daria Labinsky, Assistant Editor

2015 Emeritus Scholar Thanks MAC By Karis Raeburn, Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother–US/Caribbean Province, Oshkosh, Wisconsin

The 2015 MAC Annual Meeting in Lexington, Kentucky, I should throw in a Harry Potter was my first experience at a professional conference in or a Cher reference here). I tried America, and it was great! to pick a mixture of sessions that fit the needs of my institution and I was nervous—I am a very new archivist. I graduated with appealed to my personal interests, my public history MA in May 2014, and I have been in and this worked well for me. my lone arranger role just nine months. Add to that my fear of becoming “the foreign kid with the hair,” and it I thought that MAC provided a seemed like a recipe for awkwardness. Thankfully, all my really well-rounded experience fears were unfounded as MAC lived up to its reputation of outside of the sessions. I went on Karis Raeburn being friendly and welcoming. I met so many interesting the “Downtown Lexington African American History” people and was able to make really useful connections, walking tour and found it fascinating. The ample op- especially with other lone arrangers and with archivists portunities for social interaction probably provided the working for religious congregations. Realizing that your most benefit to me, and thanks to the “Triple Crown of issues are no different from anyone else’s is surprisingly Internal Outreach” session, I now know how to explain comforting. that to my employer! I found the sessions informative and challenging, and I I would like to thank the selection committee for awarding especially enjoyed the variety of styles of presentation. I me this scholarship and the donors for making it possible. found the nontraditional formats very engaging (even The meeting proved to be an invaluable learning tool though the thought of actually participating in a discus- for me and has given me a solid foundation to show the sion held an element of terror). The only difficulty was importance of continuing education to my employer. As deciding which sessions to attend. I’d have loved to have long as USCIS allows me to stay in the country, I’ll see been able to turn back time and attend them all (I imagine you next year in Milwaukee!

MAC Newsletter • October 2015 7 MAC NEWS—Continued Daria Labinsky, Assistant Editor

2015 Louisa Bowen Memorial Scholarship Winner Shares Her Thoughts By Samantha Smith, MA/MLIS, Loyola University Chicago/Dominican University

As I write this essay for the MAC continue to advocate for people and their stories. My newsletter, I am preparing for my advocacy efforts focus on individuals and communities final year as a graduate student who identify with and/or above, beyond, and outside the in the dual public history MA/ LGBTQIQA umbrella; individuals and communities MLIS program through Loyola with alternative and nonconforming gender expres- University Chicago and Domini- sions; individuals and communities with alternative can University. It feels surreal to and nonconforming sexual expressions; individuals and be where I am, a space I refer to communities of color; individuals and communities with as the future now. During my first invisible, emotional, mental, and physical disabilities; and Samantha A. Smith archival internship at Gettysburg individuals and communities who struggle with issues National Military Park, I came across a photograph related to immigration and citizenship. of summer interns from the 1960s. The photograph In Silencing the Past: The Power and Production of His- impacted me, because in it were people like me, people tory, Michel-Rolph Trouillot identifies four areas in the who preserved and interpreted history by, for, and with historical process that create silences. The four areas are the public. Or put another way, people who loved stories “fact creation (the making of sources); […] fact assembly and storytelling. For me it is all about stories, and I get to (the making of archives); […] fact retrieval (the making of experience them in so many different ways as an archival narratives); and […] retrospective significance (the making professional, public historian, and historian. of history in the final instance)” (p. 26). Archivists help People often ask me about what I do. “What is public determine what histories get preserved and whose stories history?,” some casually ask, or, “Do you want to continue get told. Each day, archivists encounter opportunities to your work in research libraries?” Some want to know more either further silence an individual, community, or story, about my research interests or even conferences I presented or to advocate on its behalf and create a space. I commit at in the past. For me, though, it is not what but why. Why myself to the latter, because, as Audre Lorde once said, did I want these degrees? Why do I want to go on for a “Your silence will not protect you.” PhD in American history? Why do I want to bridge gaps I did not learn about the archival profession in isolation, between public history, academic history, and archival but rather as a part of a larger community. My archival science? Why do I want to teach students? The answer to mentors are not the only ones to thank for that but also all these questions is the same. I want people to know that MAC, an organization devoted to professional reflection. who they are and where they come from matter. I want My relationship with MAC does not end as a scholarship the people who enter my corner of the world to know that recipient, as I hope to get more involved once I graduate their histories and their stories matter. from the dual-degree program. I want to be there for I do what I do because not everyone believes that who graduate and undergraduate students the way MAC they are is historically significant or historically relevant. members were there for me: with confidence and support. I see myself as an advocate, and I also see archival spaces Or, more important, as an advocate. as opportunities for advocacy. I advocate and want to

8 MAC Newsletter • October 2015 MAC NEWS—Continued Daria Labinsky, Assistant Editor Minutes of the Council Meeting Midwest Archives Conference May 7, 2015

President Amy Cooper Cary called the regular meeting of committee’s report. Council discussed the need to clarify the Council of the Midwest Archives Conference to order the “new professional” category for poster submissions. at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2015, at the Hilton/ Council also discussed procedures for responding to Lexington Downtown in Lexington, Kentucky. speakers who are unable to present. Council members in attendance: President Cooper Cooper Cary, Program Committee cochair of the 2016 Cary, Vice President David McCartney, Treasurer Joel Annual Meeting (Milwaukee), indicated that the com- Thoreson, Secretary Michael Doylen, Mary Ellen Ducey, mittee has settled on the theme of “ArchivesFest.” Call Jennifer Johnson, Daria Labinsky, Erik Moore, Jennie for proposals will be made during the week of August 10 Thomas, and Anne Thomason. A quorum was present. with a submission deadline of October 1 (editor’s note: later changed to September 25). Guest present: Michelle Sweetser Doylen, Local Arrangements Committee cochair of the It was moved and seconded to approve the agenda as 2016 Annual Meeting, presented the committee’s report. presented. It was moved and seconded to set registration rates as fol- Vice President’s Report lows: advanced registration rates for members at $80, for nonmembers at $95, and for students at $50; postdeadline McCartney presented his report. He introduced a proposal registration rates for members at $95, for nonmembers at for the Fall 2016 Symposium to be held in Ann Arbor, $105, and for students at $60; and one-day registration Michigan, on the topic of copyright. Council indicated rate at $60. Council unanimously passed the motion with general support, but deferred voting until the proposal is all members voting. It was moved and seconded to set the more fully developed. He introduced a proposal to hold reception rate for guests at $25. Council unanimously the 2018 Annual Meeting in Chicago. Council asked passed the motion with all members voting. McCartney to work with AMC to identify possible meeting venues. He then solicited suggestions for the Daardi Sizemore and Ann Kenne, cochairs of the Organiz- 2017 Symposium. ing Committee of the 2015 Symposium (Minneapolis), joined Council and presented their report. Speakers Council discussed the report of the 2015 Local Ar- would like to cap registration at 60. Council noted that rangements Committee (Lexington). Council discussed capping registration at 60 may not allow the Organizing communication issues between the vendor coordinator Committee to meet the room block, which would result and the LAC; McCartney will follow up. Cooper Cary in additional fees. Council encouraged the committee to asked that the LAC manual be reviewed to ensure that revisit the registration cap with the speakers in light of the communication expectations are clear. entire Symposium budget. It was moved and seconded Bethany Anderson, Organizing Committee cochair of the to set registration rates at $150 for members, $175 for 2014 Symposium (Urbana-Champaign), joined Council nonmembers, and $75 for students. Council unanimously and presented the committee’s final report. Council passed the motion with all members voting. discussed low attendance at the reception and affirmed Ducey and Eisloeffel led a brief discussion of the 2017 that Organizing Committees are not required to host Annual Meeting (Omaha, Nebraska). AMC will pursue receptions as part of the Symposium experience. contract negotiations with the Hilton. Stephanie Bricking, Program Committee cochair of the 2015 Annual Meeting, joined Council and presented the

(Continued on page 10) MAC Newsletter • October 2015 9 MAC NEWS—Continued Daria Labinsky, Assistant Editor

(Continued from page 9)

President’s Report which case Council would move discussion to its fall It was moved and seconded to appoint Carol Street as de- meeting. Council unanimously passed the motion with velopment coordinator, 2015–2017. Council unanimously all members voting. passed the motion with all members voting. Johnson distributed copies of the current strategic plan It was moved and seconded to extend Ellen Swain’s term and urged Council to consider strategic directions over as cochair of the Education Committee by one year to the summer. She asked Doylen to investigate previous stagger the terms of both cochairs. Council unanimously strategic planning efforts. passed the motion with all members voting. Secretary’s Report It was moved and seconded to appoint Lisa Sjoberg as Doylen presented his report. Council considered a ques- cochair of the Education Committee, 2015–2017. Council tion from the MAC archives regarding preservation of unanimously passed the motion with all members voting. audiovisual materials. Paul Eisloeffel offered to assist with It was moved and seconded to appoint Alexis Braun Marks digitization. It was moved and seconded to take no action to a second term as chair of the Membership Committee, to preserve audio recordings from the 1974 educational 2015–2017. Council unanimously passed the motion with program and to accept Eisloeffel’s offer to digitize the all members voting. video recordings of the Raiders of the Lost Archives. Council unanimously passed the motion with all members voting. It was moved and seconded to appoint Miriam Kahn to a final term as vendor coordinator, 2015–2017. Council Treasurer’s Report unanimously passed the motion with all members voting. Thoreson presented his report. Overall, MAC ended its fiscal year with a surplus of $7,542.31. The 2015 budget It was moved and seconded to appoint Alison Stankrauff forecasts an $8,172.00 deficit. to a second term as chair of the Archie Motley Memo- rial Scholarship Committee, 2015–2017. Council Council discussed student scholarships, including award unanimously passed the motion with all members voting. distribution and publicity. Council discussed making sure that all donation opportunities, including student schol- It was moved and seconded to appoint Doug Bicknese as arships, are included in the membership renewal form. chair of the Nominating Committee, 2015–2016. Council Council discussed assigning fund-raising responsibility unanimously passed the motion with all members voting. for student scholarships to another entity than Local Cooper Cary noted that Tanya Zanish-Belcher will Arrangements, which has shouldered it to date. become chair of the Presidents’ Award Committee, Publications and Publicity 2015–2016, and Dennis Meissner will rotate off the committee. Johnson, publications coordinator, presented her report. Council recommended centralizing responsibility for Cooper Cary presented her report to Council. She empha- printing and disseminating postcards with the PIO and sized the importance of finding apprentices to both the publications coordinator for the time being. vendor and the development coordinators. She reminded Council of the upcoming vote on governing documents John Fleckner, chair of the Editorial Board, joined Council at the Members’ Meeting. She reminded Council of and presented his report. Cooper Cary recommended that arrangements for two tellers. She asked Doylen to make Fleckner, Eisloeffel, and Johnson begin discussing format a recommendation at the fall Council meeting for the revisions for Archival Issues. retention and disposition of records relating to elections. McCartney presented the report of the Documentation Council discussed whether MAC should endorse the Working Group, focusing on the proposed Code of Con- Values of History Statement promoted by the National duct. Council requested that the Working Group develop Council on Public History. It was moved and seconded a protocol for the president and vice president to follow that Council endorse the Values of History Statement, when either is notified of a harassment case. Council will unless endorsement requires financial commitment, in then consider both the Code of Conduct and protocol at the same time.

10 MAC Newsletter • October 2015 MAC NEWS—Continued Daria Labinsky, Assistant Editor

Daria Labinsky, PIO, presented her report. Council Between-Meeting Council Actions discussed having membership applications at SAA. On May 21, 2015, Council passed the motion to approve Paul Eisloeffel, MAC Newsletter editor, presented his Amy Schindler and Mary Ellen Ducey as cochairs of the report. He discussed publication challenges raised by the 2017 Local Arrangements Committee, and Erik Moore late date of the spring meeting. Council agreed that it is and Sasha Griffin as cochairs of the 2017 Program Com- preferable to schedule the spring meeting in April to avoid mittee. All members voted except Erik Moore and Mary these issues. Ellen Ducey, who abstained. The following individuals presented reports: Miriam On June 4, 2015, Council unanimously approved the Kahn, vendor coordinator; Portia Vescio, development minutes of the May 7, 2015, Council meeting as corrected. coordinator; Ellen Swain, Education Committee cochair; All members voted. and Alison Stankrauff, chair of the Archie Motley Scholar- ship Committee. Council considered other written reports submitted by ex officios and standing committees. Strategic Planning MAC Council underwent a strategic planning session for Johnson cancelled the meeting for new Council members the organization in September. This will replace our cur- following the Members’ Meeting. rent strategic plan which ends in 2015. You can review the There being no further business to come before the current strategic plan on the MAC website under About meeting, it was moved and seconded to adjourn. Council MAC, or at this URL: www.midwestarchives.org/assets/ unanimously approved the motion with all members documents/AdminDocs/strategicplan2011-2015.pdf. voting. The meeting adjourned at 12:15 p.m. If you have ideas about where MAC should be in 2020, Michael Doylen please share your thoughts with MAC President Jennifer Secretary Johnson, [email protected]. Members will Minutes approved on June 4, 2015. also be invited to review the proposed strategic plan and offer comments later this fall.

MAC Education Committee Updates The MAC Education Committee has had a busy and successful year developing educational resources and workshops. The Education Committee website has been updated to reflect our current membership. The MAC website also has a new tab for Educational Resources, which features two new resources. First, a career planning forum allows archivists to share ideas and solicit feedback about career development. Our sincere thanks go to Anna Trammell, graduate assistant at the University of Illinois’s Student Life and Culture Archives, for creating the forum site. We encourage all to check it out at archivescareerplan.proboards.com. Second, a directory of regional educational programs is available on the website. Thank you to the MAC Education Committee members who developed these materials! Speakers Bureau pilot work continues in earnest. After four successful workshops in 2014 and spring 2015, the committee is developing workshops to be part of a Speakers Bureau/Annual Meeting resource listing. This listing will be available on a special Speakers Bureau website, which will include workshop descriptions, proposal submission information, guidelines for requesting a workshop, and other information about the Speakers Bureau program. In addition, the committee is working with Digital POWRR to provide two to three workshops on electronic records management in the MAC region and is partnering with Twin Cities Archives RoundTable (TCART) to bring Colleen McFarland Rademaker’s strategic planning workshop to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.

MAC Newsletter • October 2015 11 MAC NEWS—Continued Daria Labinsky, Assistant Editor

MAC Members Rock at SAA’s 2015 Annual Meeting The Society of American Archivists Annual Meeting took place August 16–22 in Cleveland, Ohio, and several dozen MAC members made their presence known by leading tours; hosting workshops; presenting posters; and leading and participating in panels, research forums, and pop-ups. The many members who served on the Local Arrangements Committee did an excellent job of organizing the meeting and keeping it running smoothly. The dessert reception at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was a highlight for many people.

SAA President-Elect Dennis Meissner shared directions and initiatives for his year as president during the Leadership Plenary.

Anne Thomason, Adam Paradis, Rachel Vagts, and Carrie Hintz presented the panel, “Dancing to a New Tune: Managing Your Career in the Archives Profession.” Not pictured are moderator Jennifer Johnson and Jamie Martin (Jenny read Jamie’s material in absentia). 12 MAC Newsletter • October 2015 MAC NEWS—Continued Daria Labinsky, Assistant Editor

The Woman Archivists Roundtable featured MAC members Leslie Van Veen, Alex Orchard, Alison Stankrauff, and Kristen Chinery.

Harvey Long, a student in the MLIS program at University of Wisconsin–Madison, presented a poster session titled, “From the Bottom Up: Digitizing Oral Histories of the Civil Rights Movement.”

Jennie Thomas, Jill Tatem, and Janet Carleton were members of the SAA Cleveland Local Arrangements Committee, with Thomas and Carleton serving as chairs.

MAC Newsletter • October 2015 13 MAC NEWS—Continued Daria Labinsky, Assistant Editor

Vice President’s Column: MAC Meetings and Symposia Update By David McCartney, University of Iowa In our last episode, I wrote about the question: what global another city 70 miles to the east archives-related issue would you like to resolve, if you had and its penchant for festivals. In the authority, power, or blue sky to do so? It could relate the 30—okay, nearly 40—years since, the incidence of to access, bridge-building with communities, elevating the festival-making in Milwaukee has only increased expo- status of our profession, or a host of other concerns that nentially it seems. MAC has the honor to kick off next we might encounter in our daily work. year’s celebration season in style with its annual meeting Coincidentally, there is now a blog series, recently launched in the City of Festivals, at the Hilton Milwaukee City by the Issues and Advocacy Roundtable of SAA, to address Center. The Program Committee, cochaired by Amy and facilitate discussions of these kinds of questions. Cooper Cary and Colleen McFarland Rademaker, is now reviewing session proposals, and we look forward to a As noted in its announcement on SAA’s website, the range of topics presented in a range of formats, including Roundtable seeks contributors to discuss “how a particular lightning rounds, debates, and open mic sessions, as well issue in the news affects or could potentially affect you as traditional session formats. The Local Arrangements as an archivist and/or your collections.” Posts will be Committee, cochaired by Anna Stadick and Michael published anonymously unless you indicate otherwise, Doylen, is lining up tours and other terrific local activities. and editors of the blog will take steps to ensure that any The reception will be at the awesomely cool Harley- information that might identify an institution—whether Davidson Museum, so get ready to take some selfies on a it’s a college/university, corporation, government office, cycle—I mean, hog! or organization—will be removed, allowing a freer airing of issues and concerns. Rebuttals are encouraged as well. 2016 Fall Symposium, Ann Arbor, Michigan Interested? Please submit your content—no more Copyright law and its implications for archives and special than 500 words—to [email protected]. collections will be the topic of this informative symposium to be held in Ann Arbor. Melissa Levine, lead copyright Additional information about this new plat- officer at the University of Michigan, and Aprille McKay, form for discussion is available at www2.archivists lead archivist for University of Michigan Collection .org/groups/reference-access-and-outreach-section/ Development at the Bentley Historical Library, will lead new-blog-series-archivists-on-the-issues. the program. The date, venue, and other details are under There is no shortage of issues and challenges to discuss— discussion, but watch for more information in the future. e-mail practices, records management challenges, 2017 Annual Meeting, Omaha, Nebraska, work-related matters, and statutes and regulations that April 5–8, 2017 potentially undermine the desired policies and practices of repositories—and you are encouraged to participate. Look westward! Our Annual Meeting in 2017 will be Who knows? Perhaps a colleague may respond with a at the Hilton Omaha, conveniently located near the perspective that you hadn’t considered before. Old Market and the Holland Performing Arts Center downtown, and an easy drive to the world-renowned At press time, our Fall Symposium in Minneapolis is not Henry Doorly Zoo. yet history, but I would like to thank the amazing Sympo- sium Organizing Committee and its cochairs, Ann Kenne 2017 Fall Symposium, Columbus, Ohio and Daardi Sizemore, for their outstanding work putting (tentative) it all together. Presenters Bertram Lyons and Joshua M. Exhibits are a key component of any outreach program, Ranger of AVPreserve served up a very practical and useful whether we work with archival collections in a private workshop on digital collection management and attendees business, a nonprofit organization, a college/university, or went home armed with considerable knowledge of how a governmental entity. This two-day workshop will offer to address a range of related challenges. Thanks to all! the basics as well “good to better” instruction in planning, Looking ahead: designing, and implementing an effective physical exhibit with impact. 2016 Annual Meeting, “ArchivesFest,” Milwaukee, Wisconsin, April 27–30, 2016 2018 Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, As an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin– or nearby suburb (tentative) Madison during the 1970s, I became quite aware of Tentative plans are underway for MAC to return to 14 MAC Newsletter • October 2015 Chicagoland in 2018. Stay tuned! News from the Midwest—Troy Eller English, Wayne State University, and Alison Stankrauff, Indiana University South Bend, Assistant Editors Please submit News from the Midwest items for Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Ohio to Troy Eller English at [email protected], and items from Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, South Dakota, and Wisconsin to Alison Stankrauff at [email protected]. Submissions must be 150 words or less. Images are welcome!

western Indiana Collections Connec- 2015. The original nitrate negatives INDIANA tion Association (SICCA) strives to and glass lantern slides were taken by provide its members a no-cost, pro- Mennonite missionary and ethnolo- Lincoln Financial Foundation fessional networking community to gist H. R. Voth from 1893 until about Collection—Allen County discuss ways to improve and advocate 1912, mostly at Third Mesa villages. Public Library collections care in their institutions. The archives at Bethel College houses Recently discovered (in a box!), is SICCA aims to build a platform for Voth’s extensive papers. Archivist a fascinating collection of 60 docu- institutional collaboration among its and Codirector of Libraries John D. ments gathered by Catharine Garvin members. Along with professional Thiesen digitized the photographs of Troy, New York, during her search events, informal get-togethers are held over the course of the past three for her son, Cornelius. In the sum- in which 50 members from 26 orga- years. Approximately 40 percent of mer of 1863, 18-year-old Cornelius nizations from Indiana, Kentucky, the photos are of ceremonial activi- Garvin, a resident of the Rensselaer and Illinois can bond over food and ties and are therefore restricted from County Almshouse who was classi- drinks at a restaurant or bar while publication and display. The official fied as an incurable “idiot,” was sold connecting with fellow professionals transfer took place in a meeting of into the Union Army as a substitute in the museum, archives, library, and the Hopi Tribal Council in the tribal by the home’s superintendent. When academic fields. The July dinner was offices in Kykotsmovi. Having a full she discovered what had happened, held at Turoni’s Pizzery and Brewery. set of the Voth photos in the Hopi Catharine set out to find Cornelius, It was a great group sharing a passion archives returns the images to their and these documents tell her story. for local history! If you are interested place of origin where they will have They include passes allowing her to in SICCA, drop a line to Amber at the most relevance and use. travel behind Union lines, statements [email protected] from soldiers, Catharine’s letters to or Kaman at [email protected]. KENTUCKY officials, documents supporting her search signed by civilian and military Northern Kentucky University officials, a copy of the War Depart- Northern Kentucky University is ment’s findings in the case, and a now exhibiting Exploring Covington’s handwritten note from President History: Selections from Special Collec- Abraham Lincoln to Secretary of tions. The exhibit, which celebrates War Edwin Stanton urging that the Covington’s bicentennial, features case be investigated. The Catharine historical photographs, records, and Garvin Collection is now online and artifacts from Special Collections. can be viewed at contentdm.acpl Among the many pieces on display .lib.in.us/cdm/search/collection/ are Covington school pictures from p16089coll38/searchterm/garvin/ SICCA’s members enjoy fellowship the 1890s to the 1960s and 1930s field/all/mode/all/conn/and. and pizza. broadsides advertising toll rates for the John A. Roebling Suspension Southwestern Indiana KANSAS Collections Connection Bridge. The bridge, designed by Association Mennonite Library and Archives Roebling and his son before they In March 2014, like-minded profes- The Mennonite Library and Archives embarked on the Brooklyn Bridge sionals in Evansville, Indiana, estab- at Bethel College in North Newton, project, was completed in December lished a professional support group in Kansas, transferred approximately 1866 and has been an iconic Ohio the southwestern Indiana region that 2,300 digital photographs to the River landmark ever since. The focuses on collections management, Hopi Cultural Preservation Office in care, and preservation. The South- Kykotsmovi, Arizona, on March 23, (Continued on page 16) MAC Newsletter • October 2015 15 NEWS FROM THE MIDWEST—Continued Troy Eller English and Alison Stankrauff, Assistant Editors

(Continued from page 15) exhibition runs through December Day of Service. Regional organiza- Visitors to the museum in down- in the Archives Research Room, tions will meet near the end of the town Red Wing may view photos Steely Library, Northern Kentucky program to consider future efforts and artifacts from the corporate University. Public visiting hours are to better document the history and archives through spring 2016. Virtual Monday through Friday from 1:00 legacy of Latino/a Detroit. Latino visitors are invited to view additional p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Americans: 500 Years of History photographs at the companion ex- is part of an NEH initiative, “The hibit at solutions.redwingshoes.com/ MICHIGAN Common Good: The Humanities WDMuseumExhibit. in the Public Square.” Visit www Wayne State University .reuther.wayne.edu. OHIO In partnership with Wayne State University’s School of Library and MINNESOTA Greene County Archives Information Science, the Reuther The Greene County Archives success- Library hosted a Wikipedia Edit-a- Historical and Cultural Society fully completed its second annual “I thon on July 24. Student participants of Clay County Found It in the Archives” Contest. worked to create several Wikipedia Thanks to a generous grant, the His- This was an extraordinary opportu- articles for notable people and orga- torical and Cultural Society of Clay nity to showcase how the information nizations with archival materials at County in Moorhead, Minnesota, has found in our repository has touched the Reuther Library. This effort is hired project archivist Matt Eidem. peoples’ lives. We had five contest part of a continuing effort to increase Along with the help of the local col- participants, and over 165 people collection visibility while broadening lege students that he will supervise, voted for their favorite entries. student skills. Eidem will seek to make over 400 lin- We would like to congratulate our The Reuther Library was awarded ear feet of archival collections relating local winner, Amber McKenzie, for a grant from the National Film to the history of Clay County more her essay, “The Dark Side of My Fam- Preservation Foundation to increase accessible to the public by creating ily History.” Amber’s entry has been access to rare, silent footage of Wayne finding aids for each collection and submitted to the state level contest. entering them into PastPerfect Five. State University history. The grant All of the entries that we received will support the preservation of film An online catalog of the historical society’s holdings will be available were intriguing, and we would like documenting student life, including to thank everyone who submitted an athletic events and interclass games online using PastPerfect Online. This project has been funded in part by the essay! We would also like to thank at Wayne State University circa 1925 everyone who read and voted for their to 1932. State of Minnesota from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the favorite stories. The number of voters Wayne State University’s Walter P. Minnesota Historical Society. really exceeded our expectations. Reuther Library was recently awarded We wish Amber the best of luck at a grant from the American Library Red Wing Shoe Company the state contest, and we are already Association and the National Endow- Museum looking forward to our third annual ment for the Humanities (NEH) to In conjunction with the second an- “I Found It in the Archives” Contest. support public programming aimed at nual Red Wing Museum Crawl, the celebrating and preserving the history Red Wing Shoe Company Museum of Latino/a Americans in the Detroit launched a new exhibit focusing on metropolitan area. The Reuther William D. “Bill” Sweasy, president Library will host events highlighting of the company from 1949 to 1972, archival materials that illustrate the and chairman of the board until Latino/a American experience. Events 1991. The exhibit explores Sweasy’s will begin during National Hispanic vision and leadership through a American Month in September and selection of significant business October and continue into the spring initiatives that he championed within around the Cesar Chavez National the company and the community. 16 MAC Newsletter • October 2015 Archival Resources on the Web—Eric Willey, Assistant Editor, Illinois State University, Normal Contact Eric Willey at [email protected] if you would like to guest author a column or have a good idea to share. Hitting the Big Time: A Guide to Online Vaudeville Theater Resources by Justin Baumgartner, University of Iowa

Vaudeville theater was a particularly popular form of Popular Entertainment, 1870–1920, at memory.loc.gov/ entertainment in North America from the 1880s to the ammem/vshtml/vshome.html, made available through 1930s. It combined a number of elements of variety the- LC’s American Memory project, contains a rich collection ater performance including musical performances, short of primary resources including playscripts, films, sound plays, lectures, jugglers, dancers, and comedy routines. recordings, and playbills. While the website, created in the Vaudeville’s influence on later entertainment cannot be late 1990s, does look a bit outdated by today’s standards, underestimated. Many of the early film stars, such as Will the wealth of the materials it includes should not be Rogers and W. C. Fields, worked as vaudeville performers overlooked. It is also a great resource on Harry Houdini, early in their careers. However, the popularity of vaudeville the legendary illusionist who gained much of his initial declined in the early twentieth century. It was ultimately fame while touring the vaudeville circuit. superseded by film, which also had its early start being Arguably the largest vaudeville collection in the United shown in vaudeville theaters. States is located at the University of Iowa Special Col- Due to its endur- lections and Archives. The Keith-Albee Vaudeville ing influence and Theatre Collection, at digital.lib.uiowa.edu/keithalbee, importance, interest includes nearly 150 ledger-sized scrapbooks of materials in scholarship on the from a now-defunct Keith/Albee Theatre in Providence, subject of vaudeville Rhode Island, dating from the 1890s to the 1940s. The theater has been Keith-Albee vaudeville circuit, owned by Benjamin Keith consistent over the and Edward Albee, promoted a “cleaned-up” version of years, supported by vaudeville. Its influence was heavy and widespread. The the existence of vari- scrapbooks in this collection primarily contain newspaper ous vaudeville and clippings and programs of the regular shows presented at vaudeville-related the theater. Additionally, the collection contains many archives in a variety volumes of internal managers’ reports detailing internal of institutions. Un- reviews of each act and the day-to-day financial operations fortunately, while of the theater. In 2014, the university received a $300,000 vaudeville enjoys a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities strong representa- to stabilize and digitize these fragile materials, a project tion in institutional expected to be completed in 2017. These volumes and archives, further related Keith-Albee materials are being made available work is needed for Cover of the program for Bolossy in the Iowa Digital Library as they are digitized (full it to be represented Kiralfy’s Water Queen, a grand disclosure: the author of this article is an employee on well in the digital fantastic fairy spectacle in three acts, this digitization project). realm. Sizable ar- from the Library of Congress. A number of vaudeville-era newspapers have also been chives such as the made available through institutional digital repositories. The American Vaudeville Museum Collection at the University Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections, at idnc.library of Arizona are not yet available online. However, over .illinois.edu/cgi-bin/illinois?a=cl&cl=CL1&sp=VVN the last few years, increasing numbers of great vaudeville and hosted by the University of Illinois at Urbana- and vaudeville-related resources have been made available Champaign, contains hundreds of back issues of Vaudeville online. News, a weekly newspaper printed by Edward Albee It should come as no surprise that the Library of Congress’s (of Keith-Albee fame) in New York between 1920 and website boasts a thorough and diverse online vaudeville collection. American Variety Stage: Vaudeville and (Continued on page 18) MAC Newsletter • October 2015 17 ARCHIVAL RESOURCES ON THE WEB—Continued Eric Willey, Assistant Editor

(Continued from page 17) 1929. The newspaper was intended for those inside the and Semoura Clark Black Vaudeville Collection at vaudeville industry, and it generally covers a wide range of Yale is one of these worthy digital resources and is avail- information including recent vaudeville news, editorials, able at beinecke.library.yale.edu/collections/highlights/ and advertising. The Illinois Digital Newspaper Collec- ruckus-american-entertainments-turn-twentieth-century- tions also contains a near-complete run of the New York and-bonnie-and-semoura. High-resolution images of Clipper, a New York City–area entertainment newspaper performers from the era, including minstrels and dancers, published weekly from 1853 until 1924, at idnc.library are primarily featured in this collection. While the collec- .illinois.edu/cgi-bin/illinois?a=cl&cl=CL1&sp=NYC. tion currently available online is quite small, the quality The New York Clipper has the distinction of being one of and vividness of these resources more than make up for it. the earliest American entertainment newspapers. While it The University of Georgia Libraries has a similar online covered a variety of different entertainments from music exhibit entitled America Had Talent, a compilation of to circuses to serialized fiction to sports, vaudeville was striking images of various vaudeville performers from their often given ample coverage in its pages. The scans from collections to be found at www.libs.uga.edu/hargrett/ both of these newspapers are also full-text searchable on pexhibit/vaudeville/talent.html. the Illinois website. Looking beyond images of performers and their perfor- Some of the richest vaudeville collections currently mances, the Chicago Public Library makes available an available online are through image collections devoted impressive number of historic vaudeville programs from to early theater. The J. Willis Sayre Collection, located Chicago-area theaters in its Chicago Theater Collec- in the digital collections at the University of Washington tion at digital.chipublib.org/cdm/search/searchterm/ and available at content.lib.washington.edu/sayreweb/, Vaudeville--Illinois--Chicago/mode/exact/page/1. These offers over 24,000 photographs of a variety of national programs offer the researcher a unique glimpse into the theater performers who had toured through the Seattle era and context of vaudeville theater, as well as a wealth area between 1900 and 1955. While the collection covers of further information on vaudeville performers and theater in general, the vaudeville image content is rich performances. and varied. Many publicity stills of the performers as While a majority of the vaudeville resources currently well as performance shots are contained in this collection. available online are in the print and photography medi- The collection, hosted through CONTENTdm, offers ums, LOC’s digital collection isn’t the only place to find users easy options to browse by various subsets including more multimedia on vaudeville, especially in the medium vaudeville. The University of Washington offers a number of sound. The University of California, Santa Barbara’s of other similar collections on its digital website. Wax Cylinder Recording Project, at cylinders.library Both the Prior and Norris Troupe Photographs, con- .ucsb.edu/, has digitized and made available thousands of tent.lib.washington.edu/norrisweb/index.html, and 19th the earliest sound recordings, dating from the late 1800s Century Actors and Theater Photographs collections, to the early 1900s. These mp3 recordings are available content.lib.washington.edu/19thcenturyactorsweb/index to stream or download. Over 300 of these recordings are .html, offer hundreds more photographs of vaudeville performed by artists specifically identified as vaudeville performers. Like the Sayre Collection, a majority of performers and can be located by selecting the vaudeville these photographs are studio portraits, although these option under browse collection. Most of these vaudeville collections do contain some performance photographs recordings consist of comedy routines and sketches, likely as well. One additional similar collection is the Variety, similar to what a vaudeville theatergoer would have seen Vaudeville and Burlesque Image Collection acces- onstage. sible through the New York Public Libraries Digital Although North America is the region most associated Collections at digitalcollections.nypl.org/collections/ with vaudeville, it was hardly the only area of the world variety-vaudeville-burlesque. where vaudeville enjoyed popularity. In particular, Aus- For more high-quality primary visual resources in vaude- tralia has a rich vaudeville tradition and has been making ville, a number of university libraries’ digital collections some of its vaudeville-related materials and research avail- have made useful online exhibits from selections of materi- able. Some of these materials are made available through als from larger entertainment collections. The Bonnie the University of Queensland’s AustLit digital repository

18 MAC Newsletter • October 2015 ARCHIVAL RESOURCES ON THE WEB—Continued Eric Willey, Assistant Editor

in its Australian Popular Theatre subset, at www.austlit The politically incorrect nature of some of the materials .edu.au. A number of quality primary and secondary contained in these resources should be noted. Images that vaudeville resources are available through this repository. are offensive today, such as artists in blackface, figured However, a subscription is required to access these materi- prominently in the vaudeville era. However, vaudeville is als. Additionally, one of the researchers in this area has a crucial part of the American entertainment industry’s created his own publicly accessible website on Australian history. These materials help contextualize its evolution vaudeville for research purposes, the Australian Variety to the modern day. Theatre Archive, at www.ozvta.com. While this site These resources are the most prominent and accessible of has been made using the WordPress platform and may what is currently available for research in vaudeville. As not have quite the searching and database-capabilities of institutions become more involved in the digital humani- the usual institutional digital repository, it offers a great ties, a wonderful boon for researchers in vaudeville and wealth of material on Australian vaudeville. Information early American entertainment will result. and biographies on key performers and people behind the scenes, as well as heavily researched articles and essays on the subject from a variety of angles, feature prominently on this website.

MAC Newsletter • October 2015 19 Electronic Currents—Joanne Kaczmarek, Assistant Editor, University of Illinois

Contact Joanne Kaczmarek at [email protected] if you would like to guest author a column or have a good idea to share. Feet on the Ground, One Step at a Time: Developing an Electronic Records Management Framework for State and Local Government By Kristopher Stenson, Illinois State Archives Background seems obvious to an archivist is rarely part of the common The Illinois State Archives has (pardon the pun) a lot vernacular. of history behind it. Since its establishment in 1922, Step Two: Update the Code the archives has overseen the careful preservation of state government records. Additionally, in conjunction Overhauling the Illinois Administrative Code was a criti- with the Illinois State and Local Records Commissions, cal component of creating an electronic records manage- the archives oversees the retention and disposal of all ment framework. This was necessary to update standards, nonpermanent records held by state and local agencies of clarify language, and, most important, create entirely new government. Illinois has three records commissions: one sections dealing with the digitization of records and the for state government agencies and two for local units of management of electronic records in general. Sections of government, such as cities, counties, townships, and so on. the Code dealing with state rules were tackled in 2012 These commissions receive their authority to oversee the and 2013 and local rules in 2014 and 2015. management and disposal of government records through Clarifying Terms. State rules must be clear and un- the State and Local Records Acts. The procedures for how derstandable to a general government audience. There the commissions oversee the records and what responsibili- is always a fine line regarding how much detail can ties units of government have for their records are detailed be inserted in the rules before confusion ensues. The 1 in the Illinois Administrative Code (the Code). Specific revisions included expansion of an existing section of requirements, such as the procedures for creating a records definitions where no substitutes for technical terms such as schedule, the process for transfer or disposal of records, and “metadata,” “authentic copy,” or “digital surrogate” exist. the creation of microfilm, are primarily listed in the Code. Definitions were created by reviewing sources from the The Illinois State Archives acts on behalf of the commis- Society of American Archivists (SAA), the International sions to oversee these processes. Over time, the archives Association of Records Managers and Administrators has created a framework for developing requirements, (ARMA), and the Association of Image and Information guidance documents, and general best practices to assist Management (AIIM). We also reviewed guidance from state and local agencies in managing their paper format other state archives. Much debate was had over the exact records. Recently, we have created a similar framework terms to use, but, in the end, we sought maximum ap- for electronic format records. I will provide an overview plicability over dictionary precision. of the process for creating this framework and the lessons learned from the experience. Selecting Standards. We also had to decide early on whether the revised rules would reflect one particular set of Step One: Create a Committee standards or if they would be an amalgamation of different In 2012, the archives created a loosely structured, broad- requirements from varied sources. When dealing with elec- based committee to integrate the widest possible group tronic records, this is no small decision as there are costs as- of stakeholders in the process of developing an electronic sociated with attaining compliance to different standards. records management framework. The committee included Illinois does not have a centralized IT infrastructure, so a representatives from different state agencies, the governor’s broad range of software environments and IT capabilities office, the attorney general’s office, and the University of had to be considered. This was further compounded when Illinois. The individuals on the committee had diverse considering local units of government because the rules backgrounds with expertise in the fields of law, govern- have to cover everything from small villages to the City of ment, information technology, business management, Chicago. Given the huge range of capabilities, we decided and records management and were particularly helpful to avoid requiring adherence to any particular standard when attempting to de-jargon technical guidance or to for electronic recordkeeping, focusing instead on a basic clarify intent. As we learned time and time again, what set of capabilities that could be accomplished through

20 MAC Newsletter • October 2015 ELECTRONIC CURRENTS—Continued Joanne Kaczmarek, Assistant Editor

different means. This meant acknowledging that, in some new perspectives came to light. In more than one case, cases, agencies might interpret the rules more loosely than we had to acknowledge the limits of our own authority. intended. At the same time, we felt that making the rules This process has better prepared me to work with other straightforward and approachable would encourage more agencies going forward by teaching me to appreciate the agency engagement than would an overly complicated and daily business needs of electronic records. intimidating framework. Learn from Others. I have found that the archival com- Fortunately, we were not starting with a blank slate. There munity values collaboration and sharing more than most, is no shortage of standards, best practices, and general ad- and we should not be afraid to avail ourselves of existing vice related to electronic records management, so the task expertise. Greater minds than mine have spent countless was to select and adapt the most important requirements hours devising detailed frameworks for every technological from existing frameworks. We boiled down various models issue we face, so why try to create a poor substitute? into basic functional categories such as “classification,” Avoid Scope Creep. We learned how important it is to “security,” and “access.” Each functional category was know the core mission and objectives and not to over- given a brief statement regarding what a system used to expand the scope of the project. It is easy to continually store and manage electronic records should be capable of add more detail, more content, more scope, and so on, but not specifically how that would be achieved. For ex- but, at a certain point, it becomes a burden that under- ample, the entry for “access” states, “Systems used to store mines the primary intent behind the work. In our case, and access electronic records must allow for the retrieval we needed a framework that established baselines, was of individual records and their associated metadata in a broadly applicable, and would be perceived as doable. To timely manner.” This statement in and of itself does not set impossible goals would have undermined cooperation allow an agency to implement an access strategy, but it from agencies and would have done little to help them. does give a target to aim for. We considered making the rules more specific, but decided more specificity would “Good Enough” Is Fine. At some point, we had to be a poor replacement for extremely detailed standards decide that what we had was good enough and continued already in existence. self-reflection was counterproductive. The result we ended up with isn’t perfect, but it was never intended to be the Publishing for Public Review. Once drafts of the revised end-all and be-all. The feedback we have received and rules were completed, Illinois law required us to embark continue to receive will help inform future revisions of the on a lengthy publication and review process. This meant framework. The side benefit of continued engagement is noting all changes (major and minor) to the existing that others see the State Archives as a vital, active resource rules, crafting justification for changes, debating specific rather than some out-of-date governing body. language choices with legal counsel and staff from the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, and lots of Conclusion waiting. Despite some frustrations, the public review Until recently, the archives framework has focused en- process proved quite helpful, bringing us into contact tirely on managing records in physical formats. Over the with additional stakeholders who raised good questions last several years, the archives has prioritized creating a about the rules as proposed. In several cases, perspectives similar framework for the management and preservation we had not considered were brought to light and allowed of records in electronic formats. Creating this framework us to catch potential problems within the rules before has not been without its challenges and delays, but so they were finalized. far, the response from government agencies has been Lessons Learned overwhelmingly positive. The public process of reviewing changes to the Illinois Administrative Code has reaped Be Patient. When starting the first changes in 2012, I unexpected dividends. The widespread publication and thought the process would take a few months from start notification of the changes renewed relationships with to finish. In reality, each set of revisions took close to a many state and local agencies. A mini-PR blitz coincided year from initial draft to final approval and adoption. with the official publication of the new rules with articles, While this was longer than the ideal, the long period of presentations, and many meetings being the result. I am revision and review allowed us to better consider every aspect of the rules. Opinions were often changed when (Continued on page 22) MAC Newsletter • October 2015 21 ELECTRONIC CURRENTS—Continued Joanne Kaczmarek, Assistant Editor

(Continued from page 21) encouraged by the feedback thus far, and I look forward to working more closely with state and local agencies when we embark on future improvements to Illinois’s electronic records management framework.

Note 1. Illinois Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, “Administrative Code,” accessed August 5, 2015, www Put A FAce On HistOry!

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22 MAC Newsletter • October 2015 Mixed Media: Working with Audio and Visual Materials— Heather Fox, Assistant Editor, University of Louisville

Contact Heather Fox at [email protected] if you would like to guest author a column or have a good idea to share. Unhiding Archival Media Assets through Digitization at Ball State University Archives and Special Collections By Michael Szajewski, Carol Street, and Brandon Pieczko, Ball State University The notion of unhiding previously “hidden” collections is Within the past five years, significant progress has been frequently invoked in the archival profession as a justifica- made by Ball State University Libraries in digitizing media tion for increased attention to the processing, digitization, in many formats from Archives and Special Collections, and description of archival materials. As the narrative including 8mm and 16mm film, reel-to-reel audiotapes, goes, by removing barriers to access and developing robust audiocassette tapes, and videotapes (VHS, Betacam, and metadata for archival materials, archivists can allow new U-matic). By expanding its staff and collection of media audiences to engage with primary source materials in digitization hardware, the Libraries’ Metadata and Digital diverse and dynamic ways. Initiatives unit has built over 32 unique audio and video collections in the Digital Media Repository containing Staff at Ball State University Archives and Special Col- over 6,260 records. lections1 have realized the vast benefits of this unhiding process through a strong commitment to in-house When equipment was unavailable to capture certain digitization and digital collection building. The result, formats, digitization was outsourced to a vendor. a CONTENTdm repository containing over 200,000 Archival media assets were uploaded to Mediasite, Ball unique records branded as the Digital Media Repository,2 State University’s campuswide video and audio hosting has enhanced reference, instruction, and outreach for the platform. A custom-built media player designed by Library unit, whose collection areas include the Stoeckel Archives Information Technology and Services allowed these assets of Local History, the Ball State University Archives, and to be easily accessible in the CONTENTdm repository. the Drawings and Documents Archive documenting Digital media assets now available online include oral Indiana’s built environment. This unhiding process has history interviews documenting the diverse experiences been especially transformative for the unit’s audio, film, of Muncie and Delaware County residents, lectures and and video collections. speeches delivered by prominent guests on the campus of Ball State University, television news and discussion programming from WIPB-TV, film of athletics events from Ball State University and Muncie-area high schools, and film documenting political activities, social life, and business and industry in Muncie.

Ball State University Libraries Digital Media Repository homepage.

Muncie and Delaware County Films and Videos homepage. Digital Media Repository, Ball State University Libraries. (Continued on page 24) MAC Newsletter • October 2015 23 MIXED MEDIA: WORKING WITH AUDIO AND VISUAL MATERIALS—Continued Heather Fox, Assistant Editor

(Continued from page 23)

The unhiding of archival materials provides unique ben- starring a cast of local residents. Digitization of the original efits for audio, video, and film collections considering the nitrate film allowed Archives and Special Collections to existence of additional barriers to their use. Playing analog share an important piece of Muncie’s history that was media can be cumbersome, especially in the setting of an not previously viewable due to preservation and liability archives reading room, and requires technical familiarity concerns. Nearly 200 community members attended the with obsolete hardware that many archival patrons lack. event, which not only promoted archives resources but Degradation issues with many formats also render repeated also helped establish fruitful partnerships with community playback a preservation risk. Furthermore, time-based organizations including the county historical society and archival media assets in analog formats often lack in depth downtown businesses. of descriptive metadata when compared with that of their digital counterparts. Many archival films and videotapes at Ball State University Archives and Special Collections were merely described with a basic title and date written on the item or container at the time of creation. Through the process of digitization, review, and descrip- tion, Archives and Special Collections was able to create robust descriptive metadata that describes the people, places, and events depicted within each media asset. A U- matic tape simply labeled “Ball State Today, 1987/04/16” became, when digitized and reviewed, an interview news program with footage of press conferences given by Henry Kissinger and Lee Hamilton3 discussing US-Soviet rela- tions and the Iran-Contra affair on their visits to Ball State University. These additional access points enhanced the Scene from the 1915 film The Man Haters. Digital Media discoverability of our digitized media assets to a broader Repository, Ball State University Libraries. base of potential digital patrons and increased the effi- ciency of our reference service. Because of the preservation Digitized media content also proved to be popular on risks posed by repeated playback of some analog media, a Lost Muncie, a community-run local history Facebook review and description process of this nature would have group. In many cases, local residents have provided ad- been unfeasible without digitization. ditional details and background information regarding the digitized content. Easy access to richly described audio and video content has transformed outreach efforts, allowing Archives and Spe- Since the installation of a dedicated computer monitor in cial Collections to develop more dynamic exhibit displays, the exhibit space in 2014, Archives and Special Collec- engaging programming events in the local community, tions has curated six exhibits featuring custom thematic productive partnerships with local media, and a visible videos created from digitized audiovisual assets from the presence on social media platforms. Beginning in early Digital Media Repository. The incorporation of digital 2013, Archives and Special Collections partnered with videos has noticeably attracted previously casual passersby, The Star Press, Muncie’s newspaper, to develop “Muncie’s encouraging them to interact with exhibits in a manner Reel History,” an online video series featured on the that a display of analog archival objects alone might not newspaper’s website. Individual installments of the series have been able to achieve. featured digitized film or video from the collection along The College of Architecture and Planning Guest Lecture with an interview by The Star Press of Archives and Special Series5 transformed from a collection of audiocassette and Collections staff regarding the highlighted content. VHS tapes quite literally hidden in the college’s storage In spring 2015, Archives and Special Collections cospon- closet to a valuable resource for the university and for sored a public screening of a digital version of The Man researchers worldwide. While the Drawings and Docu- Haters,4 a 1915 silent film produced in Muncie, Indiana, ments Archive’s scope is limited to the built environment

24 MAC Newsletter • October 2015 MIXED MEDIA: WORKING WITH AUDIO AND VISUAL MATERIALS—Continued Heather Fox, Assistant Editor

within the geographic boundaries of the state of Indiana, The availability of digitized historic media has also the Guest Lecture Series vastly broadens that territory enhanced student engagement with the content in both with recordings dating from 1965 to the present featuring instruction sessions and course projects. Students in Ball lectures by nationally and internationally known architects State University’s College of Architecture and Planning and planners. have relied heavily on digitized archival media when developing documentaries exploring the history of Muncie buildings and neighborhoods for an environment and culture course. Students in the Department of History’s Introduction to Digital History course have incorpo- rated this digitized media content into thematic research projects, compiling digitized primary source materials to develop narratives related to Ball State University history topics. Students have also utilized digitized audiovisual re- cordings from the archives in immersive learning projects like the MLK Dream Team “Freedom Bus,” a traveling exhibit documenting the history of the civil rights struggle in east central Indiana. By contributing to the Ball State University Libraries YouTube account,6 Archives and Special Collections has further extended the reach and visibility of its digitized College of Architecture and Planning Guest Lecture Series media collections. In the last seven months, nearly 100 homepage. Digital Media Repository, Ball State University montages and full videos have been added to the YouTube Libraries. channel, accumulating nearly 8,000 views. Popular videos Due to the age and condition of the cassettes upon dis- on the channel include footage of Paul Newman visiting covery, as well as the extraordinary content, digitization Ball State University to campaign for Eugene McCarthy offered the only viable solution for access. The cataloging in 1968, a Welcome to Muncie promotional video from and digitization the nearly 500 lectures was scheduled 1988, and footage of a high school homecoming parade to complete by the fall of 2014 in time for the College from 1968 in nearby Yorktown, Indiana. of Architecture and Planning’s 50th anniversary in early 2015. The college viewed the debut of this important online collection as one of its celebrations throughout the anniversary year and provided outreach opportuni- ties for print and online articles, as well as social media posts. Combining the release of the digital collection with activities already taking place in the college gave the collection a significant boost in publicity to faculty, alumni, and students. While the Drawings and Documents Archive remains primarily a regional archive, this digital collection provides unique and valuable resources to architectural scholars Ball State University Libraries YouTube channel homepage. worldwide who are now using the recordings for their research. The collection continues to grow, adding historic lecture recordings donated by college faculty and newly recorded lectures from the ongoing series on campus. Students who missed the lecture in real time are able to participate in the conversation about it. (Continued on page 26) MAC Newsletter • October 2015 25 MIXED MEDIA: WORKING WITH AUDIO AND VISUAL MATERIALS—Continued Heather Fox, Assistant Editor

(Continued from page 26)

Notes 1. Ball State University, “Archives and Special Col- lections,” accessed August 3, 2015, cms.bsu.edu/ academics/libraries/collectionsanddept/archives. 2. Digital Media Repository, Ball State University Librar- ies, accessed August 3, 2015, libx.bsu.edu/. 3. Digital Media Repository, “Ball State Today, 1987-04- 16,” Ball State University Libraries, accessed August 3, 2015, libx.bsu.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/ HistFilmVid/id/689/rec/3. 4. Digital Media Repository, “Man Haters Film Collec- tion,” Ball State University Libraries, accessed August Robert F. Kennedy Speech at Ball State University, April 4, 3, 2015, libx.bsu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/ 1968. Ball State University Libraries YouTube channel. mnhtrs. A review of Digital Media Repository use statistics con- 5. Digital Media Repository, “College of Architecture firms the success of the unhiding-through-digitization and Planning Guest Lecture Series,” Ball State narrative. In the past two years, digitized archival media University Libraries, accessed August 3, 2015, libx assets in the Digital Media Repository and on the You- .bsu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/CAPLectures. Tube channel have been accessed over 52,000 times by 6. YouTube, “Ball State University Libraries,” accessed online users. These results confirm the value of ongoing August 3, 2015, www.youtube.com/user/bsulibraries. digitization and description of archival media assets in expanding and diversifying Archives and Special Collec- tions’ patron base.

26 MAC Newsletter • October 2015 Preservation Essentials—Sara Holmes, Assistant Editor, NARA

Contact Sara Holmes at [email protected] if you would like to guest author a column or have a good idea to share. Back to the Basics: Surface Cleaning of Paper By Sara Holmes, National Archives at St. Louis Surface cleaning of paper is a treatment to remove dirt and clear eraser crumbs and loose dirt from the surface. Other contaminants from paper. When properly executed, this brushes can also be used. If using brushes with documents can be completed by archival staff and even volunteers. that are mold contaminated, do not reuse the brush on Unfortunately, when improper methods are used, or items documents without mold, or else you may introduce mold to be treated are poorly selected, surface cleaning can have to other papers. disastrous consequences. Types of Erasers The appearance of some items can be improved by per- A variety of erasers can be used, but be sure they are forming surface cleaning. Dirt and contaminants that will recommended for use in surface cleaning and that you degrade paper over time or could transfer to other papers know their content. Some erasing products are too when handled and stored may be removed. abrasive for archival use. Even some products marketed If undertaking surface cleaning, be sure you know how as preservation treatments should be carefully considered to assess risks of damage to both the paper supports as before using. well as to ink, pencil, and other media. Some papers may Block Erasers. Look for noncolored Magic Rub (Eber- be too fragile, such as brittle pages or “pulpy” documents hard-Faber) or Staedtler Mars plastic erasers. The blocks damaged by water or mold. While most inks are safe can be used directly for surface cleaning, but a light and for surface cleaning, pencil, charcoal, and pastel can be controlled hand is needed to do so safely without tearing permanently damaged. Hand-colored areas can be altered paper. (Never use hard, pink erasers. These are strongly and should not be cleaned. Do not attempt to surface clean abrasive and will damage the paper fibers.) To clean, move photographs or items with glossy surfaces. These are best in a circular motion, completing one small area at a time. handled by conservators. Moving in a line or with large motions can lead to a streaky Don’t assume you can identify items that should not be appearance when removing heavy soil. When cleaning surface cleaned by eye only. Checking under magnification along tears, move in the same direction as the tear. When for flaking media can identify some high-risk items that at the edge of the page move in a single direction from the should only be handled by conservators. But be sure to test document off onto the work surface, then lift the eraser an unobtrusive area first and train anyone who completes from the surface. Block erasers should only be used on surface cleaning to do the same. Make sure the color is not stable documents with undamaged surfaces. Only those lightened and that the ink or other media does not smudge. with a light touch and experienced in surface cleaning should use block erasers on thinner papers. Preparing to Surface Clean Work on a clean surface. Be sure the surface is flat and there is plenty of room to work. Clean blotter is a good work surface, but paper can also be used. You will find it works best to use a piece of blotter or paper that is larger than the item you are working on. Replace the paper or blotter as it becomes dirty. Never overclean a document. On some items, dirt will be ingrained among the paper’s fibers and will not come off entirely. Be sure that anyone working under your direction understands that the goal is to remove loose and easily removed dirt. Not all docu- ments can be improved or fully cleaned. Block erasers. You will also need some soft brushes. Hake brushes, which can be found in varying widths, work very well to (Continued on page 28) MAC Newsletter • October 2015 27 PRESERVATION ESSENTIALS—Continued Sara Holmes, Assistant Editor

(Continued from page 27)

Sponge Erasers. These erasers are a vulcanized natural Document Cleaning Pads. These are cloth bags with rubber and were originally marketed for soot removal. eraser crumbs that leak out of the weave of the cloth. They are soft and foamed, and easily handled by a novice. They have long been marketed for use in archives and at They are increasingly becoming the first choice for surface home. However, residue from the eraser crumbs becomes cleaning in many labs. These erasers come in bricks, but trapped in paper fibers, even after gentle brushing, and can be cut into smaller squares. (The smaller thicknesses can be chemically unstable and abrasive. Instructions can be cut more easily.) Cutting into pieces allows a better on some boxes state that the pads can be used on moldy grip as well as more surface area to remove the dirt. Use paper—and that the pads are reusable. Should you choose short movements, and work from the center of the page to use these pads on paper with mold, please be aware that out. When cleaning torn areas, move in the direction of you may transfer mold to other items if reused and that the tear. As the surface of the eraser gets dirty, trim off the even dormant mold can become active again! edge or discard. Clean loose dirt and eraser debris from the surface with a soft brush. These erasers are available from conservation suppliers, but you can also purchase them from cleaning suppliers such as JonDon.com in bulk. Be sure to look for listings for “soot cleaning sponge” or “wall- paper cleaner.” Do not purchase those listed as chemical sponges—these have undesirable additives to use on paper. Store sponges out of light or they will deteriorate rapidly.

Document cleaning pad.

Sponge eraser.

28 MAC Newsletter • October 2015 PRESERVATION ESSENTIALS—Continued Sara Holmes, Assistant Editor

Ground Eraser Crumbs. Be cautious of which type of Crepe Erasers (or Rubber Pick-ups). These are very hard eraser you are purchasing if you go this route. Several squares of rubber that can be used to remove adhesive compounds are available and marketed for use by graphic residues. While it is not advisable to remove tape carri- artists and are too abrasive for safe use. Look for ground ers, oozing residues and sticky deposits on the surface of vinyl block eraser suppliers, such as Book Makers and paper can be removed. These should only be used with Museum Services Corporation, which will specify the caution and careful handling. Gently rub the adhesive use of Staedtler Mars or Magic Rub (Eberhard-Faber) with short strokes. This can take a long time, but should erasers. Grinds come in different grades, from coarse to not be rushed. You will need to pick the adhesive off of the fine. When cleaning, you will want to progress from a crepe eraser with your fingers after it is pulled off of the coarser grade to a finer grade, so plan on buying multiple paper. Although crepe erasers can effectively remove sticky grades of grind. Be sure you have a variety of brushes on residues, adhesives can strongly resist removal, which may hand if using crumbs. You will need soft brushes, such lead inexperienced handlers to damage the paper. Placing as hake brushes, to clear the surface of the cleaned paper, pages with sticky residues in polyester sleeves can be a and you will also want larger drafting brushes to clean simpler alternative. your work surface. To begin, pour a small amount in an unobtrusive area to test. Roll the crumbs with your fingers in a circular motion. If the cleaning does not alter the medium, complete the entire item. Crumbs should be brushed away when dirty and replaced with clean grindings until the cleaning is complete.

Crepe eraser.

Ground eraser crumbs.

MAC Newsletter • October 2015 29 Up-and-Comers: News for Student Archivists—Johna Picco, Assistant Editor, The Filson Historical Society

Contact Johna Picco at [email protected] if you would like to guest author a column or have a good idea to share. An Outsider Inside: A Louisiana State University Student at MAC 2015 By Steven Wade, Louisiana State University At the beginning of my last even when my Pal, Michael Doylen, wasn’t around to semester studying archives at introduce me, I could simply say his name and everyone Louisiana State University, the seemed to know who he was. tough realities of the job search The job search was a motivating factor for me to attend suddenly became very real. On the conference, so one session I was determined not to miss top of the usual challenge of was called “Networking Your Way into the Profession.” distinguishing myself from the In this informal, discussion-style session, several hiring dozens and dozens of other quali- managers and young professionals offered some insider fied applicants out there, I knew Steven Wade tips and advice on how to take advantage of internships I wanted to find work in the and professional contacts in the quest to land your first Midwest, outside the circle of contacts I had made in the full-time paid position. As it turns out, working hard in Southeast. As the saying goes, “It’s not what you know, school, getting good grades, and racking up a lot of debt it’s who you know,” so I set out to the MAC 2015 Annual won’t result in employment falling into your lap out of Meeting in Lexington, Kentucky, to get to know some of some mythical job tree. That’s just reality. To get the rest the people there. I am originally from Kentucky, so while of the way there, you might have to offer your services in I was coming home in a way, it was hard not to feel like an a temporary, part-time, or voluntary capacity until this outsider knowing I would probably be the only attendee potential future employer knows you well and can find with Louisiana on my name badge. the money to pay you. Each presenter shared his or her I’ve always been a quiet person. Striking up a conversation own personal experiences of struggle and rejection. One with someone I’ve never met before is a bit like jumping presenter told about waiting tables for several years until into a very cold lake. I try to avoid it, but after the initial she finally got the job she wanted. The good news is that discomfort, it’s not so bad. I suspect other aspiring archi- there are ways into the profession for those who work hard vists and librarians feel similarly. Reporting on a survey and put themselves out there. of library professionals, Mary Jane Scherdin (1994) found that more than 60 percent self-identified as introverts, The MAC Annual Meeting isn’t just for new profession- compared to only 35 percent in the general population.1 als, though. If you’re already into your first year or two As much as some of us may prefer the quiet solitude of the of professional work, facing the challenges of processing stacks, a professional conference offers the opportunity to a collection, a big appraisal project, or trying to get pub- come out of our shells and mingle with colleagues, share lished, MAC meetings are your opportunity to connect what we’ve been working on, and learn some new tricks with others in a similar situation. I learned about new of the trade. ways to process and preserve oversized materials, solutions for preserving audiovisual materials, and how to clean up Networking is a big part of attending a conference, so after and reprocess a collection after a team of inexperienced I arrived in Lexington, I made a point of getting to the volunteers had worked on it. Conference presentations conference hotel early, with the goal of forcing myself into can teach you things you didn’t learn in school or have some kind of interaction during the 30 minutes before the forgotten since. Personally, I’m more of a visual learner, first session. As it turns out, finding someone you already so I value sessions that demonstrate new technology or know can be a great way to break the ice and meet new techniques. In their presentation, “Not Everything Digital people; in less than five minutes I ran into several people Is a Disk Image,” Bertram Lyons and Jason Evans Groth I knew from the 2014 SAA conference in Washington, demonstrated to a packed audience how to use simple tools DC. Another good way to meet people is the MAC Pals like a command prompt and a spreadsheet to great effect program, designed to pair up first-time MAC attendees, when profiling collections of files. like me, with more experienced members. I found that

30 MAC Newsletter • October 2015 UP-AND-COMERS—Continued Johna Picco, Assistant Editor

One of the things that appealed to me about the MAC people began to trickle into the Carrick House located on Annual Meeting in Lexington was the variety of ways that Lexington’s historic Third Street corridor, the first order information was presented. The sessions, from smaller of business was to line up for the open bar. After securing discussion-based talks to larger lecture-style presentations, an Ale 8 (a delicious ginger and citrus soda found only in appealed to all sorts of learning styles. If you prefer to Kentucky), I set out to converse. Before long, the hall was browse, student and professional poster galleries are a full and the band took the stage. It took some determined must, while still allowing you to stop and talk with the coaxing from the singers and a little encouragement from presenter when a topic catches your eye. Several industry the free wine and beer, but soon a good crowd had formed vendors, such as Ancestry.com and Hollinger, had tables on the dance floor and the square dancing lesson began. set up as well. If you are currently in school or new to the profession, I don’t want to give the impression that a conference is much can be gained by attending a professional conference only about what you can get out of it. There are plenty such as the MAC Annual Meeting. I encourage everyone, of opportunities to give back as well. Annual Meetings but especially students, to do what you can to attend! Drive provide a huge audience of people willing and ready to hear 10 or more hours, overcome your inner reservations, and about what you’ve been doing. If you’re not up for leading introduce yourself to the world of archival professionals. a session, a poster is a good way to present a processing The experience will open doors and give you the oppor- project or original research. It is very rewarding to have tunity to speak, listen, and learn about what is happening someone take interest in your work, and you never know in the field. how your insight might help someone. Note Finally, no professional conference is complete without a little square dancing, right? According to the confer- 1. Mary Jane Scherdin, Discovering Librarians: Profiles ence program, the opening reception promised “delec- of a Profession (Chicago: Association of College and table Kentucky-inspired food,” “a vintage-inspired photo Research Libraries, 1994), 132. booth,” and “a live band called the Goodbye Girls.” As

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MAC Newsletter • October 2015 31 People and Posts—Alexis Braun Marks, Assistant Editor, Eastern Michigan University

The MAC Membership Committee invites members to share positions, appointments, and honors in the People and Posts column. Please send items to Alexis Braun Marks, [email protected]. Submissions must be 150 words or less. Images are welcome! Stephanie Bennett, from Wake For- NEW MEMBERS INDIANA est University Special Collections and Alessandro Meregaglia Archives, has been selected to attend ILLINOIS Indiana University Bloomington an Image Permanence Institute (IPI) Beverly Cook Bloomington workshop, “Preservation of Digitally Chicago Public Library Printed Materials in Libraries, Ar- Chicago IOWA Charles Scott chives and Museums.” Bennett was Peggy Glowacki State Historical Society of Iowa one of 15 participants selected from University of Illinois at Chicago Iowa City a pool of more than 50 applicants. Chicago Barbara Floyd, director of the Daniel Harper KANSAS Ward M. Canaday Center for Spe- University of Illinois at Chicago Mary Burtzloff cial Collections at the University Chicago Eisenhower Presidential Library Abilene of Toledo, was recently appointed Valerie Higgins interim director of UT Libraries. In Fermilab Volodymyr Chumachenko addition to special collections, her Naperville Kansas State University responsibilities include the William S. Manhattan Megan Hixon Carlson Library, the Mulford Health University of Illinois Science Library, and the McMaster KENTUCKY Urbana-Champaign Engineering Library. Douglas Boyd Joanne Kaczmarek Louie B. Nunn Colleen McFarland Rademaker University of Illinois Center for Oral History, has been appointed head archivist by Urbana-Champaign University of Kentucky the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Lexington (Kansas). She is the first lay archivist Joy Kingsolver Angelica Bullock employed by this community of Shel Silverstein Archives University of Louisville over 230 Catholic women religious. Lisle Louisville Previously, McFarland Rademaker Warren Lambert served as the director of Archives and State Historical Society Jackie Couture Records Management for Mennonite of Missouri Eastern Kentucky University Church USA. Shiloh Richmond Sara Mouch has been appointed Rebekah Loyd Johna Picco curator/assistant university archivist University of Illinois Filson Historical Society in the Ward M. Canaday Center for Urbana-Champaign Louisville Special Collections at the University Tracy Popp Kamryn Wies of Toledo. University of Illinois Lexington Urbana-Champaign Lauren White has been appointed MICHIGAN manuscripts librarian at the Univer- Jameatris Rimkus Jeremiah Mason sity of Toledo Library. University of Illinois Keweenaw National Urbana-Champaign Historical Park Allison Schein Calumet Creative Audio Archive Carol Vandenberg Chicago Madonna University Livonia

32 MAC Newsletter • October 2015 PEOPLE AND POSTS—Continued Alexis Braun Marks, Assistant Editor

MINNESOTA Lucy Putnam Karen Grantham Jessica Faucher Glenmary Home Missioners Ninestars Information Saint Catherine University Fairfield Technologies, Ltd. Minneapolis Newton, NH WISCONSIN Mary Ann Kuttner Aileen Caldwell Joshua Ranger School Sisters of Notre Dame Thrivent Financial AVPS Mankato Appleton New York MISSOURI Emma Cobb Allyson Smally Sara Holmes West Allis Colgate University Hamilton, NY National Archives at St. Louis Laura Farley St. Louis Wisconsin Historical Society and Jennifer Kirmer Wisconsin Veterans Museum Washington University Madison St. Peters Dana Gerber-Margie Rena Schergen Wisconsin Historical Society EDITORIAL BOARD Archdiocese of St. Louis Madison ditor St. Louis Sarah Hopley E NORTH DAKOTA Milwaukee Paul Eisloeffel Lindsay Schott Molly McBride Assistant Editors State Historical Society University of of North Dakota Wisconsin–Madison Daria Labinsky Bismark Madison MAC News NEBRASKA Kristen Mash Troy Eller English and Julie Pinnell University of Alison Stankrauff Doane College Library Wisconsin–Milwaukee News from the Midwest and Archives Milwaukee Heather Fox Crete OUTSIDE THE MAC REGION Mixed Media Karen Wagner Janice Allen Nebraska State Capitol Cinema Service International Eric Willey Lincoln Sterling, PA Archival Resources on the Web OHIO Roger Christman Sara Holmes Nicole Laflamme Ellis Library of Virginia Preservation Essentials Chester, VA JM Smucker Company Joanne Kaczmarek Orville Michael Leverett Dorn Electronic Currents Cecilia Hartman Long Island University Lakewood Port Jefferson Station, NY Johna Picco Tricia McEldowney Eleanor Godbey Up-and-Comers The JM Smucker Company University of Pittsburgh Alexis Braun Marks Orville Pittsburgh, PA People and Posts Lonna McKinley Melissa Gottwald New Members National Museum US Air Force Chino Valley, AZ Xenia William Grace Beaumont, TX

MAC Newsletter • October 2015 33 MAC Contacts President (2015–2017) P.O. Box 3141 MAC Newsletter Editor Jennifer I. Johnson Milwaukee, WI 53233-3141 Paul Eisloeffel (2014–2017) Senior Archivist Phone: 414-288-5905 Curator of Audiovisual Collections Corporate Archives/Corporate Affairs [email protected] Nebraska State Historical Society 1500 R Street Cargill, Inc. Jennie Thomas (2014–2017) Box 82554 15407 McGinty Road West, MS-70 Head Archivist Lincoln, NE 68501-2554 Wayzata, MN 55391 Library and Archives Phone: 402-471-7837 Phone: 952-742-4034 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Fax: 402-471-9822 Fax: 952-742-4700 Museum [email protected] [email protected] 2809 Woodland Ave. Vice President (2014–2016) Cleveland, OH 44115 Membership Committee David McCartney Phone: 216-515-1942 Alexis Braun Marks (2015–2017) University Archivist Fax: 216-515-1956 University Archivist Department of Special Collections and [email protected] Eastern Michigan University University Archives Anne Thomason (2014–2017) Bruce T. Halle Library The University of Iowa Libraries Archivist and Special Collections Archives and Special Collections 100 Main Library Librarian 955 W. Circle Dr. Iowa City, IA 52242-1420 Donnelley and Lee Library Ypsilanti, MI 48197 Phone: 319-335-5921 Lake Forest College Phone: 734-487-2594 Fax: 319-335-5900 555 North Sheridan Road [email protected] [email protected] Lake Forest, IL 60045 Public Information Officer Treasurer (2014–2016) Phone: 847-735-5064 Daria Labinsky (2014–2016) Joel Thoreson Fax: 847-735-6297 Archivist Archivist for Management, Reference [email protected] National Archives at St. Louis Services, and Technology 1 Archives Drive Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ex Officio Council St. Louis, MO 63138 America Archives Archival Issues Editorial Board Phone: 314-801-0789 321 Bonnie Lane John Fleckner (2014–2016) [email protected] Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 Senior Archivist Vendor Coordinator Phone: 847-690-9410 Archives Center Miriam Kahn (2015–2017) [email protected] National Museum of American History MBK Consulting 3010½ R Street NW Secretary (2015–2017) 60 N. Harding Road Washington, DC 20007 Michael Doylen Columbus, OH 43209 Phone: 202-633-3720 (O); 202-338- Archives Department Head Phone: 614-239-8977 1703 (H) University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee [email protected] [email protected] UWM Libraries/Archives Department Webmaster P.O. Box 604 Development Coordinator Brad Houston Milwaukee, WI 53201-0604 Carol Street (2015–2017) University Records Archivist Phone: 414-229-6980 Archivist for Architectural Records Archives Department, UWM Libraries [email protected] Ball State University PO Box 604 Architecture Building 120 Council University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Muncie, IN 47306 Milwaukee, WI 53201 Mary Ellen Ducey (2013–2016) Phone: 765-285-8441 Phone: 414-229-6979 University Archivist Fax: 765-285-3726 [email protected] University of Nebraska–Lincoln [email protected] Committee Chairs 29 Love Library P.O. Box 884100 Education Committee Archie Motley Memorial Scholarship University of Nebraska–Lincoln Ellen Swain (2013–2016) for Minority Students Committee Lincoln, NE 68588-4100 Archivist for Student Life and Culture Alison Stankrauff (2014–2016) Phone: 402-472-5076 University of Illinois at Archivist and Associate Librarian [email protected] Urbana-Champaign Franklin D. Schurz Library Erik Moore (2013–2016) Archives Research Center Indiana University South Bend Head, University Archives and 1707 South Orchard Street P.O. Box 7111 Co-Director, University Digital Urbana, IL 61801 South Bend, IN 46634 Conservancy Phone: 217-333-7841 Phone: 574-520-4392 University of Minnesota Archives [email protected] [email protected] 218 Elmer L. Andersen Library Lisa Sjoberg (2015–2017) Emeritus Scholarship for First-Time 222 21st Avenue South College Archivist Minneapolis, MN 55455 MAC Meeting Attendees Concordia College Cheri Thies (2014–2016) Phone: 612-625-5756 901 8th Street South [email protected] Collections Management Department Moorhead, MN 56562 Minnesota Historical Society Michelle Sweetser (2015–2018) Phone: 218-299-3180 345 Kellogg Boulevard West University Archivist [email protected] St. Paul, MN 55102 Raynor Memorial Libraries Phone: 651-259-3359 Marquette University [email protected]

34 MAC Newsletter • October 2015 MAC Contacts—Continued Louisa Bowen Memorial Graduate Annual Meeting 2016 Local Colleen McFarland Rademaker Scholarship Arrangements Committee Head Archivist Elizabeth Wilkinson (2014–2016) Michael Doylen Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Curator of Manuscripts Archives Department Head 4200 S. 4th St. Special Collections Research Center University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Leavenworth, KS 66048 Georgetown University Library UWM Libraries/Archives Department 5749710424 37th and O Streets NW P.O. Box 604 [email protected] Washington, DC 20057 Milwaukee, WI 53201-0604 Phone: 216-515-1942 Phone: 414-229-6980 Fax: 202-303-7501 [email protected] [email protected] Anna Stadick Nominating Committee Head of Archives and ARC/Interim Douglas A. Bicknese Library Director Director of Archival Operations University of Wisconsin–Parkside National Archives at Chicago 900 Wood Road, P.O. Box 2000 7358 S. Pulaski Road Kenosha, WI 53141 Chicago, IL 60629 Phone: 262-595-2167 Phone: 773-948-9009 [email protected] [email protected] Annual Meeting 2016 Program Presidents’ Award Committee Tanya Zanish-Belcher (2015–2017) Amy Cooper Cary Director, Special Collections and Head, Special Collections and Univer- University Archivist sity Archives Wake Forest University Raynor Memorial Libraries Z. Smith Reynolds Library Marquette University PO Box 7777 PO Box 1881 Winston-Salem, NC 27109 Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881 Phone: 336-758-5755 Phone: 414-288-5901 [email protected] [email protected]

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