Florence M. Turcotte
Literary Manuscripts Archivist, University of Florida
“Selecting our leaders is in many ways like appraising the research value of archival materials: we need to be able to visualize a future need for a particular resource or a rising leader and the part that they will play in bringing our vision into being."
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Literary Manuscripts Archivist, University of Florida, 2007–present.
- African American Special Collections Archivist, University of Florida, 2018–present.
- Research Services Archivist, University of Florida, 2005–2007.
EDUCATION
- Master of Arts, School of Library and Information Science, University of South Florida.
- Master of Arts, Liberal Studies, Georgetown University.
- Bachelor of Sciences, European Languages, Georgetown University.
- Modern Archives Institute, National Archives and Records Administration.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
- Society of American Archivists: Manuscript Repositories Section, Steering Committee (2012–2014, 2018–present), Section Meeting Discussion Facilitator (2011, 2013); Reference, Access and Outreach Section, Task Force on Teaching with Primary Sources (2011–present); Diverse Sexuality and Gender Section (formerly LAGAR), Co-Chair (2011–2013), Bylaws Task Force Chair (2010), Steering Committee (2009–present).
- Society of Florida Archivists: Vice-President (2012–2013); Director (2009–2012); Treasurer (2015–2016); Nominating Committee, Chair (2008–2009); Annual Meeting Host Committee, Chair (2009).
- NHPRC Basic Processing Grants: Grant Reviewer (2010).
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS AND AWARDS
- “Championing the Race: The unusual inter-racial collaboration of Zora Neale Hurston and Stetson Kennedy," The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Journal of Florida Literature 26 (2018): 26–42.
- “The Allure of the Archives," by Arlette Farge, translated by Thomas Scott-Railton, book review, American Archivist 77:2 (2014).
- “‘For this is an Enchanted Land’: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and the Florida Environment,” The Florida Historical Quarterly 90:4 (2012): 488–504.
- The aforementioned article received Arthur W. Thompson Award for the most outstanding article published in The Florida Historical Quarterly (2012).
- Voice for Equality Award, Equality Florida (2015).
SELECTED PRESENTATIONS
- Video interview with University of Florida Communications “Preserving Zora Neale Hurston’s Legacy," Smathers Library, University of Florida, 2019, http://news.ufl.edu/articles/2019/02/preserving-zora-neale-hurstons-legacy.php.
- "Creating a Lesbian Lands Archive at a Traditionally All-Male Institution in the South," Society of American Archivists, Portland, OR (2017).
- “When Bad Things Happen to Good Manuscripts: A Case Study of the Zora Neale Hurston Papers at the University of Florida,” with Lourdes Santa-Maria Wheeler, Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (RBMS), Association of College and Research Libraries, Coral Gables, FL (2016).
- “Collections in Conversation: Re-visioning an Inter-Racial Relationship from the Federal Writers Project,” South Atlantic Modern Language Association Annual Meeting, Jacksonville, FL (2016).
QUESTION POSED BY NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Although Nominating Committee members serve for just one year, their work has a lasting impact on SAA and its members through the selection of Vice Presidential, Council, and Treasurer candidates, as well as selection of the Nominating Committee slate that determines the next set of slates. Given the long-term reach of the Nominating Committee, what will be your approach in developing a slate of candidates that 1) demonstrates commitment to SAA's strategic goals and 2) facilitates the organization's mission of promoting the value and diversity of archives and archivists?
CANDIDATE'S RESPONSE
As a member of the Nominating Committee, I plan to identify rising leaders of SAA who will uphold our core values of access, accountability, advocacy, and diversity. Candidates need to demonstrate the potential to help our organization carry out our mission with integrity, professionalism, and with a spirit of collaboration. Candidates will be selected from a wide array of cultural heritage institutions and repositories. I will bring a strong commitment to inclusivity and diversity to the table, and experience with documenting the activities of marginalized and underrepresented populations in my professional work.
Selecting our leaders is in many ways like appraising the research value of archival materials: we need to be able to visualize a future need for a particular resource or a rising leader and the part that they will play in bringing our vision into being.
