Annual Report 2012-2013

2012-2013 Annual Report

Date:   14 November 2013 

Name of Section/Roundtable:  Archival History Roundtable 

Officers:        

Chair: Charles Dollar

Steering Committee: Su Kim Chung, Melissa Gottwald, Maura Kenny, John Legloahec 

Report from annual meeting:

• Number of attendees: 16

• Election results: Elections for 2013-2014 leadership positions were held at the annual meeting in New Orleans. Elected were:
  • Chair: Melissa Gottwald, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Vice Chair: Cory Nimer, Brigham Young University
  • Steering Committee: Alison Clemens, Beinecke Library, Yale University
  • Steering Committee: Keith Gorman, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
  • Steering Committee: Eric Stoykovich, Fold3

• Summary of meeting activities:  

A short business meeting was held. Updates were given on the activities of the year including a review of the new bylaws. Council Liaison Kate Theimer provided an update on recent Council business. Theimer's term is ending; our new Council Liaison Helen Wong Smith introduced herself. 2014 Program Committee member Matt Blessing provided a report on plans for the 2014 joint SAA/CoSA/NAGARA meeting and the call for session proposals. A brainstorming discussion on session ideas for meeting also took place. At the end of the business meeting, elections were held for new officers and steering committee members (results reported above). Following the business meeting was a panel presentation on Disasters and Archives.

Panel Presentation: Disasters and Archives

As SAA returns to New Orleans for the first time since Hurricane Katrina, the reality of how disasters can affect archives and the historical record is in the minds of many archivists. Speakers will discuss the effects of past disasters as well developments and practices that have come about, in whole or in part, in response to disasters or potential disasters.  Robert Riter (University of Alabama) will discuss documentary editing as an early effort to disseminate records to safeguard against loss in fire or natural disaster. John Legloahec (NARA) will share lessons learned from the 1973 National Personnel Records Center fire and how the fire has impacted the reference function at NARA. Forrest Galey (Mississippi Department of Archives and History) will discuss recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina as well as collaboration and work to improve emergency preparedness that has followed from Katrina.

Panel Participants:

• Melissa Gottwald (chair), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Forrest Galey, Mississippi Department of Archives and History
• John Legloahec, National Archives and Records Administration
• Robert Riter, University of Alabama

Completed projects/activities: Bylaws were created for the roundtable. The bylaws were approved by the membership in an on-line referendum held in June.

New projects/activities: Planning began for a member survey to learn more about member interests and provide direction for roundtable activities. We expect to conduct the survey in the first part of 2014. 

2010-2013 Strategic Priority – Technology Initiatives: n/a

2010-2013 Strategic Priority – Diversity Initiatives: n/a

2010-2013 Strategic Priority – Advocacy/Public Awareness Initiatives: n/a

Initiatives associated with the new 2013-2018 Strategic Plan: n/a

Questions/concerns for Council attention: none