Jamie Martin, Candidate for Council

Jamie L. Martin 

Corporate Archivist,
International Business Machines (IBM)

“Our organization is incredibly diverse, with members representing academia, government, business, nonprofit, religious archives, and more. Yet, we all speak the language of the archival record. We all support and respect the need to preserve our history—and history in the making—for generations to come.”

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 

• Corporate Archivist, International Business Machines (IBM), 2014–present.
• Adjunct Professor, University Archives, St. Cloud State University, 2014.
• Senior Corporate Archivist/Historian, Target Corporation, 2006–2013.
• Graduate Assistant, James Ford Bell Library, University of Minnesota Special Collections, 2006.
• Graduate Assistant, Ade Bethune Collection, University of St. Catherine, 2005.

EDUCATION

• Master of Library and Information Science, Dominican University.
• Bachelor of Arts, Geography, University of Minnesota.
• Digital Archives Specialist, Society of American Archivists.
• Archives Leadership Institute.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Society of American Archivists: Business Archives Section, Vice-Chair, Chair and Past Chair (2016–2018), Secretary (2013–2014); Mentoring Subcommittee (2016–2017); Electronics Records Section; Archives Management Section; Women’s Archivists Section. 
• Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference: Buffalo Program Committee (2017); Newark Business Archives Forum Steering Committee (2017). 
• Midwest Archives Conference: St. Paul Local Arrangements Committee (2011). 
• Twin Cities Archives Round Table: Secretary (2009–2012). 
• International Council on Archives: Section on Business Archives. 
• Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

• “Traveling Through Time,” IBM Systems Magazine, July/August 2017.

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS

• Society of American Archivists: “'But Our History Is in Your Records!' Collaboration Among Corporate Archivists, Historians, Scholars, and Collectors," 2017; "Managing Your Career in the Archives Profession," 2015; "Expanding Our Reach: Building International Collections and Global Relationships," 2012.
• Henry Stewart DAM NY: "When Analog Meets Digital: How a Modern Archives Creates Brand Engagement," 2017; "The Rise of the Corporate Archive," 2016.
• “I Didn’t Even Know We Had an Archives!” Midwest Archives Conference, 2011.
• "Advocating Within: Demonstrating the Value of Archives and Archivists," Minnesota Archives Symposium, 2013.
• "Behind the Movie Hidden Figures with the IBM Corporate Archives," Facebook Live Event, 2017.

Council members’ responsibilities include providing collaborative leadership and direction for the Society and its component groups to ensure achievement of SAA’s goals. Please describe how your leadership experience will help you balance engaging the general SAA membership while being responsive to SAA’s strategic goals, including but not limited to the objectives of diversity, inclusion, and transparency.

CANDIDATE'S RESPONSE

Our organization is incredibly diverse, with members representing academia, government, business, nonprofit, religious archives, and more. Yet, we all speak the language of the archival record. We all support and respect the need to preserve our history—and history in the making—for generations to come. It is never more important that we in the archives profession advocate for the value of factual records, access to public information, and give voice to those typically underrepresented. We also need to promote the importance of archivists and ensure that records are managed by skilled, trained professionals.

As we think about our need for diversity and inclusion, I believe we must also remember there is room for all kinds of archives and archival thought; there is no “one size fits all” type of repository. SAA should be a place in which all archives professionals feel welcomed and can contribute. I am encouraged by the increased dialogue and collaboration among our component groups. I would like to help grow our collective efforts, especially as we seek to increase the diversity of our collections. Many times, managing an authentic, transparent archives collection can be a joint effort. Disparate stories or parts of the archival record may lie within varied formats or multiple repositories. I have experience connecting people with these pieces of the archival puzzle and knowledge of how documentation can exist within hidden collections. As SAA takes on a stronger role in public advocacy, I also believe we would benefit from more component group involvement. We should call upon the strength of our varied sections to create strong public policy and ensure that the voices of all groups and members are heard.

Finally, whether one is nonprofit or corporate, grant-funded or under a government budget, we all face increasing pressure to demonstrate our worth. As a business archivist, I am long-accustomed to proving the value of my program to both internal and external audiences. I believe my experience would be beneficial to our membership as we continue to promote the importance of the archival record and our organization. I have a passion for advocacy, for the essential need for archival professionals, and for the value of all archives. I am honored to be considered for the Council and welcome the opportunity to serve. 

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