The Society of American Archivists (SAA) honors the accomplishments and innovations of more than two dozen outstanding individuals and organizations at its hybrid conference ARCHIVES*RECORDS 2026 on July 29–August 1, 2026. Award categories include outstanding contributions to the archives profession, superior advocacy and public awareness initiatives, writing and publishing excellence, and scholarships and travel awards.
Congratulations to the following 2026 recipients!
WHEREAS, Dr. Mario H. Ramirez has demonstrated exceptional service to the Society of American Archivists and assumed the vice presidency of the organization, serving from February–August 2025; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Mario H. Ramirez has demonstrated intentional leadership skills through multiple volunteer, appointed, and elected roles within SAA; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Mario H. Ramirez dedicated service that was pivotal in maintaining continuity of leadership for the entire SAA, while demonstrating diplomacy and encouraging a sustained pipeline for future leaders of the organization. His unwavering and selfless work in SAA is evident and truly exemplary;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Dr. Mario H. Ramirez be honored with the Council Exemplary Service Award for unwavering service to SAA.
WHEREAS, Jessica (Jess) Farrell has demonstrated exceptional service to the archives profession and the Society of American Archivists; and
WHEREAS, Jessica Farrell chaired SAA’s Committee on Public Policy between 2023–2025, including co-organizing Archives on the Hill in 2023 and serving as a member from 2020–2026, chaired SAA’s Electronic Records Section from 2017–2020, co-founded the Digital Library Federation’s Born-Digital Access Working Group in 2017, and chaired the New England Archivists Financial Planning Committee from 2022–2025; and
WHEREAS, Jessica Farrell’s active engagement with Senator Ed Markey’s office as part of Archives on the Hill helped bring forward the introduction of important legislation for archival records known as the Public Archives Resiliency Act introduced in the 118th Congress; and
WHEREAS, Jessica Farrell is an author, educator, and advocate for the profession, having edited Archivist Actions, Abolitionist Futures: Reimagining Archival Practice Against Incarceration. She raised the profile of archivists with audiences beyond the archival profession with her 2023 editorial in Nature, contributed to the SAA Issue Brief on Judiciary Records, facilitated the Software Preservation Network + BitCurator Consortium communities of practice from 2019–2024, and designed and continues to lead anti-oppressive facilitation workshops for archival practitioners;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Jessica Farrell be honored with the Council Exemplary Service Award for her many years of archival advocacy.
WHEREAS, Lisa Mangiafico has demonstrated exceptional service to the archives profession and the Society of American Archivists and has faithfully led the Society of American Archivists Foundation as Board Member for six years; and
WHEREAS, Lisa Mangiafico has stewarded and streamlined governance of the SAA Foundation while increasing donations and grants awarded; and
WHEREAS, Lisa Mangiafico, since 2022, has served as SAA Foundation President and continually challenged the Foundation Board to cultivate a culture of giving and led strategic planning for the future; and
WHEREAS, Lisa Mangiafico has been a dedicated leader for the archival profession and has advanced the SAA Foundation throughout her tenure on the Board;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Lisa Mangiafico be honored with the Council Exemplary Service Award for unwavering service to the SAA Foundation.
WHEREAS, the Society of American Archivist’s America250 Task Force has demonstrated exceptional service to the archives profession and the Society of American Archivists; and
WHEREAS, the task force quickly mobilized to develop ideas and goals to center archives and records in the nationwide commemorations of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence; and
WHEREAS, the task force collaborated with colleagues at Yale University to record and broadcast the symposium, “Democracy, Civic Education, and the American Archive”; and
WHEREAS, the task force developed the “250 for the 250th” collaborative profession-wide initiative that invited each and every repository of records and archives across every US state, district, and territory to contribute one document that exemplifies one story in our shared history for inclusion in a freely available online portal;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that SAA’s America250 Task Force be honored with the Council Exemplary Service Award for raising the profile of archives with the public by empowering archives and repositories—large and small—across the US to showcase the many histories that we safeguard.
WHEREAS, Terry Baxter has demonstrated exceptional service to the archives profession and the Society of American Archivists; and
WHEREAS, Terry Baxter approached the Academy of Certified Archivists with concerns about barriers to certification; and
WHEREAS, Terry Baxter embraces diversity in education, experience, and identity; and
WHEREAS, Terry Baxter worked with the Academy of Certified Archivists to envision a certification process that would eliminate perquisites that impose disproportionate economic pressures on individuals; and
WHEREAS, Terry Baxter, as a member of the Academy’s New Pathways to Membership Task Force, worked collaboratively to create a new certification process;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Terry Baxter be honored with the Council Exemplary Service Award for envisioning the removal of barriers to certification and making this professional distinction more accessible for all archivists.
In 2025, the Academy of Certified Archivists’ Board of Regents voted to eliminate all prerequisites to sit for the certification examination. This included a master’s level degree and experience working in the field. In place of a master’s, one would need a bachelor’s with more experience in the field. By removing all education and experience requirements, ACA has opened the door to anyone who seeks this professional distinction through certification. The 2026 certification exam will be the first since ACA launched in 1989 to create a more equitable landscape for those seeking certification.
WHEREAS, the Academy of Certified Archivists has demonstrated exceptional service to the archives profession and the Society of American Archivists; and
WHEREAS, the Academy of Certified Archivists recognizes that archivists come to the profession through a variety of pathways with different life and educational experiences; and
WHEREAS, the Academy of Certified Archivists embraces diversity in education, experience, and identity; and
WHEREAS, the Academy of Certified Archivists has rejected complex, expensive prerequisites that impose disproportionate economic pressures on individuals; and
WHEREAS, the Academy of Certified Archivists has removed all education and work requirements to qualify for the certification examination;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Academy of Certified Archivists be honored with the Council Exemplary Service Award for removing barriers to certification and making this professional distinction more accessible for all archivists.