Stephanie Bayless, Candidate for Council

Professional Experience: Archivist and Assistant Manager, Research Services Division, Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, Central Arkansas Library System, 2009–present; Blanche L. Lincoln Senatorial Papers Archivist, Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, Central Arkansas Library System, 2010–present; Archival Assistant, Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, Central Arkansas Library System, 2007–2009.

Education: MA, Public History, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 2008; BA, History, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 2005.

Professional Activities: Society of American Archivists: Key Contact Subcommittee, Arkansas Key Contact, 2012–2018; Harold T. Pinkett Minority Student Award Subcommittee, Member, 2015–2016; Archival Innovator Award Subcommittee, Member, 2012–2013, Chair, 2013–2014; Women’s Collections Roundtable, Vice Co-chair, 2013–2014, Co-chair, 2014–2015. Society of Southwest Archivists: Board Member, 2015–2017; Publications Committee, Arkansas Liaison, 2014–present; Professional Development Committee, 2011–2015; Site Selection Committee, 2013–2015; Annual Meeting Local Arrangement Committee, Member and Treasurer, 2011. Academy of Certified Archivists: Certified Archivist, 2010–present; Recertification Petition Review Team, Member, 2015, Team Leader, 2016. Association of Centers for the Study of Congress: Congress Week Task Force, Member, 2014, 2015, 2016. Arkansas Women’s History Institute: Board Member, 2013–present.

Selected Recent Publications and Presentations: Obliged to Help: Adolphine Fletcher Terry and the Progressive South, Little Rock, Arkansas: Butler Center Books, 2011; Presenter, Japanese-American Confinement Collections Symposium, Cleveland, Ohio, August 2015; Co-trainer, “Project Management for Archivists,” Society of Southwest Archivists Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, May 2014; Panelist, “Step Right Up! Archives and Public Engagement,” Society of Southwest Archivists Annual Meeting, Austin, Texas, May 2013.

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Question posed by the Nominating Committee: 

SAA is a member-governed organization that is composed of dozens of constituent groups with a variety of viewpoints. In recent years, SAA’s governance structure has strived to be more transparent and responsive in addressing member concerns. If elected, how would you help insure that the Council continues on this path and represents the broad interests of our diverse profession in a transparent manner?

Candidate's Response:

The archivists and other records professionals represented by SAA come from a myriad of experiences and educational backgrounds. We hold equally varied viewpoints and occasionally struggle to find common ground in the more politically-charged issues that concern us. Uniting all of these groups underneath the SAA umbrella is not an easy task, but I believe we have made positive steps in the right direction. Going forward, we will have continued success if we focus on what unites us instead of what divides us.

Members want an SAA that works for them. I would advise Council to take an honest look at what we are offering members unable to attend the annual meetings and/or take advantage of educational opportunities. Living in an area I consider underserved by SAA, my personal interest in our organization grew exponentially as financial stability allowed me to attend meetings. My experience should not be the norm. To remain relevant, we must build an SAA where every member sees the benefit of their dues and no one feels like they are simply paying a fee to network or to add a line to their resume. Simply put, we should consider new ways to connect with members in all phases of their career. The recent push for diversity and advocacy is positive and has been successful, so let’s use our momentum to push even further. I feel we have room for improvement in our support for archivists in the workforce. Council should study what steps we can take to fight for a living wage, job security, and professionalization.

I am a casual, forthright, and realistic person who is passionate about us becoming the best SAA we can be (cliché, but true). As an archivist eight years into this profession, I feel like I represent multiple generations of our members. I found employment before the job crash, but I have first-hand experience with the struggles our students and new archivists face. These problems are not unique, of course, but who better to advocate for archivists than SAA? We know our strengths and we know our obstacles like we know our documents. Today, we have a perfect opportunity to shape the future of our profession - a future we can all benefit from. Council is and can continue to be a driving force in the world of archives. I am ready to help. 

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