Candidates for 2021-2022 Section Leadership

Vice Chair/Chair Elect Candidates

Rosemary K. J. Davis
Accessioning Archivist, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University

Biography:

 After receiving my MSLIS from Pratt in 2011, I processed collections at Amherst College, Duke’s Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library, the Fales Library at NYU, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Since 2016, I’ve worked as the Accessioning Archivist for the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University. In the past five years, I have served in multiple roles for SAA including Co-Chair for the Women’s Collection Section, Chair of the Committee on Ethics and Professional Conduct, and Steering Committee member for the Women Archivists Section. Outside SAA, I co-chaired the Inclusion and Diversity Committee for the New England Archivists (2017-2020) and am currently serving as the Managing Editor for the Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies. With Meaghan O’Riordan (Emory University), I co-chair the National Best Practices for Archival Accessioning Working Group, which just embarked on the multi-year process of creating formal accessioning guidelines that can be used by individuals and organizations throughout the country.

Candidate statement: Please provide a one or two paragraph candidate statement that expresses why you are interested in a position with the Acquisitions & Appraisal Section (and that may engage, if you’d like, the possible addition of Accessioning to the Section’s name and scope), and one significant goal or project you would like to see the Section work toward during your time on the steering committee.

Throughout my career thus far, I have done my best to focus my professional engagement on making space for others in different ways: by increasing visibility, by fostering supportive communities of practice, and by creating resources and tools. Since 2019, I’ve co-lead a long-term research project focused on archival accessioning with the goal of centering the lived experiences of those doing the types of archival labor that underpin ethical stewardship of collections. Taking on a role in the Acquisition and Appraisal Section feels like a natural extension of my focus, particularly with the possible formal addition of Accessioning into the section’s charge. Over and over during our research, my partner and I have heard stories about the loneliness of performing accessioning duties, about the keen need for resources and collaborative approaches. I am excited about the prospect of sharing my expertise and energy towards the goal of making accessioning-related discourse a part of our profession’s larger conversations.

 One project idea I have is to put more section members in direct conversation with each other about the intersections between their work types, perhaps in the form of conversational published interviews or moderated public conversations via Zoom. Learning how to navigate the ambiguity between our professional roles can illuminate ways where we can strengthen each other’s practices. I’d also like to learn more from my colleagues involved in these critical early phases of collection work to understand how fruitful professional relationships can be built and supported systemically. This section can be influential in demonstrating that more holistic approaches to accessioning, appraisal, and acquisitions work can benefit all parties—donors/creators, archivists, curators/selectors, and the communities we serve. Raising consciousness about the complex labor types required in order to do these foundational archival duties feels like important work and I’d be honored to be a part of it as Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect for this section.

Jamie Seemiller
Acquisitions Archivist, Denver Public Library Western History and Genealogy Department

Biography:

My career has centered around preserving and sharing stories. After graduating from Southern Methodist University with a film degree (1995), I worked in TV production. While working on the PBS show Great Museums, I collaborated with archivists and curators to film items that told the story of their collection. This work inspired me to go back to school to pursue an MLIS degree from the University of Denver (2007). Since 2007, I have worked at the Denver Public Library (DPL), Western History and Genealogy Department. I started as a cataloger and managed two IMLS grants called Creating Communities (2008-2013).  Since 2013, I have been an Acquisitions Archivist. In my position, I work with donors and two committees to appraise new collections and manage the acquisition process from an initial donor visit to the signing of the Deed of Gift. I also accession and process collections. For SAA, I served as a mentor, (2008–2012); chair, Public Libraries & Special Collections Roundtable (2012–2013); member, Program Committee, Atlanta (2015–2016), and member-at-large for the Appraisal & Acquisitions Section (2019–2021). In Colorado, I was on the board of the Society of Rocky Mountain Archivists (SRMA) in many positions from archivist to president from 2011-2019. I am a Certified Archivist (2008), received a DAS certificate (2016), and taught archives appraisal at the University of Denver (2013–2014). I have presented at SAA Annual Conferences (2013, 2015), Public Library Association conference (2010), Western Roundup (2015), and several SRMA conferences. Archivist Pros: donor meetings, accessioning, processing, talking about appraisal, and community events. Archivist Cons: in-person reference, entering large collections into ArchivesSpace,  running out of space in new donations closet, and having a backlog.

Candidate statement: Please provide a one or two paragraph candidate statement that expresses why you are interested in a position with the Acquisitions & Appraisal Section (and that may engage, if you’d like, the possible addition of Accessioning to the Section’s name and scope), and one significant goal or project you would like to see the Section work toward during your time on the steering committee.

One goal I have for the section is to advance DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, access) work in the areas of appraisal and acquisitions. I want to develop DEIA resources on the section’s SAA webpage. Two resources that would be helpful are diversity audit guidelines and tips on how to revise collection development policies. I would also like to promote more member contributions to blogs/articles in Assigning Value, Archival Outlook, and The American Archivist as well as SAA conference proposals so we can share what we have learned with other SAA members. These resources can be a stepping stone to have deeper conversations about how we can make our collections from donation to accessioning more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible to those we serve in our community. I know this work is challenging, but I believe the section can be a valuable resource for members to share, learn and grow in the profession.

The inclusion of accessioning in the scope of this section is exciting. As a processing archivist I've learned that various levels of arrangement and description can be accomplished during the accessioning process, and appraisal is ongoing throughout processing. If elected as a member at large, I would look forward to contributing to the section's projects as we provide resources to others accessioning, appraising, and processing collections. I think the ongoing discussions and support this section provides is invaluable to those working with appraisal, acquisitions, and accessioning processes. I look forward to the chance to support this section.

Bo Doub
Archival Projects Librarian, University of Southern California Libraries Special Collections

Biography:

I currently work as the Archival Projects Librarian in the Special Collections unit of the University of Southern California (USC) Libraries. Prior to USC, I processed collections at the Center for the Study of Political Graphics and the Computer History Museum under two different grant-funded projects. Regarding my past involvement with SAA, I served as co-chair of the Diverse Sexuality and Gender Section (DSGS) from 2018 to 2020 and I am currently serving as co-chair of SAA’s Encoded Archival Standards (EAS) Section.

Candidate statement: Please provide a one or two paragraph candidate statement that expresses why you are interested in a position with the Acquisitions & Appraisal Section (and that may engage, if you’d like, the possible addition of Accessioning to the Section’s name and scope), and one significant goal or project you would like to see the Section work toward during your time on the steering committee.

 When the USC Libraries hired me as Archival Projects Librarian in 2017, my responsibilities were mainly limited to archives processing, promotion, and reference. Since I started at USC, I have expanded my core responsibilities to—among other areas—accessioning new acquisitions of archival material. I hope to join other professionals representing a variety of institutions to explore different standards and workflows for accessioning born-digital and physical archival materials. If elected to the Acquisitions & Appraisal Section Steering Committee, I would like to collaborate with the recently established Best Practices for Accessioning Working Group to develop comprehensive guidelines relating to accessioning practices. I would also contribute time and labor toward adding the term “Accessioning” to the Section’s name and scope.

Rose Oliveira
Accessioning Archivist, University of Virginia, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library

Biography:

 Rose Oliveira is the Accessioning Archivist at the University of Virginia. Previously she worked as the Linda Lear Special Collections Librarian at Connecticut College. She received her MLIS degree from Simmons University. She has been a member of SAA since 2014 will serve as a member on SAA's National Best Practices for Archival Accessioning Working Group. 

Candidate statement: Please provide a one or two paragraph candidate statement that expresses why you are interested in a position with the Acquisitions & Appraisal Section (and that may engage, if you’d like, the possible addition of Accessioning to the Section’s name and scope), and one significant goal or project you would like to see the Section work toward during your time on the steering committee.

The Acquisitions & Appraisal Section Committee has done exceptional work creating bibliographies, reports, and resources for members as well as creating opportunities for members to share experiences and practices through blog posts and zoom meetings.  I became an accessioning archivist in 2020 and benefited greatly from the resources and conversations that the Acquisitions & Appraisal Section has generated and curated. I am running for the Acquisitions & Appraisal Section Member At Large position because I want to continue and contribute to the important work already done by the section. I care about creating opportunities for members to discuss issues that arise and share practices and resources being developed. I am particularly excited to be part of the incorporation of Accessioning to the Section’s name as it highlights important work that is often undiscussed in the field. Adding it to this section’s name gives it and the people who do this work the visibility it deserves.  I am excited to incorporate those discussions into this sections scope. One goal, I would have as a new member, would be to poll the section membership on topics of interest specifically around accessioning and then create engagement events based on that feedback.

Tamar Zeffren
Archival Collections Manager, JDC Archives

Biography:

I am the Archival Collections Manager for JDC, the world’s leading Jewish humanitarian aid organization, where I oversee archival processing operations and build out procedures for born-digital archival materials. I am actively involved in multiple local and national professional associations, and have presented to the Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York, Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference, and the Metropolitan New York Library Council of New York, among others. I have a M.A. in Archival Management from NYU and SAA’s DAS certification. My previous SAA involvement includes serving: on the Steering Committee and then as (current) Chair of the Archives Management Section; on the Membership Committee; and on the Steering Committee for the Archival History Section, where I served on the Publication Working Group.

Candidate statement: Please provide a one or two paragraph candidate statement that expresses why you are interested in a position with the Acquisitions & Appraisal Section (and that may engage, if you’d like, the possible addition of Accessioning to the Section’s name and scope), and one significant goal or project you would like to see the Section work toward during your time on the steering committee.

Like all archival functions, accessioning, acquisitions, and appraisal have come under acute pressure during the previous, cataclysmic year and a half. However, I take the vulnerability--as it were--of these front-line functions as a sign that they can serve as the most resonant vehicles for impactful education and innovative thinking about the archival enterprise. 

On a near-daily basis in my professional capacity, I am reminded that these functions encompass multitudes: collaborative learning and outreach with external and internal constituents, donor management, attuned collection policies, robust documentation, intentional assessment of resources...and beyond! The pending addition of Accessioning to the current name and scope reflects this Section’s responsiveness to the actual working landscape of archives; an environment that models such agility is vital for archival professionals.  

I have personally benefited from the comprehensive resources and lucid discussion that this Section has furnished. In turn, I hope to contribute to the Acquisitions & Appraisal Section and support peers who work on all aspects of these functions. A meaningful project that I would like to contribute to during my tenure on the steering committee is the gathering, preparation and annotation of case studies relevant to this Section’s scope. Some of the Case Studies currently showcased by SAA do touch upon various accessioning, acquisitions, and appraisal elements, but the complex and unpredictable landscape of these functions deserves a cadre of more nuanced case studies--in diverse media--which reflect different institutional priorities and responses. 

 Such a project would help reinforce one of the Section’s goals, namely to “create, compile, and promote best practices, tools, scholarship, and other resources to improve accessioning and acquisitions work” and would help equip Section members to remain effective advocates and ambassadors for the significance of accessioning, acquisitions, and appraisal work.