Society of Georgia Archivists

New exhibit: "Celebrating 100 Years of Girl Scouting"

2012-02-06T14:19:00.000-05:00

Duluth Cadette Troop 1941 of the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta invites you visit the new exhibit to "Celebrating 100 Years of Girl Scouting."

The exhibit will open February 3, 2012, through April 28, 2012. The public will be able to learn more about the history of Girl Scouting and view artifacts such as original handbooks and uniforms on loan from the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta Archives.

An original uniform (not a replica), circa 1914-1928. When the girls earned badges, they sewed them on their sleeves instead of a separate sash or vest as you see today. Some of the very first Girl Scouts in 1912 even had to embroider the badge before sewing it on, since there was not a ready-made supplier. A large crowned hat with "GS" pin on the front band would have been worn with this uniform.

The exhibit at the Duluth City Hall will feature information regarding current troops and the service they perform within the community. An open house will be held on Sunday, February 12, 2012, from 3:00-5:00 pm at the Strickland House.

The Cadette troop also encourages the public to bring their memories and pictures to share of Girl Scouting in Gwinnett County, as they are compiling a more complete history of Girl Scouting in this area of Georgia. Artifacts from several local families are featured in the exhibit, including a 1930s era uniform.

Pocket from a Senior Girl Scout Mariner uniform. The program began in 1934 and is still active, although there are not very many Mariner troops left. In the program, the girls learned all about sailing, and often took weekend long trips in boats. Some of the volunteer Archives members were Mariners when they were younger, and recall sailing up and down the eastern seaboard. There was another program which began in 1941 called the Wing Scout Program. The girls in this program learned all about aviation, but was phased out in the 1970s.

The entrance to the Duluth Historical Society Museum is free for members, or $3 per adult and $1 per student. The Duluth Historical Society Museum is located at 2956 Buford Highway, Duluth, GA 30096, and can be reached at 770-232-7584.

*Photographs and captions courtesy of Pamela Nye.

2011 SGA Annual Meeting!

2011-09-02T15:10:00.003-04:00

Are you ready for the 2011 SGA Annual Meeting?

The conference will be held at the Georgia Archives and NARA Southeast Regional in Morrow, GA from November 3-4. The early bird registration will be $95 for members, $115 for non-members. Early bird registration dates fall between August 29 and October 17, 2011.

Register for the meeting today!

Show Your Support for Georgia Archives Month!

2011-08-29T12:09:00.000-04:00

It's time to begin the celebration of Georgia Archives Month with a proclamation from the Governor!

The Georgia Archives Month Committee is going to have a photo op on Thursday, September 1^st with Governor Nathan Deal. We will be celebrating his proclamation of October as Georgia Archives Month. Please come and join us at 10:30 a.m. at the Governor’s Office (Room 203) at the State Capitol. This is a great opportunity to publicize our cultural institutions statewide.

For further information, please contact the Georgia Archives Month committee at ga.archivesmonth@gmail.com

*Too see more photographs of last year's GAM presentation by Governor Sonny Perdue, like the photograph included above, please visit http://tinyurl.com/3t2zjhb

SGA at SAA

2011-08-08T09:21:00.002-04:00

Attending the SAA Annual Meeting in Chicago this month? Meet up with other current, new and prospective SGA members on Thursday, August 25.

SGA Office Hours are 6:30-7-30 p.m. at the SAA Exhibit Hall. Stop by the SGA Booth and say “Hello!” We will be promoting our Annual Meeting (November 3-4, 2011), encouraging contributions to Provenance and handing out our fabulous SGA mechanical pencils!

SGA Mixer is at 8:30-9:30 p.m. at the Sweetwater Tavern and Grille. The Sweetwater is a comfortable, fun bar just a short walk from the conference hotel. Come buy your beverage of choice and have a good time catching up with other Georgia archivists and friends.

DIRECTIONS FROM THE CONFERENCE HOTEL: Exit the Hyatt Regency using the E. Wacker Dr. entrance. Turn left out of the hotel and walk 1 block. Turn left onto N. Michigan Ave. and walk 1 block. Cross S. Water St. The Sweetwater will be on your left at 225 N. Michigan Ave.

See you Chicago!

Marie Force

Chair, SGA Membership Committee

Georgia Entries in SAA's National Contest

2011-06-08T10:15:00.000-04:00

Voting is open from now until July 1 in the Society of American Archivists national "I Found It In the Archives!" promotional campaign. There are 3 entries from Georgia institutions, 2 from the Atlanta University Center Woodruff Library, and 1 from the MARBL Library of Emory University.

Cast your vote today!

NAGARA/CoSA Joint Annual Meeting

2011-06-02T12:36:00.000-04:00

The NAGARA/CoSA Joint Annual Meeting will be held July 13-16, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Two SGA members will be presenting at the meeting: Kaye Minchew (Troup County Historical Society and Archives) and David Carmicheal (Georgia Archives). Ms. Minchew will be speaking about Friends of Archives groups, while Mr. Carmicheal will be a part of a panel discussing the CoSA/NAGARA/SAA Joint Task Force for the Preserving the American Historical Record (PAHR) Act.

You can learn more about the annual meeting, or register, at http://www.nagara.org/displayconvention.cfm

SGA President’s Award

2011-05-31T12:06:00.002-04:00

Nominations Accepted June 1 – July 15, 2011

Award Presented in November 2011 during Annual Meeting Reception

The President’s Award recognizes an individual, organization, or institution outside the archival profession that makes significant contributions to the archival profession. Contributions may take the form of advocacy, publicity, legislation, financial support, or a similar action that fosters archival work or raises public consciousness of the importance of archival work. Contributions should have broad, long-term impact at the state level or beyond.

The SGA President is currently accepting nominations for the 2011 President’s Award. Nominations should include full contact information including address, email and telephone numbers, as well as a brief narrative justification (less than 250 words) about why you are nominating the particular individual, institution, or organization.

Nominations can be emailed, faxed or mailed to:

Christine Wiseman
SGA President, 2011
Georgia Archives
5800 Jonesboro Road
Morrow, GA 30260
678-364-3761 (tel)
678-364-3860 (fax)
cwiseman@sos.ga.gov

Edward Weldon Scholarship

2011-05-10T16:07:00.000-04:00

Are you planning to attend the SAA Annual Conference in Chicago, August 22-27? Consider SGA’s Edward Weldon Scholarship, which includes the cost of registration. The deadline to apply is June 1, 2011.

This scholarship covers the early bird registration fee for the annual meeting of SAA for one SGA member. All SGA members (as of February 1, 2011) and Georgia residents are eligible. Preference will be given to applicants who do not have access to institutional support.

The scholarship recipient is responsible for registering prior to the early-bird deadline. After the SAA meeting, the recipient will be asked to write a short article about the experience for the SGA Newsletter.

The Edward Weldon Scholarship was established in 2000 in honor of Ed Weldon, the first Georgian to serve as president of SAA and a founding member and first president of SGA. Weldon worked to preserve and provide access to Georgia’s historical records. During his almost twenty years at the Georgia Department of Archives and History, Weldon was a driving force behind the creation of the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board, which provides funding for valuable projects.

To apply, visit http://soga.org/scholarships/weldon.

Outreach Collaborative Idea: Providing “Real World” Client Experience

2011-05-02T09:38:00.000-04:00

This collaboration began in the fall of 2010 and continued through the spring of 2011, with plans to continue due to its success as an experiential learning experience and promotional tool for Special Collections.

Special Collections of Georgia College & State University deems promotion and outreach an important goal as it is more important than ever to validate the significance of archival materials and services, especially during current economic difficulties. To achieve this, collaborations were implemented to provide educational experiences for authentic learning and impactful promotion of the department’s rotating exhibit and special projects. Generally, the department works with history, English, political science and other liberal arts majors. However, a simple conversation brought together an unlikely pairing; Special Collections and a (Marketing/Communications) Publications Design class.

Special Collections and the class teamed up to create a “real-world” client-based experience. In this collaboration, students learned about the importance of primary source research and the function of archives. Special Collections then tasked the students to design two posters (using the department’s photographs) advertising a future exhibit, “Health Education in Review” and the department’s oral history initiative, “The Legacy Project.” A week after projects were assigned, students presented their proofs to Special Collections staff members who critiqued posters for clarity of information and visual impact. The students then spent two weeks editing their work. Special Collections’ personnel made a final visit to select the two winning poster designs which were showcased on campus and throughout the local area.

Special Collections would like to thank Professor Macon McGinley for providing the opportunity and enthusiasm for this exciting experience and to congratulate 2011’s two winners, Michele McGuire and Diane Health. McGuire said, “I loved the creative freedom associated with designing a poster for Special Collections’ Legacy Project. As a student, I am sincerely appreciative of the educational opportunity and the recognition of my design as it is showcased around the Milledgeville community.” Heath stated that “the ‘Health Education in Review’ exhibit is full of books and lessons that our alumni were taught. It was interesting to see what information was taught back then to help students stay healthy in every aspect of their lives.”

Please contact Special Collections for further information about the Legacy Project, exhibit, or collaboration by calling (478) 445-0988 or by emailing scinfo@gcsu.edu.

*Contributed by Katherine Pope, Georgia College & State University.

SGA Members Set to Take Over ACA!

2011-04-26T10:33:00.000-04:00

There are three (3) SGA members running for national positions with the Academy of Certified Archivists. If you are a member of ACA, please review their candidate statements and consider them as you vote.

Running for Vice President/President Elect:

Kaye Minchew
Troup County Historical Society and Archives

Question: "What is the primary benefit of ACA membership and why?"

Answer: "The primary value of ACA membership varies for different people and different groups.

For individuals, the primary benefit of ACA membership is being judged to have met a series of standards needed to become a professional archivist. One should rightly be proud to have mastered a core area of knowledge and gained work and professional experience to become certified. The fact that these standards to become a certified archivist have stood the test of time for more than twenty years, and have been strengthened and refined over time makes the value of ACA membership even stronger.

Employers looking to hire a new staff member benefit from ACA by having a professional standard to judge qualifications of prospective employees. ACA membership strengthens a candidate’s position when applying for jobs.

For the archival field as whole, the primary benefit of ACA membership is greater professionalism. A non-profit certifying board has identified basic areas of knowledge which practitioners have been judged to have learned plus ACA members participate at work and in professional organizations. The fact that members must be recertified every seven years encourages ACA members to stay active and involved in the profession."

Running for Secretary:

Renna Tuten
Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, UGA

Question: "What is the primary benefit of ACA membership and why?"

Answer: "In my opinion, the primary benefit of ACA membership is being part of a body of professionals who voluntarily dedicate themselves to actively keeping abreast of advances in professional development while sustaining traditional and proven models of archival practice. Although there are many organizations devoted to serving those in the archives and records management profession, the Academy of Certified Archivists is the only one that requires recertification, which, in turn, yields a group of people who openly demonstrate this commitment.

The advantages that stem from such a high standard of membership include: advocacy among employers regarding a set standard of acceptable qualifications; a clear statement regarding the role of an archivist in the workplace; support of expanding graduate-level archival education, and the attraction of more and more members who are drawn to an organization centered around a defined knowledge base and not just paid dues.

Another set of benefits that can be gleaned from such a strong membership body is the continued commitment to create an exam that advocates a thorough course of study as it covers all areas of archival work, not just the most common ones. Because of the lack of true standardization in archival education, some areas of knowledge (say, legal issues and preservation) are often secondary to others like arrangement and description. In this same vein, the Academy’s openness to applicants from different educational backgrounds is an asset to the group by not advocating one correct path to certification.

All of these assets and benefits come together to make an organization that is greater than the sum of its parts. Its operating philosophy and ethics work together with its membership’s commitment to sustaining and pursuing archival knowledge work in concert to create an academy in the truest sense."

Running for Regent for Certification Maintenance:

Christine de Catanzaro

Archives and Records Management, Georgia Tech

Question: "What is the primary benefit of ACA membership and why?"

Answer: "ACA membership is beneficial to all archival professionals, whether they are seasoned archivists or just starting out in the field. One primary benefit of membership in ACA is that certification provides a professional credential that is well understood by administrators and those in other professions as well as those who are practicing archivists. Job seekers know that certification is increasingly listed as at least a desirable qualification, if not a required one, for professional positions in the archival world. Employers understand that certification signifies the attainment of a certain level of knowledge and experience in the archival profession.

But I think the benefits of ACA membership go well beyond assisting job seekers. ACA offers us a community in which each of us can strive to promote and maintain high standards in the archival profession. Through my participation on the Exam Development Committee, and before that as a booth volunteer, lecturer, and exam item-writer, I have come to appreciate the importance of this work even more. I have seen the deep commitment to excellence from the ACA officers and from my colleagues on the EDC, and that has inspired me to commit myself to the high standards I see around me.

ACA also encourages all of us to maintain and refresh our skills through recertification. When we recertify, if we don’t choose to take the exam, we need to be sure that we have credits in employment, education, professional participation and outreach, professional service, and/or writing, publishing, and editing. If we choose to recertify through examination, we need to become current with the latest trends and developments in our profession through reading and study.

ACA membership creates an invaluable community of archivists committed to promoting and maintaining high professional standards. This, to me, is the greatest benefit of association with ACA."

Spotlight on "Provenance"

2011-04-03T13:52:00.000-04:00

I learned many things at the Georgia Archives Institute in 2010, but one of the most important was the value of professional journals. Our instructor, Tim Ericson, former Director of Archival Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Information Studies, was clear about the importance of keeping up with current issues in the profession, and off the top of his head, he could list the state and local organizations that produced their own journals. First on the list, of course, was the Society of Georgia Archivists’ Provenance. In 1972, Provenance became the first professional archival journal published by a state or regional organization. It was founded and first edited by David B. Gracy II, and today has a circulation of over 300 internationally. The current editor is Brian Wilson, Reference Archivist at the Georgia State Archives, and he was kind enough to explain what they are looking for in a submission.

According to the SGA website, “The journal's primary focus concerns the archival profession in the theory and practice of archival management.” Recent issues have included:

archival education
electronic records
automation
imaging
appraisal of university records
moving archives
management of audiovisual, photograph, oral history, and map materials
military archives
documentary editing
research use of archives
case studies in appraising congressional papers
ethics
descriptive standards

While this is a pretty extensive list of topics, Wilson explains that “Provenance … should balance practical, every day issues with more scholarly, academic articles” and notes that he would like to see more submissions that deal with how archivists work with researchers. “I’d love to see more articles that deal with practical issues that archivists see and deal with everyday. I’d like to see something written about reference work or about dealing with a customer base that is no longer coming into archives ‘physically.’” He continues that it doesn’t matter to him what level the author holds in the profession, be it student, professional or retiree since they all offer interesting views. Students (or recent students), he explains, come at the profession with questions that many of us don’t think to ask, but older professionals tend to have more insight to practical applications to archival theory.

When asked about his favorite submission, Wilson replies with a number of responses. First, he discusses an article on Amelia Earhart’s poems; then there’s his own coup of getting the new Archivist of the United States to write a short “acknowledgement” of SGA’s 40^th anniversary last year; and finally, “I think the most important article that now gets published is the keynote address presented at the SGA annual meeting each year, as I think that reflects (for posterity) precisely where our interest as an organization is each year. It was the idea of Suzanne Durham (archivist at West Georgia) to print that and I think it was an excellent idea.”

While Provenance is the journal for the Society of Georgia Archivists, Wilson says he doesn’t feel the need to be strict about the geography. “I’ve seen past issues deal with collections in Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Louisiana.” While he does try to keep submissions geared to the state, he doesn’t want to dissuade submissions involving archival records or ideas from another state. He would also like to see Provenance published in alternate formats to reach a wider audience.

The deadline for submissions to Provenance is the end of July to allow the editorial staff four or five months to edit the submissions, peer review, and deal with the publishing side of things. Wilson adds that while he doesn’t want to dismiss outlines or ideas for articles, it is impractical and time consuming to work those into a full Provenance article.

“The Provenance editorial board actively seeks articles, case studies, and review essays which increase understanding of archival issues, highlight new topics, or that broadens the scope of knowledge for people working with archival collections in the state of Georgia. Articles written for publication in Provenance should be original works and authors should keep in mind the following guidelines and rules of structure….”

For more information on Provenance and submitting an article, please see http://www.soga.org/publications/provenance/contributors.

*Contributed by Laura Starratt, Atlanta History Center.

Workshop: Disaster Recovery

2011-03-02T13:46:00.000-05:00

News from just next door in South Carolina...

No ever thinks of the disasters that could strike an archives or library.

Sure there are hurricanes, floods, and fires. But, what about the less obvious disasters like busted pipes, sewage leaks, or a leaky HVAC unit?

Do you know what to do when a sudden disaster befalls a collection at an archives or library?

In conjunction with the Palmetto, Archives, Libraries, and Museum Council on Preservation (PALMCOP), the Archival Students Guild is proud to host a disaster workshop. Preservation officer, Heather South will present "Disaster Recovery and Response: An Exercise in Disaster and Planning. Participants will gain hands-on experience in salvaging documents and other materials in the event of a disaster.

Where: South Carolina Department of Archives and History (8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC 29223)
Date: Saturday, March 26, 2011
What time: 10 a.m. (please arrive between 9:30 and 9:45)

Please complete the registration form by March 20, 2011. The registration form should be emailed to soarchiv@mailbox.sc.edu. Space is limited to the first 30 people. Lunch will be provided courtesy of ASG.

Come rain or shine, this event will take place and wear comfortable shoes.

Georgia College Publishes Cartoons of Famed Alumnae Flannery O’Connor

2011-02-02T17:08:00.001-05:00

Mary Flannery O’Connor is best known for her 32 short stories and 2 novels, but during her years at Georgia State College for Women (former name of Georgia College & State University) she was the author of many humorous and witty cartoons. Numerous examples of her artwork appeared in the school’s newspaper, literary magazine, and newspaper.

Recently, Georgia College has published a book of the cartoons with the help of Special Collections’ materials and staff. The Cartoons of Flannery O’Connor at Georgia College, a 112-page, soft-cover coffee table book, provides the never before assembled and published collection of the author’s cartoons that appeared in four Georgia College publications during her undergraduate years, 1942-45.

“The humor is silly, even outrageous,” wrote Dr. Sarah Gordon, Georgia College professor emerita of English, in her introduction to the book. “The same impulse that would later lead Flannery O’Connor to create the sharp-edged and often wickedly funny characters in her fiction drove her popular cartoons (mostly lino-cuts) in her years at GSCW…”

Gordon is the former editor of the Flannery O’Connor Review and former director of the O’Connor Studies Program at Georgia College.

The book includes a foreword by university President Dorothy Leland.

“It is a distinct honor for Georgia College to be the permanent home of the O’Connor Collection, including the cartoons originally published by Georgia State College for Women and now featured for the first time in this book,” Dr. Leland wrote in the foreword. “We are pleased that these cartoons can now reach a broader audience and further enrich Flannery O’Connor scholarship.”

The book cover features a graphic signature that O’Connor used, combining her initials, M, O’C and F (Mary Flannery O’Connor) to create a caricature of a bird. While some of the cartoons were digitally enhanced for the publication, care was taken not to alter the art.

The cartoons originally appeared in The Colonnade student newspaper, The Spectrum yearbook, The Corinthian literary magazine and the Alumnae Journal. Also included are cartoons that O’Connor drew earlier for The Peabody Palladium, the student newspaper of Peabody High School in Milledgeville.

The original cartoons are housed in Georgia College Special Collections, as part of its permanent O’Connor Collection, along with thousands of pages of typescripts and manuscripts, photographs, tape recordings, films, letters, memorabilia and her personal library of more than 700 books and journals.

For more information about The Cartoons of Flannery O’Connor at Georgia College or about the Flannery O’Connor collection, please contact Special Collections at scinfo@gcsu.edu.

*Contributed by Katherine Pope, Special Collections, Georgia State College & University. Image used with permission.

2011 Georgia Archives Institute

2011-02-02T13:57:00.000-05:00

It's time to apply for the 2011 Georgia Archives Institute!

44th Annual Georgia Archives Institute
June 6 - 17, 2011

Dr. Timothy L. Ericson, former Director of Archival Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Information Studies, will be the instructor during the first week. Topics will include acquisition, appraisal, arrangement, description, reference, as well as legal and administrative issues. The second week of instruction will begin with training on preservation by Christine Wiseman, Preservation Manager at the Georgia Archives. To link archival theory with real world application, students will also participate in individualized, three-day internships at local archival repositories.

Tuition is $500. Enrollment is limited and the deadline for receipt of application, resume, and $75 application fee (refunded if not admitted to Institute) is March 1, 2011. Tuition does not cover transportation, housing, or meals.

Tuition scholarships are available from the Society of Georgia Archivists, www.soga.org and The Friends of Georgia Archives and History, www.FOGAH.org. Scholarships have earlier deadlines.

For an application to the Institute or information, please visit the Georgia Archives Institute web site at www.georgiaarchivesinstitute.org or contact:

Georgia Archives Institute
P.O. Box 279
Morrow, GA 30260-0279
Email: GeorgiaArchivesInstitute@yahoo.com

SAA: Philip M. Hamer and Elizabeth Hamer Kegan Award

2011-01-24T13:09:00.002-05:00

Please excuse cross-postings!

Society of American Archivists - Philip M. Hamer and Elizabeth Hamer Kegan Award

The Philip M. Hamer and Elizabeth Hamer Kegan Award Subcommittee of the Society of American Archivists seeks nominations for the 2011 award.

This award recognizes an archivist, editor, group of individuals, or institution that has increased public awareness of a specific body of documents through compilation, transcription, exhibition, or public presentation of archives or manuscript materials for educational, instructional, or other public purpose. Archives may include photographs, films, and visual archives. Publication may be in hard copy, microfilm, digital, or other circulating medium.

Recent winners include:

2010 The Giza Archives Project at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
2009 Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections of the University of Toledo’s “From Institution to Independence”
2008 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the CBC Digital Archives (Les Archives de Radio-Canada)
2007 National Library of Medicine’s “Profiles in Science”

Eligibility:
Individual archivists and editors, groups of individuals, organizations.

Application Deadline:
All nominations shall be submitted to the Awards Committee by February 28.

For more information on SAA awards and the nominations process, please go to http://www.archivists.org/recognition/index.asp

44th Annual Georgia Archives Institute

2011-01-12T09:27:00.000-05:00

Designed for beginning archivists, manuscript curators, and librarians, the 44^th Georgia Archives Institute will offer general instruction in basic concepts and practices of archival administration and management of traditional and modern documentary materials. The Institute will be held at the Georgia Archives in Morrow, Georgia, 15 miles south of Atlanta.

Dr. Timothy L. Ericson, former Director of Archival Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Information Studies, will be the instructor during the first week. Topics will include acquisition, appraisal, arrangement, description, reference, as well as legal and administrative issues. The second week of instruction will begin with training on preservation by Christine Wiseman, Preservation Manager at the Georgia Archives. To link archival theory with real world application, students will also participate in individualized, three-day internships at local archival repositories.

Tuition is $500. Enrollment is limited and the deadline for receipt of application, resume, and $75 application fee (refunded if not admitted to Institute) is March 1, 2011. Tuition does not cover transportation, housing, or meals.

Tuition scholarships are available from the Society of Georgia Archivists, www.soga.org and The Friends of Georgia Archives and History, www.FOGAH.org. Scholarships have earlier deadlines.

For an application to the Institute or information, please visit the Georgia Archives Institute web site at www.georgiaarchivesinstitute.org or contact:

Georgia Archives Institute

P.O. Box 279

Morrow, GA 30260-0279

Email: GeorgiaArchivesInstitute@yahoo.com

*Drawing of Georgia Archives, Morrow, GA, from www.georgiaarchivesinstitute.org

News From Next Door: South Carolina Edition

2011-01-07T15:35:00.000-05:00

The Waring Historical Library and MUSC University Archives announce the opening of a new web exhibit:

"Civil Practice to Civil War: The Medical College of the State of South Carolina, 1861-1865"

http://waring.library.musc.edu/exhibits/civilwar/

The Medical College of the State of South Carolina (MCSSC), as it was known from 1832 until 1952, suspended classes after the March 1861 graduation, just three months after South Carolina seceded from the Union and a month before shots upon Fort Sumter marked the official commencement of hostilities between North and South. Almost immediately, many of the College's faculty, students, and alumni joined the Confederate military and the College was left dormant for five long years. Even while the College was on hiatus, its students, alumni, and faculty were getting an entirely new education in the field hospitals and on the battlefields. The exhibit tells the stories of but a few of the hundreds of MCSSC's alumni, faculty and students who took their medical bags to war.

For more information about the web exhibit, please contact Brooke Fox, University Archivist at foxeb@musc.edu.

*Colcock Hall, n.d., Waring Historical Library, MUSC, Charleston, SC

Savannah Heritage Emergency Response Workshop

2011-01-07T09:53:00.000-05:00

Insurance and Appraisal for Disaster Recovery for Cultural Heritage Organizations. Savannah, GA . January 18, 2011.

Day long workshop on insurance and appraisal of cultural heritage collections, targeted to museums, galleries, historic house museums, and libraries. Sessions to be held January 18^th 2011, at the Metropolitan Planning Commission, 112 E. State St. Registration 8:30- 9:30, Programs 9:30-3:30. $25.00

Registration: Please mail registration form with your name, address, phone, e-mail, institutional affiliation (if any) and a check made out to CEMA (Chatham Emergency Management Agency) and mail to Beth Reiter, Chairman of SHER, 202 Atkinson Avenue, Savannah, Georgia 31404. 912-234-9398; reitlatt@comcast.net

Morning Speakers: Jeff Minett and Lynn March, Senior Vice Presidents with Aon/Huntington T Block Insurance Agency. Topics will include coverage, exclusions, evaluation, incoming and outgoing loans, terminology, certificates of insurance, notice of loss, arbitration, and how to reduce the financial impact of a risk.

Afternoon Speakers: Debra Freer, Senior Appraiser with Aaron Appraisal Services in Atlanta, Ga. Topics will include appraisal of fine art, decorative art, antiques and she will share insights from her appraisal of the Fox Theatre’s collection in Atlanta. One description is present and the other future – do we want to be consistent?

Off street parking can be found in the City's State and Bryan Street parking garages.

Start the New Year with SGA

2011-01-07T09:49:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year from SGA!

Start the year (and decade) off right with the new SGA newsletter. It contains a welcome from our new President, Christine Wiseman, as well as coverage of the annual meeting, new Committees and Board Members.

Check it out today, http://soga.org/publications/currentnewsletter

*Image from the New York Times.

6 Questions About...John O'Shea

2010-10-21T12:20:00.000-04:00

NAME: John O’Shea

POSITION: Special Collections Librarian

INSTITUTION: Augusta State University

How long have you lived in Augusta and how did you come to live there? I have lived in Augusta since the 1970s. I originally transferred and came to Augusta to finish college.

What is the focus of the archives/library/museum where you work? Augusta State University publications and documents, local history including some archival material from Augusta’s early history, genealogy materials and archival collections with a related focus.

What is your favorite thing in your holdings? I have many favorites, but I’d include the maps of the area that give a sense of what Augusta was like from its early history.

What aspect of archival work are you most interested in, especially for the future of the profession? Succinctly, preserving archival materials that are unique, significant and reflect what has happened in the past. Collections that are likely to be beneficial in the future.

What is your favorite bar or restaurant in Augusta and why? My favorite restaurant is the Village Deli on Wrightsboro Road in Daniel Village. It is across from Daniel Field which has a history going back to the early 1900s. The Village Deli has both interesting and eclectic pictures which reflect the history of the immediate area. Obviously I like the food. It’s close to Augusta State. It isn’t as close to the conference.

What is the one thing that you think all SGA/SCAAers should do or see in Augusta? During the day, I suggest visiting the Augusta Canal Interpretative Center at Enterprise Mill.

What to See and Where to Visit: A Sampling of Augusta Area Institutions and Attractions for SGA'ers

2010-10-06T10:38:00.000-04:00

National Park Service Travel Itinerary for Historic Augusta http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/augusta/listsites.html
This online travel itinerary highlights 39 Augusta sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The website provides descriptions, maps, photographs, visitor information, and links for each place. Five essays interpret important themes including the city’s overall history, historic preservation, the African-American community, and religious institutions.
This is your 1 stop shop for all things historic in Augusta!

Augusta Museum of History and Augusta Visitors Center

http://www.augustamuseum.org/
Augusta's home for history features a number of permanent exhibitions, including the award-winning Augusta's Story - a 12,000-year journey through local history. The Children's Discovery Gallery offers hands-on activities. An observation gallery allows visitors to see artifact conservation activities and much of the museum's fascinating permanent collection. Hours: Thursday-Saturday: 10AM-5PM
Sunday: 1PM-5PM, closed Monday and legal holidays.

Augusta Riverwalk
Located in downtown Augusta on Reynolds Street between 7th and 10th streets, Riverwalk is an integral part of the downtown Augusta revitalization project. Surrounded by shops, restaurants, pubs, hotels, and historic sites, in the mid 1980's community leaders realized the potential for transforming the riverfront into a thriving business and tourist center. It took an act of Congress to breach the levee, which lines the shores of the Savannah River, and was completed in 1917 to protect the city from flooding. Ground breaking for the project was held in 1986 and today Riverwalk plays host to festivals, concerts, sporting events and holiday celebrations.

Morris Museum of Art

http://www.themorris.org/
Discover the fascinating story of painting in the South at the Morris Museum of Art, where you'll find more than a dozen galleries devoted to the art and artists of the South. The museum includes antebellum portraits, Civil War illustrations, Southern impressionist paintings, landscapes, contemporary art and more. The museum presents changing exhibitions and educational programs, and features a research library and a museum shop.
Tuesday - Saturday: 10AM-5PM, Sunday: 12-5PM, Free tours available every Sunday at 2:30PM.

Augusta State/ U.S. & Confederate Arsenal

http://www.aug.edu/public_relations/history/acaddays.html

The 72-acre former arsenal is now the campus of Augusta State University. The commandant's house (circa 1829), now used for administrative offices, was the boyhood home of poet and novelist Stephen Vincent Benet. The university offers a helpful walking tour brochure on its many historic buildings.

Cedar Grove Cemetery

Land was allotted for Augusta¹s first "Colored Cemetery" in 1820. In continuous use until the 1960s, it is the final resting place of many notable black Augustans. With few tombstones and no record of specific gravesites previous to 1932, the individual histories of many are sadly lost.

Ezekiel Harris House Museum
Built in 1797 by a prominent tobacco merchant, this house is an outstanding example of 18th century architecture. Tuesday-Friday: by appointment, Saturday: 10AM-4:30PM.

Laurel and Hardy Museum, Harlem, GA

http://www.laurelandhardymuseum.org/
The only museum in the United States dedicated to one of the greatest movie comedy teams in history - Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Oliver Hardy was born in Harlem, GA. The museum is filed with memorabilia from all over the world, to include toys, figurines, posters and lots more. Movies are shown in Babe's Bijou daily. The Harlem Visitors Information Center is housed in the museum.
10AM-4PM

Georgia Archives Month Begins Today!

2010-10-01T16:36:00.000-04:00

October is Georgia Archives Month! Celebrate with events around the state, available on the GAM calendar at http://www.soga.org/archivesmonth

6 Questions About...Renee Sharrock

2010-09-29T10:58:00.000-04:00

NAME: Renee Sharrock

POSITION: Archives Assistant

INSTITUTION: Greenblatt Library of the Medical College of Georgia

How long have you lived in Augusta and how did you come to live there? I grew up in the CSRA - Central Savannah River Area - so I've lived here for 30+ years!

What is the focus of the archives/library/museum where you work? The Historical Collections and Archives of the Greenblatt Library focuses on the history the Medical College of Georgia and the health sciences.

What is your favorite thing in your holdings?

On display in the Historical Collections and Archives Room is the "Bronchoscopic History and Exhibit" of Dr. Clyde Edison Purcell
(1872-1948) which features the 146 "foreign bodies" removed by Dr.
Purcell between 1905-1947 in Paducah, Kentucky. Most of the foreign bodies were safety pins, jacks, and coins. Dr. Purcell kept a catalog of the items, dates, patients' ages, instruments used, etc. which is also on display. The exhibit was given to the MCG Library by Dr. Purcell's grandson, Dr. Ewell C. Noel, Jr., a graduate of MCG. Visitors to Historical Collections and Archives are often intrigued with the exhibit.

What aspect of archival work are you most interested in, especially for the future of the profession? Digital collections and their preservation.

What is your favorite bar or restaurant in Augusta and why? Oh my - there's more than one: French Market Grille, T-Bonz Steakhouse, The Partridge Inn Bar & Grill, Boll Weevil Cafe, and across the Savannah River in North Augusta, South Carolina, Manuel's Bread Cafe.

What is the one thing that you think all SGA/SCAAers should do or see in Augusta? After the last session on Friday, eat lunch at the Boll Weevil and from there visit the Morris Museum of Art. If you have time, or would prefer, take a stroll through the Riverwalk Park to the Augusta Museum of History. If you have only the briefest of time for sight-seeing and want to do something memorable - have a photo taken of you with James Brown at his statue on Broad Street. There's the James Brown Cam if you don't have a friend to take the photo.

We've All Got to Eat!

2010-09-24T09:46:00.000-04:00

Need a place to eat in during the SGA/SCCAA Annual Meeting in Augusta? Check out this master list of restaurants of all tastes, geographically divided for your convenience!

Augusta Dining Options:

Check out http://www.metrospirit.com/ it is the arts/entertainment/restaurant guide for the Augusta metro area.

The Augusta Marriott Hotel and Suites also has a visitor's guide available on their website:
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel-guide/agsmc-augusta-marriott-hotel
-and-suites/

Walking distance from the hotel, downtown Augusta area:

209 On the River, at 8^th street fountain, Southern food, meat and three, lunch and dinner, live music

Beamies at the River, 865 Reynolds Street, lunch and dinner, seafood, patio, live music

Boll Weevil #10 9^th Street, lunch and dinner, know for desserts, Metro’s Best for 2009

Bees Knees Tapas Restaurant and Lounge, 211 10^th Street, opens 5pm, Metro’s Best for 2009

Cotton Patch, 816 Cotton Ln., Southern fare, lunch and dinner

Nacho Mamas 976 Broad Street, lunch dinner Mexican food, burritos, Metro’s Best for 2009

The New Moon Café- 1002 Broad Street, coffee bar and café, breakfast and lunch

Metro Coffee House, 1054 Broad Street, all day service, Metro’s Best for 2009

Blue Sky Kitchen, 990 Broad Street, lunch, world cuisine

Pizza Joint 1245 Broad Street, lunch and dinner, Metro’s Best for 2009

Dining options further out:

Surrey Center (http://www.surreycenter.com/). Old Augusta shopping center that has been expanded in recent years. The #1 thing there is the French Market Grille (Louisiana style cuisine, lunch and dinner).(http://www.frenchmarketaugusta.com/)

Also located in this shopping center is Bistro 491 (dinner only) for southern French rustic cuisine http://www.bistro491.com/

Augusta Exchange shopping area, just off I-520 (Bobby Jones Expressway) at Wheeler Road there is a group of chain restaurants: Romano's Macaroni Grill, Chili's, Logan's Road House, Sticky Fingers Rib House, O'Charley's.

Even further out:

Rhinehart's Oyster Bar a real hole in the wall with good seafood (not just oysters). Open lunch and dinner. Metro’s Best for 2009 (http://www.rhineharts.com/)

Georgia Archives Month Event at Georgia Archives

2010-09-22T09:25:00.000-04:00

The Georgia Archives is pleased to announce that Documentary Director Ben Loeterman will join them for a Special Edition of Lunch & Learn at the Georgia Archives on Thursday, October 7, from noon to 1 p.m. Please join them to learn about how Mr. Loeterman transforms archival records into “living” documents through film.

His most recent work, The People v. Leo Frank is a 90-minute feature documentary about one of the most complex and compelling criminal cases in American history: the 1913 murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan in an Atlanta pencil factory, and the trial and lynching of her accused killer, Leo Frank. Scholar interviews and major dramatic recreations for The People v. Leo Frank were shot on location in Atlanta.

Lunch & Learn is a free lecture series sponsored by the Friends of Georgia Archives and History. Bring your lunch to enjoy during the lecture. For more information, please call 678-364-3730.

Georgia Archives

5800 Jonesboro Road

Morrow, GA 30260

6 Questions About...Carol Waggoner-Angleton

2010-09-21T12:18:00.000-04:00

NAME: Carol Waggoner-Angleton

POSITION: Special Collections Assistant

INSTITUTION: Reese Library Augusta State University

How long have you lived in Augusta and how did you come to live there? I’ve lived in Augusta for seven years. This turned out to be my husband’s last Air Force assignment and we like it so much we decided to stay put a while.

What is the focus of the archives/library/museum where you work? Reese Library Special Collections focuses on the history of the University, the history of Augusta and the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) and the history of Georgia. We no longer collect actively in Genealogy but maintain the sources we do have.

What is your favorite thing in your holdings? That is like asking me who my favorite child is. For a taste of the materials we hold, see our presentations for past Archives Months at http://www.aug.edu/~liblsc/digital-projects.html

What aspect of archival work are you most interested in, especially for the future of the profession? My primary interest is in access and description. If materials are not used for research, they remain lost treasures and research needs are not served without adequate access and description. That said, I’m also a believer in the “good enough” record.

What is your favorite bar or restaurant in Augusta and why? My favorite restaurant in Augusta is the Pizza Joint. They have a fabulous veggie calzone and they are well within anyone’s budget.

What is the one thing that you think all SGA/SCAAers should do or see in Augusta? My Special Collections department of course! No seriously, the Woodrow Wilson House. And everybody should touch the Haunted Pillar.

Georgia Archives Month Proclamation

2010-09-16T09:24:00.000-04:00

On September 9, 2010, Governor Sonny Perdue issued a proclamation designating October as the 11^th Georgia Archives Month. Several institutions across the state are hosting events encouraging people to “Travel Back in Time,” the theme for this year’s celebration.

A complete listing of events is listed on the SGA web site at http://soga.org/activities

It is not too late to plan something special for your institution and call attention to the work that you do. If you need advice or have any questions, contact Bridget Lerette, blerette@archatl.com, (404-978-2772) or Elaine DeNiro, edeniro@roswellgov.com, (770-594-6405).

*Photo by Alana Joyner. Additional photographs are available.

Georgia Archives Month event at Clayton State

2010-09-10T09:51:00.000-04:00

In celebration of Georgia Archives Month, the Masters of Archival Science program at Clayton State University will be hosting speaker Jason R. Baron, Esq., on Monday, October 18, 2010 at 6:30.

Mr. Baron will speak on the topic "What Do I Do With a Billion Emails?: The Future of Information Retrieval in E-Discovery."

For more information on the event, contact Richard Pearce-Moses at rpearcemoses@clayton.edu

For more information on Mr. Baron, visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrbaron

To learn more about Georgia Archives Month, visit http://soga.org/archivesmonth

Register Now for the SGA Annual Meeting Workshops

2010-09-08T09:16:00.000-04:00

This year the SGA Annual Meeting will offer two educational workshops, including one for free!

Workshop 1: Description and Discovery

Workshop 2: Grant Basics for Your Institution (FREE)

Spaces are limited so register today!

SGA/SCAA Joint Annual Meeting!

2010-09-07T14:13:00.000-04:00

Are you ready for the SGA/SCAA Annual Meeting in Augusta?

This year's meeting will be held October 28-29, 2010 in Augusta, Georgia, in collaboration with the South Carolina Archival Association, with two workshops held on October 27.

Over the next few weeks, your SGA Outreach Committee will be sharing interviews with Augusta archivists, profiles of Augusta institutions and history, as well as details on great restaurants, bars and must sees for the meeting. Keep an eye on the SGA blog and Facebook page for more details.

Register for the meeting today!

Care and Identification of Photographs Week in Savannah

2010-09-01T12:11:00.000-04:00

Our own Savannah, Ga. is included in this year's "Care and Identification of Photographs Week". This four day workshop is a hands on introduction to the preservation of photographs. Details below.

New York: September 27-30, 2010 (Hosted by METRO: Metropolitan New York

Library Council)

San Francisco: October 18-21, 2010 (Hosted by SF Camerawork)

Savannah: November 4-7, 2010 (Hosted by the Coastal Heritage Society)

http://bit.ly/9KBucm (link to New York/METRO registration)

http://gawainweaver.com/workshop/care-id-photos-2010-san-francisco/

http://gawainweaver.com/workshop/care-id-photos-2010-savannah/

Registration Includes:

* 4-day workshop

* 280-page color notebook (printed on HP Indigo Digital Press)

* 60x LED handheld microscope

Georgia Archives Month Proclamation Signing

2010-09-01T10:13:00.005-04:00

The Governor will be signing the Georgia Archives Month proclamation on September 9, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. at the State Capitol in the Governor’s Office. It would be nice to have a large turnout of SGA members at the signing. Hope to see you there! Please contact Christine Wiseman with any questions.

You can find directions to the capitol and parking information on the Georgia Secretary of State's website. The signing will take place in suite 203 of the capitol. We advise that you arrive 10 minutes early to your photo and allow for a maximum of one hour time.

The Governor's photographer will be taking photos. They are free of charge and you will be able to download them from the Governor's website. If you have any further questions regarding the actual photos, you may contact the Governor's photographer, Alana Joyner. Her email address is ajoyner@gov.state.ga.us.

Image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0

Stabilization and Recovery of Damaged Records

2010-08-19T12:54:00.002-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Matt Carrothers
Director of Media Relations
404-656-4269

August 19, 2010

Secretary of State Kemp Announces Contract to Assist with Vital Records Recovery Following Disasters

Atlanta – Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp today announced that his office has signed a contract that will assist state and local agencies, public libraries, and public and private universities by stabilizing and recovering vital documents in the event of disasters. The statewide contract for Stabilization and Recovery of Damaged Records was created in cooperation with the Georgia Department of Administrative Services to protect documents and records including deeds, mortgages, court records, adoption records, marriage and birth records, and many others that Georgians depend on to protect their health, property, and civil rights.

“When a disaster strikes a courthouse or any building which stores our vital records, the consequences for Georgians can be catastrophic,” said Secretary Kemp. “This new contract will provide every state agency, local government, and public library with qualified vendors to recover damaged records after a fire, flood, or other disaster.”

According to David Carmicheal, director of the Secretary of State’s Archives Division, the first forty-eight hours after a disaster are critical.

Carmichael stated, “Most disasters create some sort of water damage, and during the first 48 hours mold can form on records, hard drives can rust, and book covers warp. This contract will ensure that a qualified recovery expert responds quickly so that essential records can be rescued.”

Vendors will be able to pack materials and remove them from the disaster area, freeze records to stop deterioration, and recover damaged paper, hard drives, photographs, and more. Records that have been damaged in a disaster are fragile and easily destroyed during the recovery. The new contract ensures that whoever does the recovery work has been prequalified by the state archives as competent to do the work.

In addition, the new contract ensures that recovery work will be done at prices that were established before the disaster. “A court clerk standing knee-deep in water doesn’t have time to negotiate the best price,” says Carmicheal. This contract sets the prices for recovery work and eliminates the prospect of prices rising as the result of a widespread disaster. It will protect the records of state agencies, local governments, public libraries, public and private universities, and some not-for-profit organizations.

For additional information, please visit the Secretary of State’s Archives Division at www.sos.ga.gov/archives or call 678-364-3700.

Brian Kemp was sworn in as Secretary of State in January 2010. Among the office’s wide-ranging responsibilities, the Secretary of State is charged with conducting efficient and secure elections, the registration of corporations, and the regulation of securities and professional license holders. The office also oversees the Georgia Archives and the Capitol Museum.

SGA Archivist

2010-08-17T08:39:00.004-04:00

The SGA Nominating Committee would like to thank everyone who has come forward to run for the open elected positions on the SGA Board for 2011. We now have a full slate of candidates for every position, except that we still have one opening on the ballot for SGA Archivist.

The Nominating Committee is now accepting nominations (including self-nominations) for this position. We would like to particularly encourage those of you who are new to SGA to run, especially if you are in the early years of your career. Running for office and (if you're elected) serving on the SGA Board is a great way to become involved in our state organization. The basic duties for Archivist are outlined on the website. The term is two years (2011 and 2012).

If you would like to put your name forward for this position, or if you would like to nominate someone else, please send a quick email to Christine de Catanzaro by the end of this week.

SGA at SAA

2010-08-02T09:34:00.000-04:00

Attending SAA this year? Come out and show your support for SGA at the SGA Happy Hour and Office Hours.

SGA Happy Hour: Wednesday, August 11 at 5:30pm, at Murphy's of DC

SGA Office Hours: Friday, August 13 at 11:00am, in the Exhibition Hall (during the vendor brunch)

We'll see you in DC!

SGA Warm Springs tour

2010-07-22T11:36:00.000-04:00

On June 4th SGA members traveled to Warm Springs for a special tour. See the photographs on the SGA Flickr photostream!

This tour was brought to you by the SGA Membership Committee. Don't forget to look out for coming events for SGA members.

NHPRC Reauthorization Needs Your Help Now!

2010-07-21T11:04:00.000-04:00

NHPRC reauthorization passed the Senate (S. 2872) on July 12, but has not passed the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee (H. 5616). It is vital that they pass together, which means that the House version must pass before the first week of August!

Please consider contacting the members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee TODAY and urge them to support the passage of H. 5616!

Advice on how to do this, from SAA:

All Members of Congress can be reached via the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Letters, e-mails, and phone calls from constituents within each member's district are most effective, but so are contacts by individual members of national, state, regional, and local organizations. A list of the House Committee members, with direct links to their office websites and phone numbers, is available on the National Coalition for History website as is a briefing paper with information to assist in making your case for NHPRC.

The SGA-SCAA Annual Meeting is Here!

2010-07-20T17:52:00.000-04:00

Join us for the 2010 Society of Georgia Archivists-South Carolina Archival Association Joint Annual Meeting to be held at the Augusta Marriott Hotel & Suites on October 28-29, with pre-conference workshop on October 27. Our keynote speakers will be Kathleen Roe and Richard Pearce-Moses. Don't miss the educational and networking opportunities and register today! Registration closes September 28, 2010.

*Image courtesy of the Georgia Historical Society.

SGA Members in SAA Elections

2010-07-20T11:02:00.000-04:00

The following SGA members are running for leadership positions in SAA. Please consider showing your support for our colleagues.

Laurel Bowen, University Archivist, Georgia State University is running for Steering Committee of SAA's Privacy & Confidentiality Roundtable

Courtney Chartier, Assistant Head, Archives Research Center, Atlanta University Center, Robert W. Woodruff Library is running for Steering Committee of the Issues & Advocacy Roundtable

Laura Starratt, Circulation Clerk, Athens Public Library is running for Steering Committee of the Issues & Advocacy Roundtable

Elizabeth Russey Roke, Manuscript Archivist, Emory University Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library is running for Chair of Manuscript Repositories Section

Renna Tuten, Archivist, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia is running for a spot on the Steering Committee of the Manuscripts Section

Vote!

Job opening: Contract Processing Archivist Georgia Historical Society

2010-07-06T12:34:00.000-04:00

The Georgia Historical Society seeks a Contract Processing Archivist to "accession, arrange, and describe archival collections at the basic level, assist with research services in the Georgia Historical Society Library and Archives, and other duties as assigned."

See the full job description at http://www.georgiahistory.com/files/0000/0421/Contract_Archivist_Announcement_06-11-10.pdf

Red Alert: Support NHPRC Reauthorization by This Wednesday!

2010-06-29T17:47:00.000-04:00

Below you will find the text of an email from SAA Headquarters. Please read it and consider lending a hand in the battle to reauthorize the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. Georgia is a state represented by a member of the Subcommittee to reauthorize NHPRC! Please consider faxing a letter of support to Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R, GA). Contact information and tips on how to write a letter can be found below.

You live in a state represented by a member of the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and the National Archives – and we need your help!
The National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) is due for reauthorization in Congress this year – a year in which fiscal issues are being hotly debated and very serious situations are developing for such essential programs as NHPRC.
On Thursday, July 1, at 2:30 Eastern time, the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census and the National Archives will mark up (i.e., vote on) H.R. 5616, an amended bill that is now more similar to the comparable Senate bill (S. 2872). The Senate bill still calls for reauthorization of NHPRC at only $10 million (the same level of authorization that has existed since 1991!). The new version of the House bill calls for reauthorization at $20 million – a more appropriate level.
The important next step in this process is to make sure that the subcommittee – on July 1 – votes to approve the version containing the $20 million authorization. Frankly, there are some strong anti-spending voices on the subcommittee – so it is critical that we let Chairman Lacy Clay (D-MO) know that the archives, history, and genealogy community wants to see this bill passed.
If you live or work in the district represented by a member of the subcommittee, including Chairman Clay, please fax a message of support for NHPRC reauthorization at $20 million – no later than Wednesday evening!
Members are:

Carolyn Maloney (D, NY)
Steve Driehaus (D, OH)
Henry Cuellar (D, TX)
Judy Chu (D, CA)
Eleanor Holmes Norton (D, DC)
Danny Davis (D, IL)
John Mica (R, FL)
Patrick McHenry (R, NC)
Lynn Westmoreland (R, GA)
Jason Chaffetz (R, UT)

Fax: 202-225-4709
Fax: 202-225-3012
Fax: 202-225-1641
Fax: 202-225-5467
Fax: 202-225-3002
Fax: 202-225-5641
Fax: 202-226-0821
Fax: 202-225-0316
Fax: 202-225-2515
Fax: 202-225-5629

Call or send faxes to: Chairman William Lacy Clay, Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census and the National Archives, B-349C Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC 20515; Fax: 202-225-4784 or Email: Send as a pdf to Anthony.Clark@mail.house.gov
Important Points to Stress in Your Letter:

H.R. 5616 (new version of H.R. 1556) calls for reauthorizing the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) at the funding level of $20 million. It is scheduled to be marked up on Thursday, July 1, at 2:30 pm ET.
IF YOU ARE WRITING TO A SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBER, URGE HER/HIM TO ATTEND THE MEETING AND VOTE IN FAVOR OF H.R. 5616 IN ORDER TO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE CONDITION OF, AND ACCESS TO, THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL RECORD.
NHPRC is the only federal agency that provides grants specifically for archives, which it does through competitive grants for projects with a national scope and a modest state/national partnership grant category for grants to states.
NHPRC is a good investment of federal dollars. All grants must provide a 50% cost share in local funds. NHPRC grants often serve as “seed money” to start archives programs or additional archival activities. Many institutions then continue to support the program with their own dollars after the grant period.
NHPRC stimulates jobs in the archives and records management profession. Historical records projects are “jobs heavy.” On the average, 75% of NHPRC funds for projects are used to pay for staff.
Provide information about why NHPRC is important to your region/state/institution, or tell a personal story about your use of a record or its importance to you.

Here’s an example of a compelling story about the good that NHPRC has done:

The City of Seattle (Washington) in 1985 and 1986 received two NHPRC grants (one-year outright and a second-year matching) totaling $58,065 to collect preserve and make available the City’s archival records. The grant funded one position, but more importantly served as seed money for the creation of a permanent archives program. Today, the Seattle Municipal Archives is a fully funded program with five permanent professional staff, several student workers, volunteers, and interns, and an annual personnel budget of approximately $500,000. The Archives manages 10,000 linear feet of textual records, nearly 1.5 visual images, and a variety of other formats. Its web site includes a wide range of indexes, over 130,000 photographs, and educational materials including exhibits and digital materials organized in topics for use in the classroom. Archives staff, through effective advocacy, was largely responsible for the City creating a records management program in 2001. In 2009, the Archives received a second NHPRC grant ($106,480) to catalog, index, and make available a huge backlog of unprocessed records, including nearly 2000 linear feet of records. This grant has allowed the hiring of an additional professional archivist for two years whose sole job is to work on this backlog.

DLG Earns an Emmy!

2010-06-29T13:08:00.000-04:00

Have you been following the Digital Library of Georgia on their blog, Twitter feed or Facebook page? If so, then you already know that the Civil Rights Digital Library (UGA) was honored this past week with a regional Emmy award for the film "Andrew Young Presents: How We Got Over"

Catch the whole story, including a list of the archivists who were honored, at the DLG blog.

Congratulations!

Georgia Archives Month Update: Get Your Flyer!

2010-06-29T13:03:00.004-04:00

Flyers for the 2010 Georgia Archives Month are available for download at the Society of Georgia Archivists website: Download here.

Don't forget to print your flyer and post it around your workplace. It's an easy way for you to contribute to the promotion of this Georgia Archives event.

If you are planning an event for GAM, be sure to visit the website or contact co-chairs Bridget Lerette or Elaine DeNiro.

Job opening: Digital Projects Librarian, Digital Library of Georgia

2010-06-18T13:57:00.000-04:00

POSITION: Digital Projects Librarian/Archivist

DEPARTMENT: Digital Library of Georgia

PURPOSE AND SCOPE:

The Digital Projects Librarian/Archivist is responsible for metadata and authority control, student hiring and supervision, quality control, and other duties related to the development of digital resources for Digital Library of Georgia initiatives including but not limited to the federally supported Civil Rights Digital Library and the forthcoming ASERL Civil War era digital library portal being created through a partnership with 32 Southeastern research libraries. The Digital Projects Librarian/Archivist reports to the Associate Director of the Digital Library of Georgia (DLG) and works as a member of the DLG's Metadata and Site Development unit.

The award-winning Digital Library of Georgia is a GALILEO initiative based at the University of Georgia Libraries. The DLG works together with Georgia's libraries, archives, museums, and other institutions of cultural heritage to provide access to the cultural and historical resources of the state of Georgia. This primary mission is accomplished through the ongoing development, maintenance, and preservation of digital collections and online digital library resources. These may include materials such as original manuscripts, typescripts, books, photographs, maps, sheet music, posters and broadsides, newspapers, primary source materials on microfilm, audio, video, and other formats. Each project is made available freely to the public as part of GALILEO.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Describes digital objects using national and local standards. This includes the application of AACR2 and the Dublin Core metadata standard. The Digital Library of Georgia uses Library of Congress Subject Headings as its subject vocabulary and the Art and Architecture Thesaurus for genre terms.

Engages in authority work to provide intellectual control over the application of subject headings, personal names, corporate names, and place names as a component of the metadata process. The Digital Library of Georgia uses a local database for controlling personal, corporate and place names in conjunction with the Library of Congress Authority File.

Proofs the work of student employees to maintain a high level of quality for the resources generated. Participates in the hire and supervision of student employees engaged in data entry and other tasks associated with the creation of digital resources.

Participates in planning for digital projects and communicates with Digital Library of Georgia and GALILEO (the statewide virtual library) personnel to coordinate work effort.

Generates content for and provides input into Web site design, including the development of contextual and other resources that supplement digitized collections. DLG employs formal academic prose in its projects under the guidelines of the Chicago Manual.

Measures outputs by generating and collecting statistics.

Contributes to the mission of the Digital Library of Georgia by participating in the development and evaluation of policies and services, assessing user needs and satisfaction with learning outcomes, serving on appropriate committees, and maintaining an awareness of changes in allied departments.

Develops and maintains professional skills by participating in continuing education and professional development activities such as conferences, workshops, and committee work; by conducting research or writing for publication; or by engaging in other creative and learning activities.

Participates in library-wide communication by reading, responding to, and initiating information transmitted via the Library listserv, and appropriate library-wide or departmental meetings, and asking questions, seeking clarification, or initiating discussion on library issues.

Maintains awareness and acts upon changes and needs in the organization by assuming similar duties and responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

ALA-accredited approved MLS, or relevant Master's degree (ACA certification expected in 5 years for continued employment). Knowledge of AACR2, LCSH, Dublin Core metadata standard and familiarity with MARC; Familiarity with HTML or XML; Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships; Excellent research, writing, and oral communication skills; Ability to function as a contributing team member in a production-oriented environment; Experience creating metadata or catalog records, or describing archival materials preferred; Digital library experience preferred; Degree in history, public history or American studies preferred.

BENEFITS:

UGA offers an attractive benefits program including a choice of health and retirement plans, dental plan, tuition remission and a relocation allowance; 21 days annual leave, 12 paid holidays. Information about Athens: http://www.libs.uga.edu/athens/.

Salary: entry-level minimum $38,000; commensurate with experience.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Qualified applicants who wish to be considered for this position should send their letters of application, complete résumés, and the names, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers of three references by July 23, 2010, to: Jan D. Hudson (libjobs@uga.edu), Human Resources Department, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia 30602-1641. Electronic applications are preferred.

The University of Georgia Libraries values diversity in its faculty, students, and staff and strongly encourages applications from underrepresented minority candidates. The University of Georgia is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer.

New blog: Digital Library of Georgia

2010-06-18T13:55:00.000-04:00

Check out the new Digital Library of Georgia blog today!

The DLG also has a Facebook page and a Twitter feed, so get up to date on DLG news using your favorite social media.

SGA Members Testify Before Congress

2010-06-14T15:31:00.000-04:00

On June 9, 2010, SGA members Kaye Minchew and Karen Jefferson testified before the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census and National Archives at a hearing entitled "Strengthening the National Historical Publications and Records Commission". A webcast of the hearing is available on the website of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

SGA Fellow Kaye Minchew is the Executive Director of the Troup County Historical Society and Archives. Karen Jefferson is Records Manager at the Robert W. Woodruff Library of the Atlanta University Center. Ms. Minchew appeared as a representative of the National Association of Government Archivists & Records Administrators, on whose Board she has served for many years. Ms. Jefferson appeared as an experienced archivist and records manager to specifically discuss the work of State Historical Records Advisory Boards, in particular, the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board (GHRAB). The prepared testimony of both Ms. Minchew and Ms. Jefferson is available online.

Please join me in congratulating our colleagues on this accomplishment. Both Ms. Minchew and Ms. Jefferson are long term members on SGA with recognition on a national level and a demonstrated dedication to the advocacy of archival enterprise.

Georgia Archives Month: How Will You Celebrate?

2010-05-10T09:38:00.000-04:00

In October, Georgia will celebrate its 11th archives celebration -- Georgia Archives Month. This year's theme is “Travel Back in Time.” There’s plenty of time to plan special events such as exhibits, tours, lectures, workshops, collection viewings, etc. For information and ideas, visit our web site at http://soga.org/archivesmonth. It includes lists of events held in past years as well as an event guide to assist with planning.

The purpose of Archives Month is to celebrate the value of Georgia’s historical records, publicize the many ways historical records enrich our lives, and recognize those who maintain our communities’ historical records. This is the ideal time to call attention to your organization or local government, and its work in preserving Georgia’s documentary heritage.

We encourage you to think of ways in which your organization or local government can celebrate Archives Month in your community. If you are planning an event, please email blerette@archatl.com and we will add your event to the upcoming 2010 Archives Month web site.

If you have any questions, please view our web site at http://soga.org/archivesmonth or contact Bridget Lerette, blerette@archatl.com, 404-978-2772; or Elaine DeNiro, edeniro@roswellgov.com, 770-594-6405). Thank you.

PAHR Introduced to the Senate

2010-04-26T13:14:00.000-04:00

Posted on behalf of the Joint Task Force on PAHR:

S. 3227, "A bill to authorize the Archivist of the United States to make grants to States for the preservation and dissemination of historical records," was introduced by Senators Orrin Hatch and Carl Levin (with six original co-sponsors) on April 19 and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

This bill is identical to that introduced in the House by Congressman Maurice Hinchey--H.R. 2256. We have an incredible opportunity to get action in both the House and the Senate THIS SPRING AND SUMMER. We need to act now before the attention of Congress is diverted by the November elections. So it is critical that you work with your constituents to tell your senators now why PAHR is important to you, your organization, and your researchers. See the attached Action Alert for more details, and please distribute it or some version thereof as widely as you can.

We have the potential by the end of this summer to have this legislation enacted in the House and the Senate. But just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes the entire archival, history, library and genealogical community to pass PAHR. We need your help now and through the next two or three months to make this a reality. Please do your part to bring this to a vote in Congress--every letter, every phone call, every visit matters.

Many, many thanks for all the work that has gone into PAHR so far, and for all you can do in the next months. We can make this change happen--and we look forward to celebrating the passage of PAHR this year!

Please contact us if you have questions or ideas, or need any help with your efforts.

Council of State Archivists: Kathleen Roe, David Carmicheal, Karl Niederer, Vicki Walch

Society of American Archivists: Brenda Lawson, Steven Hensen, Ben Primer, Nancy Beaumont

National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators: Tracey Berezansky, Jelain Chubb

Learn more about PAHR and how to contact the Task Force at http://www.archivists.org/pahr/

Last Week for SGA Fellow Nominations!

2010-04-26T13:12:00.000-04:00

Fellows nominations are due by this Friday, April 30th!

Any SGA member in good standing is welcome to nominate someone who deserves to be recognized for their outstanding contributions to our society and our profession.

For your convenience, the revised procedures and nomination form are linked from the home page of the SGA website.

Please send your completed nomination forms to Christine de Catanzaro by the end of business on Friday.

Make sure that SGA hears from you!

Provenance Seeks Reviewers

2010-04-20T20:33:00.000-04:00

Provenance: The Journal of the Society of Georgia Archivists, a peer reviewed academic publication, seeks book reviewers for the 2010 issue.

If interested, please contact the Provenance Reviews editor, Jennifer Welch for more details: welchje@musc.edu

Nominate a SGA Fellow Today!

2010-04-13T09:27:00.000-04:00

Don't forget that nominations are now open for SGA Fellows for 2010. SGA members and current Fellows are welcome to nominate someone who deserves to be recognized for their outstanding contributions to our society and our profession. The procedures and nomination form are available on the SGA website.

Nominations are due to Christine de Catanzaro, Chair of the Nominating Committee (decatanzaro@gatech.edu) by the end of this month. Don't miss this opportunity to recognize someone who has contributed significantly to SGA and the archival profession!

SGA Web Site: Pardon Our Progress

2010-04-08T16:07:00.000-04:00

Over the course of the year, the SGA Web Site Redesign & Redevelopment Ad Hoc Committee will be making changes to the Web site based on membership feedback and committee assessment. While most of the changes will be gradual, please pardon any "hiccups" along the way. Your patience is appreciated.

Please contact the Web Manager at webmaster@soga.org with any questions or additional suggestions.

Earn Your MLIS in Georgia

2010-04-08T15:21:00.000-04:00

The University of North Texas Department of Library and Information Sciences is beginning a new cohort in September 2010 in Georgia. Through this outstanding program, students can earn a master’s degree by participating in two four-day institutes to be held in Atlanta, GA – August 13 - 16, 2010 and January 7-9, 2011 at the Robert W. Woodruff Library at the Atlanta University Center. YES!!! UNT will bring its ALA accredited Master’s program and popular online format back to Georgia beginning Fall 2010.

You can earn your Master’s by participating in two four-day Web Institutes and complete the rest of your degree online! The Web Institute portion of the Master’s program includes an orientation, technology training, and instruction in the Master’s program core courses, as well as time to socialize with your Institute classmates and faculty. Students will enroll in the University of North Texas, Department of Library and Information Sciences blended learning program, a 36 credit-hour program combining: distance learning (on-line) courses delivered via the Web (at least two courses per semester for six academic semesters) in addition to the two intensive in-person four-day Web Institutes.

Information Sessions
Come find out more about the UNT/LIS graduate program at information sessions to be held in your area. There will be information sessions on the following days in North Atlanta, Athens, August, Columbus, and Macon from April 13 - 17:

Tuesday, April 13, 2010
12:00pm – 2:00pm

University of Georgia Libraries Administrative Offices Conference/Meeting Room 320 S. Jackson Street
Athens, GA

Tuesday, April 13, 2010
3:00pm – 4:30pm

Athens Regional Library System
Bogart Library – Small Conference Room 200 South Burson Avenue
Bogart, GA 30622

Wednesday, April 14, 2010
11:30am – 1:30 pm

Chattahoochee Valley Library System
North Columbus Branch Library
Small Conference Room 5689 Armour Road
Columbus , Georgia 31909

Wednesday, April 14, 2010
4pm – 6pm

Middle Georgia Regional -Washington Memorial Library
Board/Meeting Room
1180 Washington Avenue
Macon, Georgia 31201

Thursday, April 15, 2010
10:00am – 1:00 pm

Paine College
Collins Callaway Library –Room 106
1235 Fifteenth Street
Augusta, GA 30901

Thursday, April 15, 2010
2:30pm

Augusta State University
Jaguar Student Center in the Coffeehouse
2500 Walton Way
Augusta, GA 30904

Thursday, April 15, 2010
4:30 – 6:30 pm

Wallace Branch Library 1237 Laney Walker Blvd.
Augusta, GA 30901

Friday, April 16, 2010
10:00am – Noon

Atlanta Fulton Public Library – Ocee Branch Library
5090 Abbotts Bridge Rd.
Johns Creek GA 30005-4601

Friday, April 16, 2010
3:00pm – 5:00pm

Hall County Library System
Sprout Springs Branch
Meeting Room B
6488 Spout Springs Rd.
Flowery Branch, Ga. 30542

Information About Applying to the UNT/LIS Master’s Degree Program
For directions and more information about the University of North Texas Graduate School and Department of Library and Information Sciences application process go to the webpage – http://www.lis.unt.edu. Information about the master’s program and application process to UNT are located on the LIS webpage. You will find information about the program, information sessions, the application, and information about how to apply for admission to the University and to the master’s program. Be sure to review the Master's Admission Checklist page on the UNT/SLIS homepage at http://www.ci.unt.edu/main/ViewPage.php?cid=195.   The Master's Admission Checklist will give you step by step instructions on the application process for the Univ. of North Texas.

The Checklist is where you begin the application process. You should review the application instructions and start collecting supporting materials to submit with your application.
A.     The UNT - Toulouse School of Graduate Studies is the first school that you must submit an application and be admitted in order to qualify for evaluation for the IMLS scholarship.
• The directions for applying to the Graduate School are located at: http://www.tsgs.unt.edu/admission_to_graduate_studies.htm
• The online application to Graduate School is at: https://www.applytexas.org/adappc/gen/c_start.WBX?s_logon_msg=Y
• Complete official transcripts from all colleges and universities you attended must be submitted to:
Toulouse School of Graduate Studies
University of North Texas
P.O. Box 305459
Denton, TX 76203-5459
• Official score reports from either the Graduate Record Examination – http://www.ets.org/gre/ (The UNT school code for the GRE is 6481) or the Miller's Analogies Test – http://www.milleranalogies.com/ must be submitted to the Graduate School.
Information about GRE and MAT testing centers as well as practice materials is available at:
GRE: http://www.takethegre.com/ (Test sites are available in South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana)
MAT: http://psychcorp.pearsonassessments.com/haiweb/Cultures/en-US/site/Community/PostSecondary/Products/MAT/mathome.htm (Testing sites are available in South Dakota, Montana, and Idaho)
If a test date for one of the entrance exams is not available in your area, you can be admitted as a “non-degree seeking student and submit your test score before the completion of your first semester of courses.
B.     The UNT – Department of Library and Information Sciences application is at: http://www.ci.unt.edu/main/PDF/FormFillin-LISApplication.pdf. The application to SLIS cannot be completed online - you must fill it out online, print it out, and send it.
·       You must submit three recommendation forms. Letters should be from former professors or others who can evaluate your academic qualifications and from job supervisors who can assess your potential for success as an information professional. The forms are located at http://www.ci.unt.edu/main/PDF/FormFillin-LetterOfRecommendation.pdf
C.     You will need to submit a one-to-two-page essay stating your purpose and goals in applying to our program. In your statement, include the nature of your interest, how you became interested in the field, your short- and long-term goals, the strengths that you would bring to the information profession, and how the UNT program will help meet your career and educational objectives.
For more information about the master’s degree program, information feel free to contact either:

Dr. Yvonne Chandler – via email at yvonne.chandler@unt.edu or by phone at 940-565-3777   Charlotte Thomas – via email at charlotte.thomas@unt.edu or by phone at 940-369-7275.

Get rid of those ugly backlogs with help from SGA and SAA

2010-04-08T11:19:00.000-04:00

Registration for the Spring workshop closes in 9 short days. There are some spots left but they are going quickly, so claim yours before it's too late.

SAA - Implementing More Product, Less Process

May 17, 2010, 9AM - 5PM

Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Georgia

Backlogs don’t have to weigh as heavily as they do! Focus on implementing concrete strategies for increasing processing rates and reducing backlogs, as outlined in the Greene-Meissner article, “More Product, Less Process: Revamping Traditional Archival Processing,” and learn as you share information and experiences with fellow workshop participants. Topics include appraisal, arrangement, description, digitization, and preservation, as well as development of processing plans, policies, and benchmarks. This array of topics is addressed through lecture, case studies, and group discussion.

SAA Elections Are Here!

2010-03-31T10:22:00.000-04:00

If you are a member of the Society of American Archivists, don't forget to vote in the current SAA Elections! Voting is open now until April 11, 2010. Vote here.

Did you know that a SGA member is up for election? Kaye Lanning Minchew of the Troup County Archives (LaGrange, GA) is a candidate for Council. Learn about her and her plans for SAA here. You can find out what Kaye and her crew are up to at the Troup County Archives webpage.

SGA/SAA Spring Workshop with a Special Surprise

2010-03-22T10:56:00.000-04:00

SGA is proud to present its annual spring workshop "Implementing More Product, Less Process" (co-sponsored with the Society of American Archivists) on Monday, May 17 from 9AM to 5PM at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia.

The first 10 SGA members who register for the workshop will receive a $100 discount on their registration cost. Use promotional code MPLPSGA10 when registering. (Valid only for current members. Registrants will be verified as SGA members before registration will be processed.) If you don't register in time to claim the $100 discount, using the same code (MPLPSGA10) will save you $25 on your registration.

Workshop fees are:

SAA Member $185 / $235 (Early Bird / Regular)
SAA Student Members Promotion: $92.50 / 117.50 (Early Bird / Regular)
Employees of Member Institutions $210 / $260 (Early Bird / Regular)
Nonmember $235 / $285 (Early Bird / Regular)
Nonmember Students Promotion: $117.50 / $142.50 (Please submit proof of enrollment to servicecenter@archivists.org of via fax to 312-606-0728)

Register for the course via the SAA website at http://saa.archivists.org/Scripts/4Disapi.dll/4DCGI/events/203.html?Action=Conference_Detail&ConfID_W=203&Time=2136149927&SessionID=9449804qtgx4o9o80b5k6u2320jux0ow3aqp49421g7jux2g519x1wwby114e2d6

The SGA Scholarship Committee also offers the Brenda S. Banks Scholarship to cover workshop registration fees for one lucky SGA member. Visit the Scholarship Committee's Brenda S. Banks Educational Workshop Scholarship page at http://www.soga.org/banks for more details.

If you have any questions or registration problems, please feel free to write to education@soga.org

Many thanks go out to the Education Committee as well as Chris Paton, who generously volunteered space at her institution to host this workshop.

Statewide EAD survey

2010-03-11T15:43:00.000-05:00

Over the past few years, some SGA members have expressed the desire to have a state-wide EAD project. Given the University of Georgia's and the Digital Library ofGeorgia's recent successes in developing finding aid databases, we are wondering if now might be the time to leverage our expertise to develop a state-wide EAD database. As a first tentative step we'd like to gauge interest and basic institutional needs before deciding whether such a project might be feasible. We would greatly appreciate it if SGA members at Georgia repositories would take a few minutes to fill out our brief (only 10 questions) survey.

The survey can be found at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2FNDJ3X .

We appreciate your feedback. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Shiela McAlister at mcalists@uga.edu.

SGA Support for PAHR

2010-03-05T13:02:00.000-05:00

Now that the Preserving the American Record (PAHR), has passed in the House, it's time for archivists all over the country to start working on the Senate.

For those who are unfamiliar with PAHR, it is "a bill to provide federal formula grants to every state for projects that preserve historical records and make them more accessible."

No matter what facet of the archival/library/museum world you work in, PAHR affects YOU!

To learn more about the bill, and how to contact your Senators to ask for their support, visit the PAHR page on the SAA website.

Coming soon: SGA's own "Legislative Action" page!

2010 Fellows Nominations

2010-02-27T11:02:00.000-05:00

Dear SGA members,

SGA is very pleased to announce that nominations are now open for SGA Fellows for 2010! Members and current Fellows are welcome to nominate someone who deserves to be recognized for his or her outstanding contributions to our society and our profession. The revised procedures and nomination form are now available on the SGA website (link to http://www.soga.org/Content/Documents/Document.ashx?DocId=112277 for the procedures; http://www.soga.org/Content/Documents/Document.ashx?DocId=112276 for the nomination form).

Nominations are due to the Nominating Committee (decatanzaro@gatech.edu) by April 30, 2010. Please get a head start and nominate your candidate soon!

Save the Date!

2010-02-23T12:03:00.000-05:00

Sorry you missed the More Product, Less Process presentation at the annual meeting?
Want to know how to alleviate backlogs in your repository?

Join SGA as we co-sponsor our annual Spring Workshop with the Society of American Archivists. "Implementing More Product, Less Process" will be given on May 17, 2010, location TBD. Check the SGA website for registration details soon.

SGA's Scholarship Committee awards the Banks Scholarship to an SGA member who would like to attend. Check out http://www.soga.org/banks to learn about how to apply.

SAA's description of the workshop:

Backlogs don’t have to weigh as heavily as they do! Focus on implementing concrete strategies for increasing processing rates and reducing backlogs, as outlined in the Greene-Meissner article, “More Product, Less Process: Revamping Traditional Archival Processing,” and learn as you share information and experiences with fellow workshop participants. Topics include appraisal, arrangement, description, digitization, and preservation, as well as development of processing plans, policies, and benchmarks. This array of topics is addressed through lecture, case studies, and group discussion.

Workshop objectives:

Understand the concepts and arguments outlined in "More Product, Less Process;"
Implement strategies for increasing processing rates in a variety of institutions;
Apply techniques for managing efficient processing programs, including developing processing plans, policies, and benchmarks;
Understand how descriptive standards such as DACS can assist in the creation of descriptive records that adhere to "minimum" requirements and assist in the reuse of data in a variety of outputs; and
Develop strategies for integrating processing with other archival functions, particularly accessioning.

Who should attend? Archivists who process archival collections or manage archival processing programs and administrators interested in processing procedures within their repositories (introductory to intermediate levels).

For more information, contact the SGA Education Committee at education@soga.org

Gracy Award Reminder

2010-02-10T15:04:00.000-05:00

SGA is very close to meeting the David B. Gracy Award challenge to raise $1,000 by March 2010. So far, we have raised $792.92.

If you have not already contributed to the Gracy Award, please consider doing so. Your contribution will ensure that SGA can continue with this special and important award.

To contribute, please visit the SGA website and follow the "Celebrate Through Giving" link.

SGA Board Member Published

2010-01-12T12:56:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Brittany Bennett Parris, SGA Webmaster and archivist at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, on being included in SAA's Archival Haiku publication!

*Image "courtesy" of eHow.

Introducing the SGA Mentoring Program

2010-01-11T11:04:00.000-05:00

The Society of Georgia Archivists is proud to present the SGA Mentoring Program, our newest initiative in the area of professional development.

What is it?

The SGA Mentoring Program was created to help archivists at all career levels establish a personal learning relationship with other archivists around the state. By matching mentors and mentees based on geographic location and areas of professional interest, the goal is to encourage growth and help participants develop competencies and create a stronger, more cohesive group of archivists in Georgia at the same time. By sharing a little time and knowledge with a colleague, everyone benefits.

What topics can you learn about or share with others?

acquisition, appraisal, arrangement, description, outreach, access, reference, preservation, cataloging, metadata, exhibits, management, lone arranging, congressional records, academic archives, records management, digital collections, private archives, corporate archives, religious archives, rare books, new technologies, special collections and libraries, museums, manuscripts, visual resources, local and state government, and audio/moving image resources.

(Don't see a topic of interest? Make a note on your application.)

Who can participate? Anyone!

Mentees -

If you are new to the profession or a student and would like establish a personal relationship with an established, experienced archivist, consider applying for a mentor.

If you are a mid-career archivist looking for extra guidance and another growth spurt in your professional development, consider applying for a mentor.

If you are in the final stretch of your career and are interested in taking the time to learn about newer initiatives and trends or just refreshing yourself on the basics, consider applying for a
mentor.

Mentors -

If you have at least three years of experience in the archival profession or extensive knowledge in a particular area of archival expertise (see the list above) and want to share your knowledge, please consider applying.

When will the program take place?

Mentoring matches made in this program will last for one calendar year, although mentors and mentees have the option of extending the match. Applications are due at the end of January and matches will be made by the end of February. Mentors and mentees will spend the rest of 2010 working together. All program participants who attend the SGA Annual Meeting in Augusta will receive recognition for their hard work.

How to apply

Visit www.soga.org/mentor and fill out a PDF application to be a mentor or mentee. Email the application to mentoring@soga.org or print and mail it to the address at the bottom of the page.

For more information or questions....

Visit www.soga.org/mentor, contact the Mentoring Committee at mentoring@soga.org, or feel free to contact any of the committee members listed below.

2010 SGA Mentoring Committee
Kristy Dixon, University of Georgia
Allison Hughes, Atlanta University CenterCynthia Lewis, The King Center
Nora Lewis, Georgia Historical Society
Luciana Spracher, City of Savannah Archives
Renna Tuten, Chair, University of Georgia

*Image "courtesy" of Texas State University Mentoring and Support Programs.

Start the Year Off Right With SGA!

2010-01-07T10:31:00.000-05:00

Start 2010 off right with a visit to the SGA web site!

You can check out the latest edition of the newsletter, see photographs from the 2009 SGA Annual Meeting, or renew your membership.

And don't forget that there are new ways to give to SGA. Donate online or download a paper form to contribute to a scholarship. Read all about David Gracy's matching funds challenge in the newsletter and help us reach our fundraising goal.

MPLP and Film Preservation Guidelines added to SGA's Forms Forum

2009-11-13T14:12:00.000-05:00

New forms have been added to SGA's Forms Forum!

Under Film Preservation, you will find the University of Washington State's Film Preservation Manual (our first non-Georgia addition to the FF).

Under Processing and Stacks Maintenance Forms, you will find the MPLP guidelines and checklist used at the Southern Labor Archives, Georgia State University Library.

Find them all here: http://soga.org/forms

Of course, we welcome forms, guidelines, and manuals from all Special Collections and Archival repositories for inclusion on the Forms Forum page.

Please send any questions to forms@soga.org.

Call All Contributions: 9th Annual Auction for SGA Scholarship Funds

2009-10-27T09:34:00.000-04:00

Where: The Fabulous DeSoto Hilton in Historic Downtown Savannah, Georgia
When: Thursday, November 5, 2009
Time: 6:25-7:20 pm, somewhere after/during food and drink acquisition, and somewhen before dispersal for general merriment...

From the desk of our honorable auctioneer, the illustrious Gilbert Head...

Once again, Ladies and Gentlemen, we near the autumn of the year, and with the falling leaves we also plan to harvest the bounty of the 9th annual auction for SGA scholarships. Yet again, I represent the Scholarship Committee for the Society of Georgia Archivists , and by virtue of this auction having originally been my idea, find myself yet again in the position of serving for spokesman for this, the eighth edition of the SGA Scholarship Auction. As in years gone by, 100% of the proceeds of this auction will go towards the myriad scholarships and awards administered by the SGA, including our more recently created SGA-sponsored workshop scholarships. These newer funding opportunities will help underwrite the workshop costs of scholarship recipients, as we continue to broaden out efforts to support continuing education in our community. As in years past, we once more submit a few examples of the sorts of treasures one might be expected to bid upon or perhaps donate in this worthy enterprise. Some of these items will look familiar, and yet others will be new, in out never-ending quest to broaden the scope of delights from the overburdened chiffarobe of culture's bounty. Monkeys will be abounding, and we expect a return of the paired Disco Chalices which seem to crop up in each new offering.

It should be remembered that these sample items are intended to suggest possibilities for donation, and to whet the appetite of potential bidders bu not necessarily limit the scope of those things to be placed upon the block...

A U.S. Solver Dollar ("Morgan" Type): 1880: Philadelphia Mint

A silver penny from the reign of Edward I of England (called Longshanks);1272-1307

A "Widow's Mite"; Bronze Prutah, Reign of Alexander Jannaeus, 103-76 BC.
This coin represents one of the probable coins referred to in the Biblical parable of the Widow's Mite (Mark 12:41-44), as it was the smallest coin in circulation in the Holy Land at the Time of Christ.

A Denarius of Severus Alexander (222-225 AD).
This silver coin was the basic unit of exchange in Imperial Rome.

Pubbii Ovidii Nasonis Operum, Tomus III.
Amsterdam, 1701, 4 3/4" x 2 1/2". Full vellum binding.

1961 Proof Set, Philadelphia Mint.
Again, supplied in original U.S. Mint packaging.

...and plenty more old coins....

These items are not meant to define the parameters of what we will accept as an auction item, but rather to give some idea of the scope of what we hope to be offering. We will not be accepting firearms or alcoholic consumables for this auction, but will be grateful for whatever else you wish to donate.

Items can either be brought in person to the SGA Annual Meeting in November, or sent to the following address:

Gilbert Head
University Archives
Hagrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-1641

Questions about the auction can be addressed to the same place, or to Gilbert head at eghead@uga.edu

If you are bringing the item to Athens, please plan to drop it off at the auction table during registration. This table will also provide a place to make a "silent bid" for those unable or uninterested to participate in the live auction.

If you are planning to contribute something, please prepare a 3" x 5" card for each item with your name, a brief description and any details which you think might enhance sale of the item, whether you wish to target the proceeds to a specific fund (the Carroll Hart Scholarship, to attend the Georgia Archives Institute; the Larry Gulley Scholarship, to attend the SGA Annual Meeting; the Edward Weldon Scholarship, to atten the SAA Annual meeting; the Brenda S. Banks Educational Workshop Scholarship, to attend the SGA Spring Workshop; the Anthony R. Dees Educational Workshop Scholarship, to attend the SGA Fall Workshop; or the David B. Gracy Award [adminstered by the Editorial Board of Provenance), and whether or not you wish to have an assigned minimum bid (though we ask that you limit this last request, as the object of the auction is to raise money for these various worthy funds).

And even those who do not donate can participate! Bring us your money (we'll be set up to take cash or checks, but not credit cards), and your finely honed bidding skills, and prepare to have a splendid time as we help our scholarship funds grow. Jim Dandy, the Official Sock Monkey of the SGA Auction, asks you to give, and give generously; excavate your spare tremisses and merks, and come to Savannah ready to have yet another splendid time wearing down the auctioneer, and fired up to bid on treasures galore...it'll be something to tell the future gnerations, or at the very least, we'll have a little fun, and raise a few dollars along the way. See y'all there/then.

Online Registration Extended!

2009-10-22T11:34:00.001-04:00

Online registration is still available for the 2009 SGA Annual Meeting!

Registration via the online form has been extended to October 30, 2009. Mail in registration is not available at the time.

On site registration will be available in Savannah, but due to catering restrictions, on site registrants will have to be responsible for their own lunch on Thursday, November 5th.

SGA Archives: Call for Photos

2009-10-19T09:02:00.000-04:00

On the eve of SGA's 40th Anniversary, the SGA Archives is looking for photographs of past events and people to add to our archives. If you have photographs you would be willing to donate, please contact me at the information below. Digital images, either born-digital or scanned from photographs, are welcome. Thanks in advance!

Suzanne K. Durham, CA
Head of Special Collections
Ingram Library
University of West Georgia
1601 Maple Street
Carrollton, GA 30118

678.839.5350
678.839.6511
sdurham@westga.edu

Update: Early Bird Registration Extended to October 16

2009-10-07T09:44:00.000-04:00

The Society of Georgia Archivists Annual Meeting deadline has been extended to October 16. Online and mail in registrations will be accepted at the low, member advance rate of $95.

Rooms are still available at the conference rate of $139 at the DeSoto Hilton in Savannah. To get the most accurate information on room reservations, contact the hotel directly at 912-232-9000.

Register today!

5 Questions for...Geof Huth

2009-10-06T16:17:00.000-04:00

The third interviewee in our short series of interviews with upcoming speakers, Geof Huth has provided us with enthusiastic answers to five very modest questions. In addition to being Director of Government Records Services at the New York State Archives, Mr. Huth is also an artist and micropublisher. You can find out more about him by checking out the finding aid to the Geof Huth Papers, which are held at the M. E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University at Albany Libraries, SUNY.

How did you become an archivist?

At some point early in adulthood, I had a couple of degrees in English clutched in my fist and no interest in making the next step and earning a PhD in the field. I found myself in need of a career, so I faced a decision that thousands of people have had to make over the course of human history: Do I become an archivist or a lexicographer? My interest in lexicography, which continues to this day, grew out of my interest in language and the magical way in which discrete sets sounds or markings could carry so much meaning. My interest in archives grew out of my early work as a genealogist, where the only valuable research—I soon came to discover—came from using actual records. Of course, both fields have an abiding focus on detail and thoroughness, which helped make my decision more difficult.

But my life experiences made my ultimate decision simple. One day in a small town in rural France, I stumbled across a critical church book, a book I didn’t know existed in a town I had not planned to visit, and that changed me. The process of finding the book was happenstance. My father and I had stopped at a church to ask directions to the next town, and the priest there suggested we look through his books. The book itself was tossed in a cabinet filled with books and papers askew, and the ink was flaking off its pages, leading me to wonder how much longer the volume would last.

I became an archivist because I decided that this field held more opportunity than lexicography did, and that proved to be a correct conclusion. But I really became an archivist because I decided that people needed something better than happenstance to find a record, because I realized that records needed to be cared for if we wanted them to last and be used into the future, and because archives is a humanistic enterprise: We keep records not for the records themselves, but for the people who need them. Although central to our imagination, records are almost ancillary to our mission because those records have value only to the degree that people need them, to the extent that the records serve humanity, in big and small ways. So I am an archivist because I’m passionate about the interplay between the record as a continuing embodiment of humanness and the humans whose lives and work and passions can be supported by those records.

What's changed the most since you became an archivist?

I am just old enough so that my training for my MLS included only cursory coverage of electronic records. In 1988, there were still a few people at school who did not have computers of their own, and people were a little unsure about what this electronic world was going to be and how it was going to affect our lives. So although there have been many changes to the profession since I became an archivist—a greater reliance on standards, a healthy broadening of the archival profession, and clear progress towards greater professionalism—the biggest change is that huge and often sleeping giant in our midst: electronic records and our crying need to manage them well. The question of “forever,” the question of permanence haunts us deeply with electronic records, and we still feel incapable of dealing with electronic records.

And that self-doubt shows. Most of us struggle to deal with electronic records. A few hope to avoid them altogether. Many probably believe that electronic records do not have the allure, the ineffable attraction of paper records or, better yet, records on parchment—yet these all are merely signs of human activity, each filled with the same blood and life that any other record of the same type holds. If anything will define our era of archives, if anything has the greatest potential to leave our tender throats exposed to the sharp blade of criticism, it is how we address this huge necessary change in our work. This is our greatest challenge, and one that we have to be up to. We cannot lose this battle. The signs everywhere demonstrate that we are experiencing a digital sea change at this very moment. Digital photography far outstrips traditional photography. A current blockbuster best-seller is selling better on Amazon.com as an e-book than in paper. And most of the recorded information in the world is born digital and often dies without ever touching paper. If we don’t teach ourselves how to manage electronic records, we will be incapable of fulfilling our broad mission to document human activity. The recorded world, the world of unique and fleeting records, the world that we are responsible for preserving, will disappear.

What's stayed the same (for better or worse)?

Even in the face of enormous change over the last twenty years, I’m sure that much has remained unchanged, but what I think about most in this regard is us. As archivists, we are sometimes too cautious for our own good. Why? Because we know that we are each an essential link in a profound chain of responsibility, and because we know that our mistakes could very well have negative consequences that will last forever. Any record lost or destroyed on our watch is likely a record that will never be seen again, so caution is our byword. But caution can take us only so far. At some point we need to be fearless, we need to take calculated risks, we need to accept (for instance) that we might fail if we try to preserve electronic records. Yet if we do nothing, we know we will fail, and we cannot guarantee failure. What we, as archivists, have to learn, even if it goes against our general nature sometimes, is how to take risks and how to advocate for necessary change in our organizations.

How did you become interested in electronic records?

As computers arrived in our lives, I became interested in them for what they could do for us, for how they could change our lives, so I experimented early with computers to figure out how they might support a different kind of writing, provide greater control over page design, and allow for the creation of kinetic poems for the screen. And this last interest made me someone interested in the knotty problems of digital preservation back in 1986. Starting back then, before I was an archivist or thinking of becoming one, I developed a plan for preserving the first significant collection of early digital poems, the Canadian poet bpNichol’s “First Screening." To ensure the preservation of these poems, I preserved, as well as I could, the original 5.25-inch diskette that held them and a backup copy I had made, I printed out the computer code, and I created a videotape of the poems playing on a screen. What I failed to do was save the code electronically, but I saved enough for a dedicated group of people to reproduce the original experience of watching these poems move on screen. I was the only archivist in this endeavor. My interest in electronic records, you see, grew out of a personal interest in preserving digital experiences of what it is to be human. What I didn’t want to lose was that sense of what we were as humans at any point in the digital past. For some people, the digital world is somehow inhuman and soulless, but I do not see it in that way. The digital is what makes us unique as animals. The digital is simply another way in which we express ourselves. I like to tell people that digital records are those records that best represent us because they, like us, require electrical impulses to be.

What advice do you have for new archivists or those interested in the profession?

My first bit of advice to new archivists is “Don’t limit yourself.” When I was in library school, my goal was to work eventually in literary manuscripts. And I have seen a literary manuscript or two in my career, but those opportunities to work in that particular field never materialized. Instead, work in government records did, and work with a broader records management focus but centered in an archival framework. What I have found is that this work is exciting, various, challenging, and that it has allowed me to work with hundreds, if not thousands, of people over my career. The flexibility I had, borne originally merely out of a desire to pay my bills, proved more than worth it in the end. My other bit of advice is to take pride in what we do as archivists, and by that I don’t mean that we should take pride in how we care for records (though we must do that as well). I mean that we must realize, accept, and prize that we are service workers, that we serve, every day, human beings. There is no higher calling.

Please be sure to join us in Savannah for the 40th Annual Celebration and Conference, and to attend Geof Huth's session on the Future of Electronic Records!

EARLY BIRD ENDS TODAY!!

2009-10-06T12:07:00.000-04:00

Today is the deadline for Early Bird registration for the SGA Annual Meeting. After today the member rate will jump from $95 to $115.

Visit the SGA website to register online today!

5 Questions for...David B. Gracy II

2009-09-29T09:49:00.000-04:00

Dr. David B. Gracy II, the keynote speaker at SGA's 40th Anniversary Celebration and Conference, has reflected on his long career and provided the following answers to our five little questions.

How did you become an archivist?

When I was first driving I had to find a way to pay for gasoline that would be more intellectually stimulating than carrying groceries. I loved history, had done historical research, and won awards for my history writing. Consequently, I wanted to find something in the history realm. Through a friend of my mother, I was introduced to the Texas state archivist who gave me a gofer job in the state archives in the summer of 1959. I enjoyed the work, and though I left archival enterprise twice during the next several years I was in university, I always came back to it and have worked uninterruptedly as an archivist since January, 1966.

What's changed the most since you became an archivist?

So many things have changed that selecting the one greatest change is difficult to do. The advent of electronic records is the easy answer. In the talk I will give in a little over a month I will offer a few other changes that from my perspective represent very different but equally fundamental changes.

What's stayed the same (for better or worse)?

This one is easy: the friendly, helpful, dedicated, congenial character of the men and women who choose archival enterprise as their profession.

Your career has many facets. Which one has been the most rewarding?

I simply cannot pick one. But ranked at the top has to be establishing the Southern Labor Archives at Georgia State University and having the opportunity to see how we could strengthen archival enterprise and Georgia through the Society of Georgia Archivists.

What advice do you have for new archivists or those interested in the profession?

Get involved with the work of their profession! You will be rewarded professionally and personally, and you can't help but have a good time along the way.

For more information about Dr. Gracy, please check out his extensive and impressive CV, and make sure to join us in Savannah for the keynote!

Advance Registration Ends Soon

2009-09-28T08:38:00.000-04:00

Advance registration for the Society of Georgia Archivists annual meeting ends next week on October 6th. The benefit of advance registration is a $20 discount for SGA members. Please consider becoming a member to get this special advance rate. Non-advance registration will only be accepted on-site, at the higher rate.

The SGA Annual Meeting will be held November 5-6, 2009 in Savannah, Georgia. SGA is celebrating its 40th Anniversary. You can register online using PayPal, or through mail.

Register today!

Metrics, Schmectrics

2009-09-17T13:08:00.000-04:00

So, we're all really excited about Dr. Elizabeth Yakel's upcoming presentation on Archival Metrics, but...well...what are Archival Metrics, exactly?

Glad you asked.

There are many definitions for metrics, but one that most closely reflects the concept for archivists is the following: a means of deriving a quantitative measurement or approximation for otherwise qualitative data.

The Archival Metrics website states that:

The archival community must find a way to support a culture of assessment, in which evaluation of our services and usability of our tools is built into our budgets and supported by our managers...we decided that [there were] two goals: first, to encourage archivists and special librarians to undertake user studies and to understand that though the materials we care for are unique, many of the service issues we struggle to improve are shared by many other institutions; and second, to collect user-study data in a repository to allow repositories to benchmark against each other and understand how their user services compare to other similarly situated units.

Intriguing, right? And how wonderful is it that there are fellow archivists working on tools that will help us assess our collections and services and use that information to help us make the best decisions about our programs, outreach, and support of our organization's goals?

You can find out more at the Archival Metrics web site. In order to access the information on the web site, you will need to create an account and sign in. Once you do that, you will have access to a bibliography, metrics toolkits, and information and articles about the work of the Archival Metrics group.

To find out more, visit Archival Metrics on the web.

Archival Metrics is a joint project of the University of Michigan, the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, and the University of Toronto.

5 Questions for...Elizabeth Yakel

2009-09-17T12:45:00.000-04:00

As many of you know by now, Dr. Elizabeth Yakel, Associate Professor of the University of Michigan's School of Information, will be joining us in Savannah in November to present on the topic of Archival Metrics. She has kindly agreed to answer the following questions for inclusion in our outreach efforts. In addition to the following questions, you can find out more about Dr. Yakel's teaching, research, and publications at her personal web page.

Five Questions...

How did you become an archivist?

I was an undergraduate at Brown University and thinking about going to library school but the fit was not quite right. Then, I got an internship at the John Hay Library and found my career. Working with the manuscripts there really combined my interest in libraries and organization with really great content. The first collection I processed was the Sarah Helen Whitman collection. She was a transcendentalist and prominent in the Providence social scene, having a role in the Athenaeum. But, her main claim to fame was that she was a fiancé of Edgar Allen Poe before she or perhaps her family made her break it off (who knows!).

What's changed the most since you became an archivist?

Everything! There are two areas where I have seen the greatest change. Obviously, technology, particularly around the area of descriptive standards. The old debate “my records are unique so I could not possibly collect standardized data about my collections” has been put to rest.

Second, is the democratization of access. My students really find it hard to believe that archives and special collection routinely judged researchers and would turn away undergraduates, genealogists , etc. as unworthy to do research. I remember being looked at askance when entering an archives. While archives and special collections are still intimidating to some; I think overall that there has been a sea change in the attitude toward diverse users and it is much more positive today.

What's stayed the same (for better or worse)?

The good: Archivists are the greatest people I know. They are committed and believe in the work they do. Many go to the max to help researchers (and when I say researchers I mean all users of archives) to locate the information they need or to answer their questions.

The bad: Archivists’ technological skills have not increased rapidly enough. We have also been slow to innovate technologically and ‘think outside the box’ in developing things, such as online finding aids systems.

How did you become interested in metrics?

I have long been interested in use and user needs and inserting the voice of the user into the archives. I have done a series of qualitative studies (interviews, observations), to identify the voice of the user and to better understand researchers and their research processes. For me, “Listening to users” has always been informative and interesting. The Archival Metrics project was designed to give practicing archivists a robust, cost- effective, time-efficient means of soliciting feedback from their researchers. The hope is that archivists will be able use Archival Metrics Toolkits to seek feedback from users in targeted areas and use these data to make decisions about improving those services and programs.

What advice do you have for new archivists or those interested in the profession?

Archives is a wonderful profession. I am still excited about the profession after all these years. There are interesting people, intellectual problems, and the possibilities. There is lots of room to make your mark. Archives has always benefited from new blood, new ideas, and new energy. It is easy to get involved in archival organizations (Society of Georgia Archivists, as well as the Society of American Archivists); organizations rely on volunteers and they have lots of opportunities to contribution as well as networking.

Finally, archives are about more than the old stuff. Don’t go into archives if you want to stay in a quiet place or process for the rest of your life. Interaction and communication skills are critical for interactions with patrons, but also articulating the importance of archives and manuscripts to funding agencies, administrators of the larger organizations, the general public or to talk with related professionals about archival services sand functions: programmers, interface designers, librarians, etc. Technologies, such as Web 2.0, are also changing the relationships between archivists and users. Taken together, the next generation of archivists needs to be outward looking, extroverted, and excited about connecting people to collections.

We thank Dr. Yakel for her contribution to the SGA blog and very much look forward to her presentation at the 40th Anniversary Celebration and Conference. Hope to see you there!

* Image courtesy of the University of Michigan's School of Information website.

Annual Meeting Roomate and Carpool Finder Service

2009-09-16T11:59:00.000-04:00

Dear Colleagues,

Are you planning to attend the Society of Georgia Archivists Annual Conference and 40th Anniversary Celebration in Savannah, GA, November 4-6, 2009?

Would you like to save money and time by carpooling to Savannah and/or arranging to have a roommate at the conference? Let your SGA Outreach and Local Arrangement and Program committees help you!

Potential roommates please choose:

-Smoking/Non-Smoking/No preference;

-Morning people/Night owls/No preference;

-Please let us know any other preferences you may have.

Potential carpool participants please indicate:

-Location from which you are leaving;

-If you are willing to drive and how many seats are available;

-How long you plan to stay in Savannah;

-Please let us know any other preferences you may have.

We will do our best to help match roommates, help arrange carpools, and put all interested parties in touch.

On behalf of the SGA Outreach and Local Arrangement and Program committees, we look forward to seeing you in Savannah!

To participate, please contact

Kristy Berry Dixon

706-583-0212

kldixon@uga.edu

*Image courtesy of the Everett Collection

Annual Meeting Program Now Available!

2009-09-14T08:28:00.000-04:00

The program for the 2009 Society of Georgia Archivist's Annual Meeting is now available online!

This year's program includes keynote speaker David B. Gracy, guest speakers Beth Yakel and Geof Huth, and panel sessions on the future of electronic records, "More Product, Less Process", describing and cataloging non-paper formats and documenting Georgia's under-documented populations. Don't forget that this year is the 40th Anniversary of SGA, and registration to the annual meeting includes attendance to the 40th anniversary reception.

Register today!

SGA Fall Workshop Registration is Now Open!

2009-09-10T14:14:00.000-04:00

Registration for the SGA Fall workshop, "Making Meaning: Planning and Implementing Archival Exhibitions" is now open!

Using hands-on exercises and case studies from museum studies programs at the University of South Carolina and Florida State University, this workshop will examine how to produce effective and inexpensive archival exhibitions for public audiences. Attention will be given to thinking about visitor needs and interests, selecting topics that are interesting to general audiences, and exploring the impact of Web 2.0 on interpretation. Learn how to set interpretive goals, write effective texts, and design attractive displays in this day-long workshop taught by Lynn Robertson and Lana Burgess, museum educators and professionals from the University of South Carolina.

The workshop will be held in Savannah, Georgia at the DeSoto Hilton on November 4, 2009 from 9:00-4:30. For more information and to register, visit the SGA education website. Registration fees are $65 for members and $80 for non-members and includes a continental breakfast and all breaks. This workshop is limited to 35 participants, so please register early to guarantee your slot! Registration will close on October 16.

Scholarships are available. Applications are due September 18, 2009. For more information and to apply, visit the Anthony R. Dees Educational Scholarship page.

For any questions or problems registering, please contact Elizabeth Russey, SGA Education Chair, at erussey@emory.edu

*Image courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration.

6 Questions for...Lynette Stout

2009-09-01T14:34:00.000-04:00

NAME: Lynette Stoudt
POSITION: Senior Archivist
INSTITUTION: Georgia Historical Society

How long have you lived in Savannah and how did you come to live there?
I have lived in Savannah for 4 years. I moved here from the San Francisco Bay Area to join my significant other who was recruited by a local company.

What is the focus of the archives/library/museum where you work?
The mission of the Georgia Historical Society (GHS) is to collect, preserve, and share the history of Georgia and the United States. Among the most significant ways in which GHS fulfills this mission is by collecting, preserving, and providing access to primary and secondary sources that fit its mission; maintaining an archives building for the preservation of its collection; and by creating and maintaining a research facility for the use of its members and the general public. We collect materials that have a primary emphasis on Georgia and/or Georgians and its/their role in the history of the United States.

What is your favorite thing in your holdings?
It's impossible to pick just one thing. We hold Juliette Gordon Low's family papers including materials on the founding of the Girl Scouts in Savannah in 1912, Abraham Baldwin's annotated draft of the U.S. Constitution (printed for delegates to review during the Constitutional Convention in 1787) and a drum used in several battles during the Revolutionary War.

What aspect of archival work are you most interested in, especially for the future of the profession?
I am most interested in archival description and access. Prior to GHS, I mostly worked at large university libraries with IT departments, statewide collaborative digital projects, and current technology at our disposal. One of the challenges I enjoy of working for a small, non-profit, is trying to fulfill the same online user needs with fewer resources. The future of the profession relies on archivists in all types of organizations to seriously consider and implement strategies for preserving and providing access to digital surrogates and born-digital records as best as possible while working around the technology limitations within their organization.

What is your favorite bar or restaurant in Savannah and why?
There are so many options in Savannah! Here are my top picks:

1. Molly McPherson's (West Congress Street in City Market): They have a good beer selection, tasty pub food, and about 100 single malts on tap.

2. Moon River Brewing Company (West Bay Street): Yummy local craft brew, and for those on the go - earth-friendly to-go cups. Join them on Friday evenings at 6pm for the weekly toast and get a free mini pint.

3. Lulu's Chocolate Bar (Martin Luther King Blvd near City Market): Awesome desserts and fancy drinks - well worth every calorie!

4. 17 Hundred 90 Lounge (East President Street): A nice bar with an old-school vibe (but not too stuffy), good wine selection, and it's named for the year of construction - a beautiful antebellum building.

5. Other favorite restaurants: B. Mathews Eatery, Saigon, Casbah Moroccan Restaurant, Zunzi's take out, and for dessert Leopold's Ice Cream.

What is the one thing that you think all SGAers should do or see in Savannah?
I have three:

1. One of the fabulous house museums (including Owens-Thomas House, Davenport House, or the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace, among others). The Owens-Thomas House is my favorite.

2. Fort Pulaski National Monument, active during the American Civil War, it saw the first significant use of rifled cannons in combat and was a site of the Underground Railroad. It's located on the river with picnic areas and walking trails. Don't miss the alligators swimming around in the moat!

3. Georgia Historical Society because we are the oldest cultural institution in the state (founded in 1839), housed in a building completed in 1876, and our reading room is beautiful.

*Image courtesy of the Georgia Historical Society.

What to do when you are in Savannah for (but not actually attending) the SGA Annual Meeting

2009-08-25T09:43:00.001-04:00

I know, I know: we'll actually be in Savannah for the 40th Anniversary and SGA Annual Meeting, and I'm not trying to persuade you to ditch the meeting and spend all of your time sight-seeing. But I imagine that more than a few SGA members will take the opportunity, while in the "Hostess City of the South," to spend an extra day or two enjoying the city and all (or some) of the cultural and historical venues it has to offer. If you have never been to Savannah, or want to find out about all of the events that will be taking place while we're in town for the annual meeting, check out the following links:

Connect Savannah is the free weekly alternative arts and entertainment newspaper in Savannah.
The wikipedia page for Savannah includes information about its history, points of interest, cultural activities, and sports and recreation
Savannah Now, the site for the Savannah Morning News, provides information on local news, shopping and events
The Savannah Area Convention and Visitors Bureau site includes information on tours and local festivals. They have a handy-dandy 124-page visitors guide available online, and can be followed on facebook and twitter or added to your RSS feed.
Those of you with a weirder sense of adventure may want to check out the Savannah offerings on the Roadside America site (just search for "Savannah")
There are lots of cool videos about Savannah tourism, ghosts and history on YouTube, like this preview of a documentary on the First African Baptist Church

Enjoy planning your recreational time in Savannah! Can't wait to see you there!

*Image courtesy of the Savannah Area Convention and Visitors Bureau website: http://www.savannahvisit.com/media_images.asp, last visited August 25, 2009.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010 12:00pm – 2:00pm	University of Georgia Libraries Administrative Offices Conference/Meeting Room 320 S. Jackson Street Athens, GA
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 3:00pm – 4:30pm	Athens Regional Library System Bogart Library – Small Conference Room 200 South Burson Avenue Bogart, GA 30622
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 11:30am – 1:30 pm	Chattahoochee Valley Library System North Columbus Branch Library Small Conference Room 5689 Armour Road Columbus , Georgia 31909
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 4pm – 6pm	Middle Georgia Regional -Washington Memorial Library Board/Meeting Room 1180 Washington Avenue Macon, Georgia 31201
Thursday, April 15, 2010 10:00am – 1:00 pm	Paine College Collins Callaway Library –Room 106 1235 Fifteenth Street Augusta, GA 30901
Thursday, April 15, 2010 2:30pm	Augusta State University Jaguar Student Center in the Coffeehouse 2500 Walton Way Augusta, GA 30904
Thursday, April 15, 2010 4:30 – 6:30 pm	Wallace Branch Library 1237 Laney Walker Blvd. Augusta, GA 30901
Friday, April 16, 2010 10:00am – Noon	Atlanta Fulton Public Library – Ocee Branch Library 5090 Abbotts Bridge Rd. Johns Creek GA 30005-4601
Friday, April 16, 2010 3:00pm – 5:00pm	Hall County Library System Sprout Springs Branch Meeting Room B 6488 Spout Springs Rd. Flowery Branch, Ga. 30542