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The Nominations Committee for the Acquisition & Appraisal Section
Carl Van Ness, University of Florida, Chair
Adriana Cuervo, University of Illinois
Virginia Hunt, Harvard University
A call for nominations was sent to the section membership on May 4th with May 16th as the response deadline. The section’s by-laws stipulate that all nominees, including self-nominations, are entitled to run for office. The following people accepted nomination:
For Chair Elect
Patricia Galloway, University of Texas-Austin
Laura Uglean Jackson, University of Wyoming
For the Steering Committee
Denise Gallo, Library of Congress
Jennifer Graham, Wisconsin Historical Society
Linda Whitaker, Arizona Historical Foundation
The Chair Elect will serve as Section Chair in 2012-2013 and Past Chair in 2013-2014. Two seats for the section’s steering committee will be filled. Steering committee members serve two years and may be re-elected for an additional term.
Electronic balloting will begin in July and will be conducted by SAA staff.
Biographical information and responses to two questions were submitted by each candidate.
Patricia Galloway, University of Texas - Austin
Employment: I am now employed as an archival educator at the School of Information, University of Texas at Austin; from 1979-2000. I was employed by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History in several capacities, including manager of Information Services.
Education: I hold a BA in French from Millsaps College (1966), MA in Comparative Literature (1968), PhD in Comparative Literature (1973), and PhD in Anthropology (2004), all from UNC-CH.
Professional Activities: I am an Associate Professor in Archival Studies at UT-Austin, where I teach two courses on digital archives topics, the appraisal and selection course, and a course on historical museums. I am an active member of SAA and SSA and I consult on digital archives and indigenous archives.
What do you bring to the Acquisition and Appraisal Section Steering Committee?
Although I did not carry out appraisals while at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (most materials came to the archives via records schedules), I learned a lot from colleagues about the smaller appraisal processes constituted by weeding and deaccessioning. At UT I began teaching appraisal and selection in 2001 at the suggestion of David Gracy, who mentored me in doing so. Over the years I have tried to increase the historical and theoretical components in the course, since I believe that most archivists whose archives are not brand-new are bound to confront historical appraisal practice, and I think it is important for students to learn how to determine why materials were acquired in the first place, often absent any information about it. I have also made it a point to pay attention to the appraisal and acquisition of digital archival materials and to develop new research in the area of appraisal methods for them; I have mentored so far one PhD student whose dissertation was on this subject and who is now undertaking research for NARA on automated methods. I am presently carrying out research on individuals’ self-appraisal of their own digital records.
What would you like the Acquisition and Appraisal Section to do in the next four years?
1) First I think it is important to pursue the work already begun on the Deaccessioning and Reappraisal project, perhaps including encouraging or organizing sessions at SAA on important issues that emerge during the work.
2) Appraisal of digital records is still a serious and confusing issue. I would like to see what the section can do to encourage more discussion of how this is being done and how it might or should be done, especially in government and business.
3) With other officers I would like to work to encourage more interaction on the new website, now that features are in place for section members to communicate more directly and in a more timely fashion.
Laura Uglean Jackson, University of Wyoming
Employment: American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming: Assistant Archivist/University Archivist (2008-), primary responsibilities include processing, overseeing university archives and records management program, and acquiring papers of under documented communities; Archival Specialist (2007-2008), grant-funded position to reappraise and deaccession collections; Digital Collections and Archives, Tufts University: Archives and Research Assistant (2006-2007), processed collections, provided reference services, and created alumni exhibit.
Education: MLS with concentration in archives and records management, Simmons College, Boston, MA (2007); BA in Art History, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO (2004).
Professional Activities: SAA: Member (2006-); Chair, Deaccessioning and Reappraisal Development and Review Team (2009-); Records Management Roundtable Steering Committee Member (2009); Key Contact for Wyoming, (2008-). Society of Rocky Mountain Archivists: Member (2007-); Participant on panel discussing collection management/deaccessioning (2010). Wyoming Library Association: Member (2008-); Chair, Awards and Grants Committee (2011, member 2010); Publication: “But You Promised: A Case Study of Deaccessioning at the American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming,” American Archivist Co-authored with D. Claudia Thompson. Fall 2010.
What do you bring to the Acquisition and Appraisal Section Steering Committee?
I would bring strong leadership qualities including the ability to engage the section’s membership in activities and projects; hands-on experience with acquisitions and appraisal practices; and fresh ideas. As chair of the Deaccessioning and Reappraisal Development and Review Team (DRDRT) I worked with a geographically dispersed group of archivists to develop professional guidelines for reappraisal and deaccessioning. As chair, I learned the importance of encouraging and considering each team member’s ideas, and making final decisions based on the group’s opinions.
I have been working as a professional archivist since 2007 and during this time have gained experience in several aspects of acquisition and appraisal functions. In my first professional job I reappraised hundreds of collections and, with a committee, decided whether or not to deaccession them. In my current position I am responsible for acquiring papers of under documented communities, which involves actively soliciting papers and working with donors. I am also responsible for our university archives and records management program. In this capacity I have created collecting policies for university records and faculty papers. These experiences will be useful for understanding the section’s needs, reviewing standards and guidelines, and contributing to the overall dialogue about acquisition and appraisal issues.
What would you like the Acquisition and Appraisal Section to do in the next four years?
I believe that by creating and providing access to more resources, the Acquisitions and Appraisal Section will help acquisitions archivists, and the profession as a whole, for years to come. The recent membership survey will provide insights into the membership’s wants and needs, and I expect the results to determine the section’s future activities and projects.
It is important to me that the section member’s ideas are heard and considered, and I think the survey is a fantastic start to this. I am especially interested to see how the membership responded to questions about the website, newsletter, and listserve. I would like to ensure that we are communicating in the most effective and efficient ways possible, and that those who want to contribute to the section can. Whether this means starting a blog that everyone can contribute to, a Facebook page, or something else, will depend on the expressed interests of the membership.
Acquisition and appraisal are essential practices that automatically drive all other steps of the archival process, from accessioning, to arranging, to access. Because of this, I propose more collaboration with other sections (such as the Electronic Records, Manuscript, and College and University Archives Sections) to develop policies for acquisition and appraisal of electronic and born digital records.
As current chair of the DRDRT, finishing and promoting the deaccessioning standards will be a top priority, but I would also support Chair Elect Kimberly Anderson’s ideas to compile useful appraisal models and templates. I believe a website or database that lists repositories by subject or collecting area would be useful and, depending on the steering committee’s and membership’s thoughts, would propose a project to create such a site.
Denise Gallo, Library of Congress
Employment: Head of the Acquisitions and Processing Section in the Music Division of the Library of Congress (2007-present); Reference Librarian in the LC Performing Arts Reading Room (2002-2007); Co-Director of Music History at The Catholic University of America (1998-2002); Visiting Professor of Music History and Humanities at various institutions (1996-1996); Instructor of English at The University of Maryland, University College, European Division (1980-1992).
Education: Graduate studies in Archives and Records Management (2010-present); Ph.D. in Musicology (1996); Master’s degrees in Musicology (1995) and English (1972); Bachelor’s degrees in History (1988), Italian (1986) and English (1970).
Professional Activities: Library of Congress Archives Forum: co-founder (2010), member of the Steering Committee (2010-present), and co-chair of Archival Skills and Competencies Committee (2011); Society of American Archivists: Member (2007-present); SAA Sections: Acquisitions and Appraisal (2010-present) and Manuscript Repositories (2010-present); Performing Arts Roundtable (2008-present) and Archival History Roundtable (present); Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference (2011): member of District of Columbia and Pennsylvania caucuses; American Musicological Society (1996-present): History of the Society Committee Chair (2009-2011).
What do you bring to the Acquisition and Appraisal Section Steering Committee?
I bring a variety of skills and experiences from my current position, my former work as a reference specialist serving archival collections, a varied academic background, and long-time personal research in archives. I am now head of the largest music archives in the United States with curatorial responsibility for more than 500 collections that include materials in a variety of formats. My recent graduate classes in Archives and Records Management along with SAA training courses have challenged me to rethink the institutional policies that were in place when I took the job; most significant, there was no procedure for deaccessioning and reappraisal, a situation soon remedied by implementing newly-proposed strategies learned from the work of this Section. I also bring my ability to organize, energize, and communicate. After SAA 2010, I and a colleague at the Library of Congress co-founded an Archives Forum, an initiative paralleling the LC librarians’ Reference Forum. The first such platform available for processing and reference archivists, the Forum encourages training, project collaboration and cross-divisional discussion. Finally, as a musicologist, I have worked in archives both the United States and Europe and am able to express the user’s perspective about collections development.
What would you like the Acquisition and Appraisal Section to do in the next four years?
I would hope that the section would continue its work on Deaccessioning and Reappraisal Guidelines, setting standards to which all institutions can turn. I would also hope that electronic records acquisition and appraisal would become a more vital subject for discussion, working actively to bring to light topics that could result in SAA training and publications.
Jennifer A. Graham, Wisconsin Historical Society
Employment: Employed at the Wisconsin Historical Society as an archivist for four years; past activities have included arranging and describing the Gaylord Nelson senatorial papers and conducting a statewide assessment of historical documentation in Wisconsin. Currently, Graham is in charge of improving the intellectual control and physical state of hundreds of legacy collections at the WHS that will be moved to an offsite storage facility.
Education: Master of Arts, Library and Information Studies, 2007, Specialization in Archives and Records Administration, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Bachelor of Arts, Anthropology, 2001, With Honors, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Professional Activities: Society of American Archivists: General member (2006-present),
Acquisitions and Appraisal Section (Member, since 2007; Nominating Committee Member, 2009-2010; Steering Committee Member, 2010-2011), Wisconsin Key Contact, Membership Sub-committee (2010-present), Appointments Committee (2010-2011).
Midwest Archives Conference: General member (2010-present). Other Activities:
Archives Leadership Institute attendee, 2011, Annual presenter at MAC and/or SAA meetings since 2009.
What do you bring to the Acquisition and Appraisal Section Steering Committee?
Most of all, I will contribute my time and energy to strengthening our section and increasing its viability. Professionally, I have experience with documentation analysis, report writing, serving on committees, and making appraisal recommendations. I am interested and concerned with documentation practices with regard to current events and underrepresented subjects and communities. I also think quite a bit about the impact of selection by donors and by archivists on historical documentation. I keep up to date on current archival literature specifically regarding documentation, appraisal, arrangement and description. Overall, I can bring a balanced viewpoint on archival theory and practice to the steering committee and a commitment to working with other members to accomplish the goals set out by the membership.
What would you like the Acquisition and Appraisal Section to do in the next four years?
I would like our section to collaborate more with other sections and roundtables to discuss and tackle mutual issues, e.g. managing born-digital records or working with under-documented communities. Partnerships will build a stronger knowledge base related to our mission. And cooperation will allow us to explore a range of possible solutions to the problems we all face.
Second, our section should seek ways to utilize the new SAA website. This tool provides a way to reach out to section membership and encourage ongoing discussions with each other regarding issues related to acquisitions and appraisal. I think it is important to learn from each other’s professional experience and successes. With some work, the website can be a great place to find out more about the work others are doing and get answers to questions about our everyday work.
Lastly, our section should use the information it is collecting through the member survey this year to improve the section as a whole and strengthen its membership. This survey will provide a solid basis for focusing on activities that will be beneficial to us all.
I look forward to the opportunity to serve on the section’s steering committee.
Linda A. Whitaker, Arizona Historical Foundation
Employment
Chief Archivist and Librarian, Arizona Historical Foundation 2004-present
Consultant, Arizona State University/Arizona Historical Foundation 2004
Project Archivist, Special Collections, University of Arizona 2003-2004
Education
MA, Library Science, University of Arizona, Tucson AZ 2002
Beta Phi Mu
Certification, Academy of Certified Archivists 2003-present
BA, English Literature, University of Arizona, Tucson AZ 1974
Professional Activities
Association of Centers for the Study of Congress
Program Committee 2010-2011
SAA Acquisitions and Appraisal Section
Council Member 2010
SAA De-accessioning and Re-appraisal Review Team 2010-present
SAA Standards Committee
Liaison to Congressional Papers Roundtable 2010-present
SAA Congressional Papers Roundtable
Chair and Steering Committee Member 2006-2009
Editorial Board/Grant Committee, Managing Congressional Collections 2008
Arizona Archives Summit (Founding Member) 2008-present
Conference of Intermountain Archivists
Co-Chair Program Committee, CIMA Spring Caucus 2006
Secretary-Treasurer 2003-2005
What do you bring to the Acquisition and Appraisal Section Steering Committee?
I have a particular interest in how core archival functions have evolved and changed over time. Who appraises? Who acquires? What should collection development policies look like in the 21st century? How would collaboration change what we collect? How much influence and autonomy can archivists achieve in their acquisition and appraisal roles?
Personal strengths include:
Knowledge of roles/functions of professional organizations
Patron advocacy
Grant writing
Program development
Statewide collaboration/team building
Mentoring
Negotiation skills
Resource development
Energy, enthusiasm, curiosity, humor, courage
What would you like the Acquisition and Appraisal Section to do in the next four years?
Based on the 2011 survey results, the A&A Section should be able to develop a strategic plan.
Modify bylaws if survey results suggest changes to leadership duties, size of Steering Committee, or other activities that affect Section governance/mission.
In order to remain viable and relevant, the A&A Section must actively recruit members and section leaders that have broad representation across repository types; broad geographical distribution; increased representation of specialized appraisal expertise to promote cross-sectional communication; a spectrum of experience.
Increase liaison/communications with other Sections/Roundtables.
Consider developing national standards for Acquisition and Appraisal.
