2016-2017 Election

Congratulations to the 2016-2017 board!

Vice Chair/Chair Elect

Gregory A. Jackson

Bryn Athyn Historic District Archives

Thank you all very much for allowing me the opportunity to be a candidate for Vice Chair/Chair Elect of the Museum Archives Section.  I am a second career archivist (retired military) with a BA in History and MA in Museum Studies.  In my recent professional past, I have worked in archives, museums and historic sites as project archivist, museum educator, curator and historic site supervisor.  I have been the senior archivist for Glencairn Museum, and the Bryn Athyn Historic Landmark District of which it is a part, since 2008 and I received my archivist certification in 2010.  In addition, I teach public history - including Archives Theory - as an adjunct Lecturer in Public History at Bryn Athyn College (and serve as consulting archivist for their library’s archives and special collections). 

My SAA professional service includes a past term on the steering committee for the Lone Arrangers Roundtable and I currently serve as one of SAA’s Key Contacts for new members, a sub-committee of SAA’s Membership Committee.  I have authored a paper read at SAA’s annual meeting in 2012, written a chapter in SAA’s Public Relations and Marketing for Archives and have twice presented archives-related programs for the annual meeting of the Small Museum Association.  I currently serve as a Recertification Team leader for the Academy of Certified Archivists. 

Outside of my professional work and service, I have served on the board of directors for two local historical societies and in leadership positions in other non-profits and community groups.  While my institution fully supports a well-funded archives with proper funding for professional development and modern equipment, I know that this is not always the case for our section members.  I believe that advocacy and education for our archives and our members are among our most pressing issues.  Our section sits, uniquely, at the intersection of two collecting professions and I would very much like to perform more professional service for this group.  It would give me great pleasure to use my experience serving the Museum Archives Section as Vice Chair/Chair Elect.
 
 

Brieanna E. Chillious

M.S.I.S. Candidate, Library and Information Studies

Archives & Records Management and Library Services

State University of New York (SUNY) University at Albany

A mentor recently described me as a Renaissance woman because of my interests in so many different areas both personal and academic; I feel he described me very well. Among my interests I have a passion for archival practices and special collections held in both large and small institutions, most specifically in the art world. As much as I continue to learn about museum archives it seems clear to me that there are many users who know very little about these collections, which is quite a shame. I feel that it is an injustice that so few people outside of researchers are familiar with special collections. Even within our profession I believe there is more that could be done to promote awareness of this rich field, I do not feel it has a very high profile outside of SAA and this section, I would like to help change this.

Among my many interests within museum studies is to simply raise awareness and enthusiasm within our field. My hope is that my experience gained through my initiatives, knowledge and in-depth experience through active volunteer work in both large and small museums, I would bring the much needed enthusiasm, passion and drive as well as the fresh new bright ideas to promote the awareness and advocacy within Museum Archives section of the Society of American Archivists (SAA). I would like to step up and engage in a larger role than that of a museum volunteer, I would like to contribute in an elected leadership position, where I feel that it will allow me to do much more to give voice to museum archives’ significance to stress the need to continue to advocate within this unique profession. Thank you.