A NEWSLETTER OF STUDENT CHAPTERS AND INDIVIDUAL STUDENT CHAPTERS & LOOSE PAPERS MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN ARCHIVISTS

• A Student Archivist Newsletter

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 F A L L 2 0 0 6

OCTOBER WAS AMERICAN ARCHIVES MONTH

California State Univer- regional repositories workshops on the basics sity-Sacramento with archival holdings of archives, and informa- This year’s American on display at the open tion pertaining to histori- house. The California cal research in the ar- EDITOR Archives Month proved Russell D. James quite fruitful in Sacra- State Archives open chives. SAA-LSU mento, California. The house, held on October student chapter at Cali- 7, had a remarkable visi- Lastly, many chapter INSIDE fornia State University, tor turn out with nearly members maintain em- THIS ISSUE: Sacramento (CSUS) par- ployment at regional ar- CSU-Sacramento 2 ticipated in and helped chival repositories. Simmons 3 organize several differ- Two of the chapter’s Each of these members Milwaukee played a vital role in as- ent activities and events members served on Wright State celebrating Archives sisting their respective Kent State 4 month. the California Ar- archives with carrying Emporia-Oregon chives Month plan- out Archives month preparations and activi- E-portfolios 5 Two of the chapter’s ning committee. Michigan members, former Presi- ties. Overall, Archives British Columbia 6 dent Greig Best and Month 2006 proved a busy, yet rewarding Kentucky 7 Treasurer Lisa Prince, Syracuse were on the California 300 people attending the month for the members State Archives Month one night event. of the student chapter at Long Island 8 CSUS. Most of all, both University planning committee and surely contributed some Additionally, the student the public and the archi- chapter organized an val community thor- Wayne State 9 of the innovative ideas Speed Processing that made the month’s open house at the CSUS oughly enjoyed the Ar- Special Collections and chives Month events and Tennessee 10 activities successful. Pratt Institute Secondly, the CSUS stu- University Archives. activities in Sacramento. dent chapter coordinated This event attempted to Life, Learn- 11 reach out and inform the - Brent M. Rogers ing, and with the Special Collec- Fulfillment tions and University Ar- campus community of President the archival collections Washington chives at CSUS to dis- play some of the treas- of the University Ar- Pratt Institute 12 chives. Some of the fea- photographs ures of their archives at the California State Ar- tures of this open house chives open house, rep- included tours of the ar- resenting one of the ten chives facilities, brief P A G E 2

Wisconsin Archives Week in Madison

We have been Outlook” potluck where We were honored to host a busy in Madison, with a Rick Pifer of the Wisconsin talk by Russian Archivist record number of members Historical Society offered Dr. Marina Sorokina in and event attendees. In cele- his advise on applying for early November and we are bration of Archives Week jobs, how to read job an- keeping busy with plans for we hosted a bake sale (we nouncements and ways to another bake sale in De- are quite famous amongst beef-up your resume. cember along with a Re- the SLIS community here in Thanks to Russell James of sume writing workshop and Madison), offered sampler- LSU and our own Gabe an interview workshop in Zines of the Archivist Cook- Angulo we were able to January. book at the Zine-fest (part offer attendees a sampling Interested in order- The Archivist Cookbook of the week long Wisconsin of recent job postings and ing a copy of the Archivist for sale by UW- Book Festival), and created data on skills employers are Cookbook for the holidays? Madison SAA chapter, a beautiful display about the looking for. (If you are in- We are taking orders through December 1 st and is on sale until history of the Archives Pro- terested in seeing what we will ship in time for the December 1st for gram at SLIS. came up with please contact We have also had [email protected]) holidays. If you would shipment by two gatherings for chapter Fifteen first year rather order on your own Christmas. members. A potluck at co- SLIS students have been and see what else we have ordinator Alexis Braun accepted to the archives to offer please visit us at Marks’ home was held in track and we are hoping to http://www.cafepress.com/ September as a meet and that all 13 of the graduating uwsaachapter all sale prof- greet for first and second second year students find its go to benefit the UW- year students. Advisor Ci- employment come spring. Madison Student Chapter. aran Trace hosted a “Job SAA-LSU Louisiana State University

The Louisiana State Archives Week. During the both archivists and researchers University student chapter latter, the chapter released a in Louisiana by updating the received its charter from the bookmark created by webmas- online LAMA Directory. SAA Council in mid-July ter Debbie Cannon (see figure LAMA is the Louisiana Ar- 2006, becoming the 25th stu- at left). The bookmark was chives & Manuscript Associa- dent chapter. Plans were made distributed to university librar- tion, the state’s professional for a big year at LSU. ies and the history department association. The project is President Russell (in hopes of recruiting some ongoing. James, vice president Neil members). It was such a hit In November, six Guilbeau, and administrative that SAA included it on its members of the group attended secretary Aimee Everrett “Archives Month Activities” the LAMA Annual Meeting in worked hard to plan a begin- webpage. Thibodaux, Louisiana, hosted ning of the year tour of the Also in October, and by Nicholls State University. SAA-LSU—The 25th student chapter university libraries’ special also to celebrate American The group heard about efforts Front row, l to r: Russell D. James collection department’s Hill Archives Month, Lee Miller, to record oral histories about (president), Dr. Elizabeth H. Dow (advisor), Memorial Library location. manuscript curator at Tulane life during and after Hurricanes Jennifer Pino, Aimee Everrett Thirteen students attended the University in New Orleans and Katrina and Rita, learned about (administrative secretary), Suzanne Horton. tour. SAA Council member, spoke the restoration of the Jackson The officers felt to the group about being a Barracks after the storms, and Back row, l to r: Debbie Cannon, Dana strongly that the chapter professional archivist and what listened to president Russell Teepell, Kyle Kendall, Andree Bourgeois, needed to become involved in it means. James give a presentation on John Hansen, Katie Erikson. the celebration of American The group decided to the cutting-edge method of Archives Month and Louisiana undertake a service project to function-based appraisal.

CHAPTERS & LOOSE PAPERS VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 P A G E 3 Simmons College student chapter Over the past year, Simmons (Jeannette Bastian), and had a SCOSAA members have visited poster presentation at the annual The Society of American Archivists holds its annual archives at Boston University SAA conference this summer in meeting from August 27-September 2 in Chicago. and the Isabella Stewart Gard- Washington D.C. Later this ner Museum. Guest lecturers month we will be visiting the Students and student chapters are encouraged to make poster presentations and present them at the have included Richard Pearce processing and audiovisual ar- annual meeting. In the past, the student chapter Moses (immediate past presi- chives at the John F. Kennedy poster presentations have been highly visible and very dent, SAA), Howard Lowell Presidential Library and holding successful. Doing a poster presentation is a way to (NARA) on the Electronic Re- an archives career panel. have your student chapter recognized and a way for cords Archive, and Susanna the students at the annual meeting to get an opportu- Belovari (Tufts University) on Heather Soyka nity to network with other archivists (read here— the processing of Holocaust potential employers). records. We co-hosted an ar- chives student potluck at the Pay attention to the SAA website and publications in home of the head of the Sim- coming months for a call for poster presentations. mons archives program Folklife and Kringles in Milwaukee

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee SAA our annual fall fundraiser. For those not able to do more activities. Look for a re- student chapter had an active Archives Month. familiar with kringle it is a Danish pas- port of our tour of the Marquette Univer- Our chapter had the privilege of a Q&A session tery shaped in an oval and filled with sity Special Collections and Archives, the with Dr. Michael Taft, Head of the Archive of fruit or nuts ( http://www.kringle.com/ ). implementation of our new website and Folk Culture at the American Folklife Center at We sold over 100! All the money raised other activities in the next segment of this the Library of Congress in October. Dr. Taft will be put towards subsidizing student newsletter. was making presentations to a class and another costs for the SAA conference in Chi- student organization and generously took the cago in 2007. Katie Blank time to talk with us. We discussed digitization, Membership in our student Vice President access to records and the most unusual item the chapter has risen in the last two years Center received- a ham. All students who were thanks to an increase in students inter- able to attend appreciated his insight and advice. ested in archives at UWM. With this In addition to that we sold kringles for influx of new members we have been

Wright State University student chapter The Wright State University One of the trips we are planning Student Chapter of SAA is a is going (mid-December) to the relatively young organization. Cincinnati Museum Center. It began in 2003 with about five Another event we are planning members with a current mem- in February 2007 is traveling to bership of twelve members. Indianapolis to visit the IUPUI Since we are still a small or- Special Collections and Ar- ganization we did not do any- chives as well as the Children’s thing for last month’s Archives Museum. week but are planning a couple Garret B. Kremer-Wright trips in the near future. President P A G E 4 SAA/SOA at Kent State University

The SAA/SOA student events of interest to students. she will be teaching in the spring chapter at Kent State University (Reference and Research Methods (KSU) believes that an important The chapter kicked off for Genealogy and Local History) aspect of its job is to help fellow the programming in October. The as well as those courses that she students by offering speakers and first speaker was a recent graduate is currently teaching. activities that will enhance what is of KSU, Ms. Rhonda Rinehart, being taught in the classroom. This MLIS. Ms. Rinehart is the archivist The final speaker for is especially important since KSU at the Archives of the History of the semester, Mr. Steve Paschen, does not have an archival focus American Psychology (AHAP) at MA, MLIS will be giving a presen- within the School of Library and The University of Akron in Akron, tation in December. Mr. Paschen Information Science (SLIS). There OH. She gave the group an over- recently joined the Kent State are several courses and workshops view of her job and described some faculty as the University Archivist, offered each semester that cover of the projects that she has worked a position which had remained archival topics which have allowed on and completed while at the vacant for many years within the many students to pursue their AHAP. Ms. Rinehart also shared department of special collections interests in archives. her experience as a graduate stu- and archives. Aside from hosting dent. speakers, the chapter is planning to Kent State students combined two organize several "field trips." The student groups, the SAA student Ms. Miriam Kahn, group hopes to tour local archival chapter and the student chapter of MLS, was the second speaker facilities in order to obtain an the Society of Ohio Archivists hosted by the chapter. Ms. Kahn is inside look at what goes on in the (SOA) in order to bolster support an adjunct instructor in KSU’s field. and increase awareness of the SLIS program in addition to run- archival profession. The goals of ning a consulting business for Alyssa Weldon the chapter are to increase mem- libraries and archives. Ms. Kahn’s Lizette Royer bership and provide programs and presentation focused on a course

Oregon Student and Oregon Archives Week

The chapter of Northwest Ar- an in depth history of printing We were also given a glimpse chivists celebrated Oregon during that time period. into the Archives and Special Archives Week with a number Collections of Southern Ore- of activities and presentations We also received a tour of the gon University which contains around the state during the Festival Archives by the Ore- a copy of Shakespeare’s sec- week of October 9-15. gon Shakespeare Festival Ar- ond folio printed in London in chivist, Kit Leary. 1632. To end the week long festivi- ties, historians, archivists and Saturday consisted of lectures The activities and presentations Shakespeare enthusiasts at and attendance of the perform- were exceptional. This was my large converged upon Oregon’s ance of King John . Jeff La- first time attending activities Shakespeare Festival in Ash- Land, Historian and Archivist associated with Oregon Ar- land Oregon. The weekend’s for the National Forest Service chives Week. It was nice get- activities revolved around the spoke on forest history in ting to know others around the exhibit of Shakespeare’s first Southern Oregon. His presen- state involved in the Northwest folio on loan from the private tation was titled, “100 Years of Archivist Chapter. collection of Paul G. Allen. Forest History: The Historical The folio was printed in Lon- Records Collection of the Robyn Ward don in 1623 by Isaac Jaggard Rogue River National Forest.” and Edward Bount and exhib- MLIS Student ited in the New Theatre where Alan Armstrong then spoke of Emporia State University – the Oregon Shakespeare Festi- the performance of King John Oregon Cohort val Archives are held. The and how the director went Lewis & Clark College folio is one of 235 copies that about writing and researching Portland, Oregon exist. for this version of the perform- ance. The performance of King Paul Merchant, Shakespeare John was phenomenal. The scholar and William Stafford director had set the historical Scholar from Lewis & Clark context in the midst of World College Special Collections, War I. presented on the folio and gave

CHAPTERS & LOOSE PAPERS VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 P A G E 5 E-Portfolios Can Sell You to An Employer

I have been following the student archives list Back to the webpage itself: version one use of CSS so the pages would render serve for some time now and became interested was VERY basic. Here is a link to the basic consistently and could easily be updated. in the thread regarding on-line portfolios. In page: ( http://homepage.mac.com/ Furthermore, I based the final design on reality, as I graduated in August of this year, I jdamico68/employment%20web%20page/ my friend’s photography website. Here am no longer technically a student. The notion html/Portfolio_James_DaMico.html ) I used is a link to the final webpage: ( http:// of putting together a portfolio of my research NVu to create the HTML and created homepage.mac.com/jdamico68/jim- and writings actually came out of discussions PDF’s of all of my papers. This way there damico/index.htm ) that I had with friends who were in the general wouldn’t be any problems with formatting The one factor that I don’t know is how library track. As part of a library instruction etc. I knew this was to be more of a place- many people are actually looking at my class, I believe it was anyway, the students had holder for a much improved website. In- on-line portfolio. Another is ensuring to develop a simple web page with their perti- cluded at the top of my resume is a link to search engines are picking the page up. nent papers, contact info etc. While this was not the portfolio page. And yes, I had one po- As it stands now, that isn’t happening. discussed in any of my classes, I thought it was a tential employer that actually went to the great idea. I believe I may be the only one in my webpage and reviewed my finding aid. In conclusion, I think that whatever you class to have something like this. choose to implement, whether it is basic On to the more advanced online portfolio: or more advanced design, have some I set out to create a very simple webpage that I As I was taking a full load of classes in the kind of online presence. Keep it clean, could post to my .Mac web server. For those summer, I sent my basic page to a web simple and easy to read. And don’t for- who don’t know about this service, it is a web developer friend of mine to get his feed- get to update it on a regular basis. based service that originally started off as a free back. He suggested getting a friend that There are plenty of free hosting ser- program called iTools but Apple decided to could design a page for me. It was at this vices, your university included, that you charge $100 a year. Anyway, I have one GB of juncture of the process that I asked my can post your portfolio to. Just keep in server space that I can post web pages to, store friend, who is an excellent designer, to mind that you want to have access to my bookmarks etc. Essentially, I can create the produce a webpage for me using my rudi- the server once you graduate. HTML in any application and upload via the web mentary layout and organization as a interface. starting point. I knew I wanted to make James DaMico

French Archives Students Visit Michigan

The student chapter of SAA at the Uni- Labadie (social protest) and Special for students to discuss what archives versity of Michigan has had a great fall Collections within the Hatcher Gradu- classes were best with many of the opening up conversations between stu- ate Library, the Reuther Library (labor second years in the program. Finally, dents, professors, and professionals. and urban affairs) in Detroit, and the on November 9, students got an op- This year the Archives and Records State of Michigan Library in Lansing. portunity to meet and talk with archi- Management program in the School of In early November, a group from the vists from across the state at a recep- Information has expanded to include 4 Institut National du Patrimoine of Paris tion at the Bentley Historical Library. full-time faculty: Paul Conway, David visited the Bentley Historical Library Wallace, Margaret Hedstrom, and Eliza- on-campus. Two French archivist Sarah Walch beth Yakel. The chapter introduced new students that were a part of the cohort and old members alike to the new fac- met with students from the UM SAA ulty--Wallace and Conway--at the first chapter. Joan Schwartz from Queen's meeting of the semester and at a potluck. University (Kingston, Ontario, Canada) SAA also visited several on-campus and visited the Bentley and gave a presen- off-campus institutions to give students tation entitled "Photography and the an idea of the different job possibilities in de/re/con/struction of Geographical their future, including the William L. Archives" to a packed house. In early Clements Library (American history), the November, SAA hosted a fall session P A G E 6 Association of Canadian Archivists Student Chapter at University of British Columia

As it is located within Can- year MAS and Joint stu- of Library and Information ada, the School of Library, dents. This program has a Studies at the University of Archival and Information high rate of involvement and Wisconsin-Madison. No- Studies (SLAIS) at the Uni- both mentors and mentees vember 19-25 is Archives The University of versity of British Columbia speak favourably of their Week in British Columbia (UBC) does not have an experiences as participants. and we have a couple of British Columbia SAA student chapter. How- activities planned. First, ever, SLAIS does have a Another chapter activity Rosaleen Hill, a Vancouver- student chapter of student chapter of the Asso- consists of cultivating a based conservator and the ciation of Canadian Archi- long-standing relationship coordinator of the Archives the Association of vists (ACA). Established in with the SAA student chap- Association of British Co- 2004 as the first such chapter ter at Western Washington lumbia’s preservation ser- Canadian in Canada, UBC’s ACA University in Bellingham. vice, will give a presentation Archivists is one of chapter is now in its third For many years, the two on preservation techniques year of operation. A student programs have enjoyed a and standards associated three such coordinator leads the chap- reciprocal relationship with digital photography and ter; this year, Carolyn Petrie, whereby students and faculty born-digital images. Later in chapters in a student in the joint Master from one program travel the week, chapter members of Archival Studies (MAS) across the international bor- will visit the Museum of Canada. The other and MLIS program, holds der to meet with the other Anthropology at UBC for a this position. Other chapter program’s students and fac- tour of the museum archives two are: McGill executive positions are two ulty on their respective cam- and a behind-the-scenes look events coordinators, a secre- pus. Faculty organized these at the museum’s exhibits and University and the tary/treasurer, an archivist/ visits until the 2004-2005 current digitization projects. web coordinator, and a first- academic year, when the Events taking place next University of year representative. Two of schools’ student chapters term include speaker presen- Toronto . the chapter’s most recent took over this role. In 2005, tations, a Valentine’s bake accomplishments are the UBC students travelled to sale, and more social gather- creation of a website and a Bellingham, and in March ings. policy manual. 2006 Western Washington students came to Vancouver. For more information about There are two ways of pur- The program for this visit the ACA student chapter at suing archival education at included a tour of the UBC UBC, please visit the chap- UBC: either through the archives and presentations ter’s website at http:// stand-alone MAS degree by UBC faculty, including a www.slais.ubc.ca//PEOPLE/ program, or through the joint talk by Luciana Duranti, the students/student-groups/aca/ . MAS-MLIS program. At ACA student chapter’s fac- least twenty new students ulty advisor, on the Inter- Christina Miller enter the MAS program PARES 2 Project, which she Jill Prior every September, and since directs. Plans for the UBC all first-year MAS students chapter’s spring 2007 visit to are required to take eight Bellingham are underway. core courses in their first year, there is often very little Chapter events held this interaction between these term have included a pub students and their more sen- night, a Halloween bake ior counterparts. To foster sale, and a discussion of communication between the MAS curriculum changes. cohorts and to provide sup- More events are planned. On port to first-year students, November 3rd we will have the ACA student chapter has a lunchtime chat on the sub- developed a mentorship pro- ject of archival education gram that matches new stu- with Ciaran Trace, an assis- dents with second- or third- tant professor at the School

CHAPTERS & LOOSE PAPERS VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 P A G E 7 Cookout in Kentucky The Student Chapter of SAA at the meeting at the Kentucky Historical University of Kentucky is a fairly Society in Frankfort. new organization on campus. The Plans for this year include a presen- chapter was founded during the tation by recent UK SLIS gradu- 2003-04 school year, and we have ates, and a resume writing work- been working ever since on build- shop. Tours of local archives were ing membership and establishing ourselves on campus. also made available to UK SAA Our first event this se- members in conjunction with the mester was a cookout at Archives Archives class. For more informa- Professor Bill Marshall’s house on tion about our Student Chapter, October 8 to welcome new mem- check out our website at http:// bers and celebrate the start of Ar- www.uky.edu/CommInfoStudies/ chive’s week. On October 13, our SLIS/students/saa/index.htm vice-president Jennifer Howard and Kentucky students at cookout. From l to r: Tom Fiehrer, member Kat Lloyd attended the Alice Wasielewski, Adrianne Phillips (president), Sue Kentucky Council on Archives fall Maggard and Jennifer Howard (vice-president).

Sound Archives are Syracuse Student and Sound Archives just one area of archives that

Quite honestly, I love working in a cuse -- despite being a top-ranked Since arriving, I've met students can work sound archive. But how did I end "i-school," there isn't one here. The other students interested in archiv- on while in school. up here? My professional back- main draw for me was the bunker- ing, from the more traditional his- ground is in teaching, and a little like building hidden beside the torical materials to video and film over a year ago I was in the midst main library: the Belfer Audio collections. We seem to be a grow- of a graduate program in ethnomu- Laboratory and Archive. Belfer is ing contingent at Syracuse. One sicology at UCLA. Several factors recognized as one of the world's faculty member has begun to offer conspired to prompt my move into significant audio collections, with occasional courses in special collec- the world of archives. I had begun over 300,000 recordings in formats tions and archives. We've also to pay more attention to one of the from the earliest experimental tin- started to look into establishing best resources the department had foil and brown wax recordings to summer courses in audiovisual Students from to offer, the Ethnomusicology Ar- modern digital media. Our collec- archiving, with an eye on evolving universities with chive. I talked with the archivist tion of 22,000 cylinder records is those into a complete interdiscipli- about his work and career path, the largest at a private institution in nary master's degree in recorded no SAA student attended archiving panels and com- North America. We maintain play- sound and AV archiving -- which mittee meetings at a conference, back equipment for all formats and would be, as far as I can tell, the chapter are and was quickly drawn into the are able to do delicate restoration first in the country. In the mean- welcome to world of a myriad of media formats and preservation work on re- time, our contingent is planning to and objects that are the product of cordings from any era. We also start a student chapter of SAA right submit articles ethnographic field research. At the serve as a teaching facility for here at Syracuse. We refer to our- same time, I began to question my classes in the undergraduate Music selves as the "library heretics," a for this motivations to continue on to the Industry program. Through the tonuge-in-cheek way of pointing newsletter. In Ph.D. Family concerns also came generosity of the William Fleming out the uniqueness of the archival into play, and by the end of the Trust I am supported as the ar- perspective within a library. In all coming months, academic year I had finished my chive's first graduate assistant. The seriousness, we hope to convince first master's and was returning to work involves me in all aspects of people that it's a valuable perspec- SAA may be my undergraduate alma mater, media archiving, including preser- tive, worthy of curricular attention considering Syracuse University, to pursue a vation, digitization, organization, in any forward-looking information second master's in library and infor- publicity and relations, reference, school. starting a “virtual mation science. teaching and research -- experience It wasn't for the archival that library coursework doesn't student chapter” studies program that I chose Syra- offer. for such students. P A G E 8 Long Island University Archives Students

The Archives program at Long oping and Maintaining Practi- agement I. Three electives are Island University is part of its cal Archives: A How-To-Do-It required. Some of the courses Palmer School of Library and Manual , a textbook for many offered as electives are strictly Information Science. Classes basic courses in the field. archival in nature, such as are held at two locations: The Appraisal of Archives and C. W. Post Campus in Brook- Dr. Saffady is internationally Manuscripts; others are shared ville, Long Island, NY. This known in the fields of informa- with the Rare Books and Spe- Gregory Hunter campus is set on the former tion and records management, cial Collections concentration. Gold Coast estate of Marjorie library automation, and docu- The final requirement is an and William Merriweather Post, heiress to ment imaging systems and internship in an archives. The the Post cereal fortune. Other technologies. Before joining New York location gives stu- Saffady lead the classes are held in Manhattan the Palmer School, he taught at dents many unique opportuni- at the Bobst Library of New the State University of New ties for internships, ranging archives education York University. York at Albany, Vanderbilt from major corporations to University, the Pratt Institute small repositories to major program at Long The lead faculty members in and Wayne State University. research libraries such as New this area are Gregory S. York Public to international Island University Hunter, Ph.D. and William Adjunct faculty includes Mimi institutions such as the United Saffady, Ph.D. Bowling, a consulting archivist Nations. and former Curator of Manu- Dr. Hunter, a certified archivist scripts at the New York Public The Manhattan location at and records manager, was first Library and Rick Block, Head, New York University offers president of the Academy of Special Collections and Meta- students the opportunity to Certified Archivist, manager of data Cataloging at Columbia register in certain classes that corporate records at ITT world University. are part of NYU’s Archives headquarters, and director of program in their History De- archival programs at the Since the program is part of the partment. NYU students are United Negro College Fund, Palmer School of Library and also welcome in some of the Inc. He is the Principal Archi- Information Science, all stu- Palmer School’s library and vist and Records Manager for a dents must complete a core of archives classes. team headed by Lockheed four basic library classes. The Martin that is building the Certificate in Archives and Peter Andes Electronic Records Archives Records Management requires . for the National Archives and a total of six classes. Two re- Records Administration. Dr. quired classes are Archives and Hunter is the author of Devel- Manuscripts and Records Man- Publication Information.

Chapters and Loose Papers is SAA membership and technical We would also like to thank a production of the twenty six director, Brian Doyle, nine Indiana University’s student student chapters of the Society student chapters presidents chapter for hosting this news- Why this of American Archivists and officially sanctioned this news- letter on their website. various student archivists from letter as an official mouthpiece newsletter? Any and all interested parties, around the world. of the student chapters in especially student chapters in The idea for this newsletter September 2006. the United States and Canada, came out of a discussion by Submissions to this newsletter are welcome to link to this students on the archives stu- may be made to newsletter site. dents listserv, hosted by the editor Russell James at Copyright 2006 by the Society Society of American Archivists. [email protected]. Photos are of American Archivists. Thanks to the hard work of welcome.

CHAPTERS & LOOSE PAPERS VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 P A G E 9 Wayne State University Activities in Fall 2006

record business transactions? Are they kept as hoodie sweaters. The shirts come all sizes evidence in the court of law? Or is it for the in gray and white and the sweaters are use of historians? Dr. Boles said that it can gray. Both have a small SAA icon on the easily be any of these and that appraisal is front. On the back is another SAA logo different from institution to institution, adding and “100% Acid Free” above the logo. that collection policies must be clear and read- SAA’s Co-webmaster, Crystle Martin, ily available for anyone that questions what is did the printing and secretary Ronee kept and what is discarded. Francis will be coordinating the sales of The presentation was filled with not the shirts. We are developing an online only solid information on appraisal and selec- order form, but you can send us an email tion, but also included memorable anecdotes if you would like to purchase shirts in From l to r: Troy Eller, Eva and thoughtful questions from the audience. time for the holidays. Contact us at: Gronowska (pink shirt), Jennifer Dr. Boles also had a PowerPoint presentation. [email protected] . Hassell (behind Eva), Frank Boles The entire presentation and the PowerPoint and Ronee Francis slides were recorded and will be posted on the Midwest Archives Conference ————————————————— web near the beginning of December. Keep The SAA at WSU is trying to get a road Frank Boles Presentation checking our website for updates: http:// trip to Columbus, OH together. Each On Thursday, November 16, 2006, the student www.lisp.wayne.edu/saa . year, the Midwest Archives Conference chapter of the Society of American Archivists at Dr. Boles is the director of the gives archival students a fantastic chance Wayne State University invited Dr. Frank Boles Clarke Historical Library at Central Michigan to mingle with professionals that are not to speak about the appraisal and selection of ar- University and is also the author of the 2005 only in their field, but also in their region. chival records. He explored the background of the SAA publication entitled, Selecting and Ap- The MAC conference is affordable, theory behind selection and the current state of praising Archives and Manuscript s. nearby and filled with fantastic sessions. the appraisal discussion. This 2007 spring meeting will take place Dr. Boles began with a lively compari- SAA T-shirts and zip-up sweatshirts now May 2-7. More information is available at son of the Jenkinson and Schellenberg appraisal available! http://www.midwestarchives.org . theories. He then discussed who appraises, why The SAA at Wayne State was very excited to they appraise and what they deem worthy to keep introduce our latest fundraising effort – creat- Eva Gronowska and on what grounds. Are records kept only to ing and selling short-sleeve t-shirts and zip-up Speed Processing v. Slow Processing

In the archives world, a new mantra called previously have been deemed necessary for newspaper clippings, marriage licenses, “More Product, Less Process” has opened providing a researcher with a well-organized, Civil War diaries, tax documents, wills, up the gates for a serious rethinking of how neatly prepared collection, but now are consid- photographs and ambrotypes. This collec- we process new collections. As put forth by ered too time consuming and unnecessary. The tion did not come to us already organized or Mark A. Green and Dennis Meissner, ar- collection that I speed processed belonged to in folders. Although it took me weeks, I chives suffer from tremendous backlogs Johnie Hammond, a recently retired state thoroughly combed over this collection by hindered by slow and careful processing legislator. While serving in both the house and making folders, reorganizing, researching methods that are in need of a serious over- senate, Hammond kept alphabetized research the family and creating a detailed finding haul. Many archivists are now advocating a files and constituent mail organized roughly aid. new approach called “speed processing.” by congressional session. If I had processed In considering speed processing, The Midwest Archives Conference in this collection a year ago, I would have re- several questions need to be asked: How Omaha, held in October of this year, fo- foldered and labeled over 90 research files and large is the collection? How much variety is cused on this new revolution in the archives chronologically organized her letters and other there in the materials and format? Are they world and how it can be implemented in materials. I kept the original folders as is and already in some sort of organizational sys- local archives. Three employees at the Iowa the rest of the letters and materials remained in tem, and are the papers already foldered? Is Women’s Archives attended this confer- their original order and organization. In total this an important collection for our archives, ence and returned ready to try some new time I would estimate that the collection, at and will our researches be eager to use it? ideas. As we have made changes, it is clear five linear feet, took me twenty hours to proc- Answering these questions can help us that speed processing has its advantages, ess. make important decisions concerning what but cannot be implemented for every col- In contrast, I have also recently pre- can be speed processed and what must be lection. I have recently completed process- pared a collection donated by Margaret Keyes, slow processed. ing two collections that prove this point. a retired professor at the . The term “speed processing” does This collection consists of family papers from Kathryn V. Stewart not mean that I frantically process a new five branches of the Keyes family, spanning collection at warp speed. In reality, it means from 1832 to the 1960s. It includes a wide skipping some tedious steps that would variety of materials including letters, essays, P A G E 1 0 The Society of Society of Tennessee Archivists Reaches Out to Students Tennessee Archivists The Society of Tennessee ville, Tennessee. chives or related fields. At present, is not the only state Archivists (STA) has established a STA held its annual meeting there is no special student membership new program to provide funds to in Nashville, Tennessee this year; status, but students are encouraged to and regional archives enable two students to attend its co-sponsored by the Southern Bap- join as associate members (at the re- annual meeting. The two scholar- tist Historical Society. The theme duced rate of $10 per calendar year.) association to reach ships are open to Tennessee under- was Facing the Future: Archives, The society’s leadership has placed graduate and graduate students in Technology and the New Millinium . discussion about increased opportuni- out to students. The archives and related fields of Seminars, roundtable discussions, ties for students to serve and ways in study, reflecting the STA’s empha- and a keynote address by Dr. Eliza- which the STA can better offer support recent Louisiana sis on encouraging student partici- beth Dow were part of the bill of to students on their agenda for the pation in the organization. The fare, and this year the STA co- coming year. Archives & first recipients were Dorothy Davis sponsored a workshop, Digital Li- Although the primary focus of from Middle Tennessee State Uni- braries and Digital Archives, with the STA is currently on archivists and Manuscrtipts versity and Anthony Norton, a the Society of American Archivists, students in Tennessee, students and Association meeting student at East Tennessee State providing a different educational practicing archivists from other states, University. Another scholarship opportunity for students and active as well as people from allied profes- had a cake to program, the Mary C. Barnes Ar- archivists. sions who believe they may derive chives Scholarship funded by the The STA does not currently benefit or have something to offer, are commemorate the Friends of Metro Archives in have student chapters, but has re- welcome. Those interested in the stu- Nashville, provides meeting and cently made an increased effort to dent scholarships or other STA activi- chartering of the workshop attendance funds for reach out to students. This year the ties can check out their Web site at students who also actively work as membership committee included a http://www.geocities.com/ student chapter at archivists. This year’s recipient student membership coordinator tennarchivists . was Terry Jackson, Middle Ten- who is a graduate student as well as Louisiana State nessee State University Student being employed in the profession. A Jim Havron and Archival Assistant with the publicity campaign has targeted University. Metropolitan Archives in Nash- schools that have programs in ar-

the Museo del Bargello, and, of course, the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, with its famous Dome designed by Brunelleschi. 2006 Pratt Summer Institute in Florence Yet, among the most exciting activities were the private, behind- the-scenes tours of Florence’s cultural treasures made possible through Dr. From May 21 through June 11, the Cultural Informatics Program at Pratt Insti- Poma-Swank’s strong rapport with her international colleagues. These events tute's School of Information and Library Science brought 16 graduate students included a walk through Vasari’s Corridor, the private elevated walkway of and professional librarians and archivists to Florence, Italy, for three full weeks the Medici connecting the Uffizi to the Pitti Palace; a backroom, after-hours of immersive study in Florentine art and culture. lecture at the Gabinetto Disegni e Stampe, the Uffizi’s collection of sketches, Now in its third year, the Pratt Summer Institute in Florence has architectural drawings, and prints; and a guided tour of the secret apartments earned some celebrity among students of library science, archival studies, and art and sanctuaries of the Medici Grand Dukes, hidden in the walls of the Pa- history. Last winter, applications for the 2006 Institute poured in from students lazzo Vecchio, Florence’s seat of government. across the country. In addition to select Pratt students based in New York, this In addition to the scheduled lectures, each student developed and year’s participants also included scholars from Arizona, Massachusetts, Michi- worked on an individual project in exhibition development and resource gan, Oregon, and Texas. documentation. Students received library cards in order to conduct research The course was conceived and designed by Dr. AnnaMaria Poma- at Florentine institutions when time permitted, as well as a pass allowing free Swank, associate visiting professor at Pratt-SILS and librarian at the Italian entrance into Florence museums. Academy at . A native of Florence and scholar of Medieval and Renaissance art, Dr. Poma-Swank devised and facilitated a rigorous agenda This pass was the prize possession of every student while in Flor- of tours and a series of lectures by Florence’s preeminent authorities in art, con- ence; not only did it grant free admission into museums such as the Uffizi, servation, librarianship, curatorship, publishing, and Renaissance history. She the Pitti Palace, and the Galleria dell'Accademia, but it also allowed the car- was assisted by Pratt-SILS graduate student Ilaria Papini, also a native of Flor- rier to forgo long museum-entry lines accompanied by waits of up to three ence. hours. For most visitors to Florence, a trip to one of these institutions would Activities included guided tours of Florence’s most renowned research be a daylong activity, but for the Pratt class, all it took was a short walk from libraries and archives, including the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze, the the hotel and a quick flash of the pass to the museum attendant to see Michel- Uffizi Library, the Alinari photo archives, the Biblioteca dell'Accademia della angelo’s David one more time or to spend an leisurely afternoon strolling the Crusca, Michelozzo’s Library in the Convent of San Marco, and the Library of paths of Boboli Gardens. Bernard Berenson, located at ’s Villa I Tatti in the lush hills of Fiesole northeast of Florence. Indeed, the history, culture, and art of Florence were inspirational The course, however, was not limited in scope to Florentine libraries and awe-inspiring. But, as every Summer Institute scholar discovered, so was and offered a refreshingly interdisciplinary approach to library studies. The class the ambient beauty of Florence — the bells, the hills, the Arno River, the visited the Galileo Galilei Institute for Theoretical Physics to hear a lecture by Tuscan sunshine, the songbirds at dusk. The 2006 Pratt Summer Institute in Professor Alberto Righini on the history of astronomy in religion and art. Stu- Florence was not only an excellent course; it was also an unforgettable life dents attended a seminar by Barbara Casalini and enjoyed lunch at the hillside- experience. villa offices of Italian-publication vendor Casalini Libri. They also received intimate expert lectures held at Florentine landmarks, including Orsanmichele, Sarah Rhodes, MLIS student, University of North Texas

CHAPTERS & LOOSE PAPERS VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 P A G E 1 1 Life, Learning, and Fulfillment

Shortly after obtaining my BA I the subject matter I am passionate voked by walking though the build- hopped in my trusty vehicle, which about. With my new found drive to ing was strong and elating. I cannot I affectionately called “Space have a hand in preserving, catalog- image how this would feel if I knew Ghost”, and began my journey from ing and making accessible these I would be stepping into an atmos- I had the Detroit to the pipe-dream called kinds of materials, I needed a con- phere such as the Margaret Herrick Hollywood. Freshly armed with duit to bring it together. Library every morning. As for my enthusiasm and background in media arts and film, I had the enthusiasm and off-time from work, I find myself I decided to go straight to the the beginnings of a skill set, but no going through each email from the beginnings source of the industry. Fast forward direction to combine them into ListServes such as The Association to my cubicle in the IT department marketability for myself. I found of Moving Image Archivists of a skill set, of an insurance company a few San Jose State University’s MLIS (AMIA) and exploring the topics I years later; the film industry can be archival studies path an excellent was not previously aware of. Imag- but no direction a harsh mistress. It was time for foundation to ready me for the ine actually wanting to continue to combine some serious re-evaluation. There world of archiving. work research after you are home must be something out there that Since my career as a MLIS student from work. them into would unify my still beating fervor has begun I have immersed myself In the few months I have for film with my technical skill set. in the field as much as possible. been in the San Jose State Univer- marketability My academic, professional and Student groups such as SAASC sity MLIS program, so much has extracurricular focus has always provide valuable feedback and ad- solidified for me in terms of my for myself. included technology and media. vice to help steer my goals. Organ- goals and focus. I am eager to take Through research and ized trips to archives also provide a advantage of every opportunity to introspection, I came across a field look into working conditions I build my skill set, network and that would blend these interests into would not ordinarily have the op- discover what it takes to become a a meaningful and rewarding career. portunity to see. moving image archivist. The craft of a moving image archi- I recently had the oppor- vist was the synthesis of everything tunity to tour NARA’s Pacific Re- Heather Fulcinari I enjoy doing professionally with gion archives. The feeling pro-

University of Washington student archivists group

Although the Archives and Preserva- Seattle Municipal Archives, and several campus members. tion Club (APC) is not an official SAA presentations by rare books and visual mate- We are also interested in talking to stu- student chapter, we are a particularly rials curators from the Special Collections dent archives groups about the process of becoming active group. The APC is based within Division of the University of Washington SAA student chapters, as this is an ongoing topic of the University’s Information School, Libraries. In addition APC hosted an annual discussion among club officers. where officers and active members are panel of professional archivists as part of usually students in the MLIS program. the Information School’s Career Week. Officers for the 2006-2007 year are: Membership is open to all students at This year, the APC is participat- Abigail Bass, Secretary the University of Washington, regard- ing in the Archives Fair as part of Archives David Junius, Distance Liaison less of department or program. Week in Washington State, and is schedul- Spencer Lamm, Webmaster Last spring, we sponsored a ing tours, workshops, and presentations Melinda Snarr, Co-Chair panel discussion on digital music ar- designed to meet the needs of students who Colleen Stevenson, Marketing & Publicity Officer chiving and a presentation by Samuel are interested in a very broad range of ar- Michelle Vallance, Co-Chair Brylawski, the former head of the Li- chives, special collections, and preservation brary of Congress' Recorded Sound issues. Visit our website at http://students.washington.edu/ Division, on policies and trends in Because the University of Wash- archpres/ . Contact us at arch- audio preservation. As such, we have ington offers the MLIS through a traditional [email protected] . been able to reach out to students in the on campus program and via a distance- University’s music department. We are learning mode, APC membership includes --Melinda Snarr & Michelle Vallance actively trying to forge stronger ties students in several states. We are always with students in the history and muse- looking for creative ways to reach out to ology departments as well. and encourage students in the distance mode Our other recent events in- to take part in APC programs and events. clude a discussion with SAA past We would certainly appreciate hearing from president Rand Jimerson, a tour of the other archives groups that include off- Students attending the 2006 Pratt Summer Institute in Florence attended an intimate lecture given by Dr. Claudio di Benedetto, Director of the Uffizi Library, and spent their free time conducting research using the Uffizi Library collections, which include books dating back.

Photo courtesy Jeanette O'Keefe.

Students attending the 2006 Pratt Summer Students attending the 2006 Pratt Summer Insti- Institute in Florence had the rare oppor- tute in Florence attended an intimate lecture tunity to witness a demonstration of col- given by Dr. Claudio di Benedetto, lotype printing during a visit to the Director of the Uffizi Library, and spent their Fratelli Alinari Archives in Florence, free time conducting research using the Uffizi Italy. Library collections, which include books dating back.

Photo courtesy of Jeanette O'Keefe. Photo courtesy Jeanette O'Keefe.