Kate L. Blalack, Candidate for Council Member

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

I began my career as an archivist and special collections librarian for Oklahoma State University. There I earned my certification as a nationally certified archivist through the Academy of Certified Archivists in 2010. I have continued to maintain this certification. I then turned my focus to the digital realm, earning my Digital Archives Specialist Certificate in 2013 and becoming one of the founding team of archivists to hold this designation. For the past twenty years I have worked in academic, public, museum and private environments—as both a librarian and archivist. I continue to serve in this specialized field with passion and interest through the changing landscapes on my path.

In 2014 I began work as a solo archivist and assistant curator for the Woody Guthrie Archives in Tulsa, OK. There I gained experience developing exhibits, working as a museum registrar, providing reference assistance for international researchers and developing my expertise in preservation, archival management and human engagement. I had the privilege of being the caretaker and advocate for the primary works of the artist, Woody Guthrie, best known for his lyrics, "This Land is Your Land." It is difficult to summarize the effect this legacy has had on my personhood, except to say that I now know what true advocacy and social justice looks and feels like, and I am forever changed by this experience. This time also afforded me the opportunity to work with numerous tribal nations, government officials, and freedom fighters from the global arena. It was here that I developed my sense of justice in our field and how important our work truly is.

In 2020, I began teaching digital collections for the University of Oklahoma's School of Library and Information Studies, as adjunct faculty, and continue to serve in this position. Although I have mentored and created apprenticeships for numerous students for many years, this was a great honor to be chosen to work with many new professionals beginning their careers in a virtual classroom setting. Nothing brings me greater joy than sharing the passion of our field with those just beginning to find their footing. Most recently, in summer 2023, I began my new position at the University of Notre Dame as Associate Librarian for Digital Repositories, a transition to the digital realm, a dream of mine for many years. This will give me the opportunity to focus more on digital ecosystems, while pursuing research in social connections through technology, international human relations, artificial intelligence and neurodiversity.

I am currently involved in national and international professional organizations. I serve on the Executive Committee for the International Council of Archives–Section on Archives and Human Rights (ICA-SAHR). I also most recently served as a steering committee member for the Society of American Archivists' International Affairs Section (SAA-IAF) and am currently part of the Archival Management Section. It has been and continues to be a great honor to work with other professionals, across many borders, on these important issues.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT (Each candidate prepared a diversity statement according to SAA guidelines.)

In my role at OSU I processed the papers of Angie Debo. I learned much about her engagement with the American Indian community in Oklahoma and her role in uncovering the illegal activities of the Oklahoma State Government. I also worked with a collection that documented the Tulsa Race Riots, later termed "Tulsa Race Massacre"—more accurate to history. This experience showed me that archives often hold hidden, or even intentionally hidden, aspects of sometimes shameful histories. At this time I also had the opportunity to serve as an advisor to the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women. I worked on processing their archival documents and participated in their initiative to fight against the illegal trafficking of young women and children along I-35. Before I went into Library Science I earned a masters degree in Human Relations. I served as a teaching artist for the Oklahoma Arts Council. I worked in several schools affected by discrimination, crime, and abuse. I tried to help these children and teens recognize that they have unique gifts to offer the world. Here I further learned the prejudices our culture places on poverty and became aware of my own biases regarding certain stereotypes. In 2013 I had the opportunity to go to India for a month with a professional exchange program offered by Rotary International. This opened my eyes to how the Western World is viewed by individuals in a third world country. While we were officially there as professionals for an exchange program, what I found is that we were treated as ambassadors. I learned to have great respect for a culture very different to my own, but every bit as dynamic. Recently my work with the Woody Guthrie Archives involved fostering diversity on many levels. I worked with the papers of Woody Guthrie, but also the papers of Phil Ochs, and other political activists and musicians. I developed a fellowship-partnership between the Woody Guthrie Archives and Haverford Center for Peace and Global Citizenship. The focus of these fellowships was to create projects that partnered with outside organizations, promoting diverse voices. The result was the development of local and international exhibits with bilingual content that incorporated sensitivity for neurodiverse audiences and multigenerational viewpoints. Although this only scratches the surface of my experiences, I believe it shows some of the overall picture of how I came to believe in the power of diverse voices.

QUESTION POSED BY NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Council members’ most important responsibility is to govern the Society thoughtfully and with an eye to the future of the profession, including supporting SAA’s financial stability and growth and developing and implementing the Society’s strategic priorities. Can you outline specific goals or initiatives you would prioritize during your term to address current and emerging needs and challenges facing the archival profession?

CANDIDATE'S RESPONSE 

Specifically I will focus on advocating for diversity within our profession and building strong resources to advance new professionals in their desired professional career specializations. It is important to have strong mentors available for new professionals and opportunities for growth, internships, job stability and advancement. I will work on identifying these resources and building community within our professional channels that foster these initiatives. I will focus on identifying organizations that can partner with our graduate schools and new professionals to aid in developing both the person and the organization in their initiatives towards diverse growth and social equity and awareness. My strength is in relationship-building and communication, and I will nurture these relationships to the best of my ability. I will work to ensure that once silenced voices are heard, and those who are not often afforded the opportunity for career advancement are given a chance in places they could only previously dream of being. It is important that ALL people in our field have a chance to be rockstars! Our strength is in our unique abilities.

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