Thank you to our candidates for standing for the 2020 Manuscript Repositories Section election.
Section members, please review their candidate statements and get to know the candidates so you can make an informed choice.
You will be voting for:
- One Vice Chair/Chair-Elect, for a two-year term; and
- Three (3) Steering Committee members (three-year terms).
Ballots will be managed by SAA staff through Survey Monkey; keep an eye on your inbox for when the ballot opens!
Vice Chair/Chair-Elect Candidates
The following candidate is running for the Vice Chair/Chair-Elect position:
Jennifer Motszko
Digital Scholarship & Preservation Archivist University of Wisconsin Whitewater
I hold a BA in History from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and Master’s Degrees in History and Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. I have over thirteen years of experience working in both corporate and academic archives. I began my archival career with the Harley Davidson Motor Company as a museum technician, but spent over ten years as manuscript archivist for the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. As manuscript archivist, I collected and provided access to materials that document the historical, political, and cultural landscape of the Piedmont Triad Region of North Carolina. In 2018, I moved back to Wisconsin to head the Archives and Area Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where I manage university records, genealogical resources, and manuscript collections that document the agricultural, business, and supernatural history of Southeastern Wisconsin.
In my time as a professional archivist, I have seen changes in the make-up and definitions of manuscript collections, as well as the challenges faced by archivists in all kinds of repositories and community archives. I welcome the opportunity to lead this section and work with my fellow manuscript archivist colleagues to adapt to the changes and address the challenges.
Steering Committee Member Candidates
Cassandra Berman
Archivist for the Maryland Province Archives, Georgetown University
I recently joined Georgetown University as the Archivist for the Maryland Province Archives. This collection, which documents the Jesuit presence in North America from the 17th through 20th centuries, has received significant attention in the last few years because it documents Georgetown University’s implication in the slave trade. Working with these materials has opened my eyes to the ways in which archivists must consider current social and political inequities and historical context as they process, describe, and make manuscript collections available to a variety of researchers and stakeholders. I also just completed my Ph.D. in history from Brandeis University (in May 2020), where I focused on early American history and gender. In 2012, I received my M.L.S., with archives concentration, and an M.A. in history from the University of Maryland. I have worked in special collections in a variety of professional capacities since graduating from college in 2006, most notably at the University of Maryland, Brandeis University, the Folger Shakespeare Library, and the Newberry Library.
As I finish my graduate work, I am eager to become more involved in SAA, and I would be honored to serve on the Manuscript Repository Section’s Steering Committee. I am particularly interested in the ways in which the section can foster a sense of community during a period of teleworking, social distancing, and both economic and professional uncertainty. As SAA programing necessarily becomes more virtual, I see the Manuscript Repository Section as becoming even more important, and I would be honored to contribute to its work.
Jennifer Coggins
Archivist for Collection Development, Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library
I began my present position in Manuscripts and Archives in the Yale University Library in November 2019. Previously, I worked in the University Archives of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Collections Management and Engagement Archivist, Records Services Archivist, and as a graduate assistant. I received my MSLS with a concentration in Archives and Records Management from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2014 and a BA in History from Wofford College in 2012. In 2017, I completed a graduate certificate in Digital Public Humanities from George Mason University.
During my time in the field, I have been active in professional organizations including SAA (since 2014) and the Society of North Carolina Archivists (2013-2020). Since 2018 I have been a member of the SAA Standards Committee, and I recently finished a two-year term as SNCA’s publications chair. I would be excited for the opportunity to contribute to the Manuscript Repositories Section as a steering committee member.
Jane Gorjevsky
Head of Collections Management, Rare Books and Manuscript Library, Columbia University
It would be a great honor to participate in the Steering Committee for the Manuscript Repositories Section of the Society of American Archivists. I have been active in our professional community for well over 2 decades, primarily as member of the SAA, where I presented at a number of panels and research forums, and as a member of the Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York, of which I was a president in 2001-2003 and an active volunteer on many occasions. I have authored and co-authored a number of presentations, journal articles and book chapters, with the most recent one, "Breaking Down Barriers: Stewardship of born-digital materials at Columbia University’s special collections repositories," to be published in the upcoming issue of Journal of Digital Media Management. At various points in my career, I was also involved with the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference, Association of Moving Image Archivists, and Digital Library Federation as a member or a presenter. My particular interests include management of audio-visual and digital collections as well as optimal practices and technologies for managing multiple special collections formats, ranging from rare books to modern institutional archives, in a single repository.
In my almost 20 years of work in the RBML, I held the positions of Processing Archivist, Curator of the Carnegie Collections, and Digital Assets Archivist, before assuming my current managerial role in 2018. Thus, I have a unique advantage of having seen the work of a special collections repository from several different perspectives, and I appreciate the complex pattern of often competing priorities faced by our organizations. Prior to my work at Columbia, I was an institutional archivist for the March of Dimes foundation. I have an MA in history and MA in archival management and historical editing, both from New York University, BS in applied mathematics and statistics from SUNY, Stony Brook, and took advantage of numerous professional development opportunities in the fields of archival management and organizational leadership. I believe that my combination of education, scholarship and professional experience could make a useful contribution to the work of the Manuscript Repositories Section.
Elizabeth James
Archivist and Digital Preservation Librarian, Marshall University
As the Archivist and Digital Preservation Librarian at Marshall University, my responsibilities consist of conducting and supervising processing, collection management, reference services, teaching, outreach, and digital preservation planning--or, as I usually call it, all of the "ands" in archival work. I earned my M.S. in Library and Information Science with a concentration in Archives Management from Simmons University in 2018 and my B.A. in both History and History of Art from Yale University in 2015. Professionally, I have been a member of SAA since 2018 and currently serve as a Junior Blog Editor for the Student and New Archives Professionals Section. Outside of SAA, I serve on the Finance Committee of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference.
One of my research interests includes teaching and creating new methods of access to engage students, community members, and researchers with primary sources, particularly those in manuscript collections. I believe that manuscript collections inherently tell the stories of their creators and can help foster much needed connections between archives and more diverse users, demonstrating the relevance of our profession and work to students and the general public as a result. As a new professional in an area with few archivists who has recently begun participating actively in SAA, I'm seeking to increase my level of engagement with the archives community by serving as a member of the Manuscript Repository Section Steering Committee.
Katie Nash
University Archivist and Head of UW Archives, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Katie Nash is the University Archivist and Head of UW Archives at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has served in this position since April 2018. Prior to her arrival at UW-Madison she was the College Archivist at Williams College, and before that role she was the University Archivist and Special Collections Librarian at Elon University. Katie holds a Masters in Library and Information Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology from Appalachian State University. She became a Certified Archivist in 2011.
At UW-Madison she is responsible for the overall management of the University Archives which includes supervising professional and student staff; spearheading the creation of policies, procedures, workflows; overseeing research and public service activities; participating in digital projects; leading space and environmental management of physical location; overseeing arrangement and description activities; stewarding donor relations and overall collection development; facilitating the Oral History and Records Management Programs; and driving outreach initiatives among a plethora of other responsibilities. Katie’s professional interests include arrangement and description, care and preservation of collections, accessibility (to collections and physical/online spaces), copyright and other issues related to rights and use, donor relations, teaching with primary sources, and overall management of an archival repository (to mention a few!)
Katie has been involved with various SAA Sections since the early-mid 2000s and continues to remain involved with local archival organizations. Her desire to be a member of the Manuscript Repositories Section Steering Committee stems from a deep interest in collecting, maintaining, and making accessible the manuscripts that are created outside of an institution. Moreover, the professional network that SAA Sections provide is a valuable realm for archivists to be involved with, and ensuring various sizes and types of institutions are represented only makes the network stronger and more effective. She hopes to bring her experiences working for small private liberal arts institutions, as well as a large public university to the table to ensure diverse perspectives are represented.
Katie Rojas
Manuscripts Archivist, The University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections
In my role as Manuscripts Archivist for UTSA I curate, manage, and process collections, assist with reference, attend outreach events, and supervise student workers as well as a full time Assistant Archivist. During my time at UTSA I have collaborated on our ArchivesSpace implementation, created new collection development policies for manuscript and photograph collections, created a processing manual with my colleagues, co-curated the TRANSAMERICA/N exhibit with the McNay Art Museum, and served on the hiring committee for three department positions. Previously, I served as the sole Archivist for the City of San Antonio Municipal Archives. I earned my MLIS with archives concentration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2015.
I have been a member of SAA since 2012. From 2016-2018 I served as the SNAP Section Chair/Chair-Elect. At the 2018 annual meeting, myself and other SNAP members collaborated with the Manuscripts Repositories Section to hold a joint section meeting which featured a panel discussion which addressed archival labor topics including labor ethics, hiring practices, generalists vs. project positions, temporary vs. permanent positions, and career transitions. In addition to my work with SNAP, I have served as a peer grant reviewer for the NHPRC (2016), Publicity Coordinator for the Society of Southwest Archivists Local Arrangements Committee (2017-2018), Secretary (2017-2018) and Website Coordinator (2018-present) for the San Antonio Regional Archivists, and have participated in the Texas Archival Repositories Online (TARO) consortium’s Web Techs (2015-2016) and Quality Assurance Subcommittees (2018-present) and the Texas Digital Library’s Web Archiving Interest Group (2020). I also continually engage in professional development, earning Certified Archivist designation in October 2019 and the DAS Certificate in January 2020.
As a Manuscripts Archivist, I have a clear understanding of the broad nature of this work and a passion for supporting others in similar positions. If I am selected for the Manuscripts Repositories Section Steering Committee, I will use my on-the job experience as well as my experience with SNAP and other committees to add to the spirit of collaboration and advocacy in the section. I am committed to representing the unique interests of Manuscripts Archivists, and hope that you will give me the opportunity to do so as a Steering Committee member. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Lindsay Sheldon
Director of Archives and Technical Services, Washington College
Education: MLIS with focus on Archives, Preservation, and Records Management, University of Pittsburgh; Post-Graduate Degree in Fine Art, Goldsmiths College, University of London; BFA in Photography, Rhode Island School of Design.
Professional Experience: Director of Archives and Technical Services at Washington College (WAC). As Director of the College’s archives I have been
tasked with strengthening the organizational foundations of the existing collections, updating technology, reviewing existing policies, and processing
to make materials from one of the oldest colleges in the United States more accessible to WAC and the larger community. Prior to WAC, I worked at the
Georgia Historical Society (GHS) beginning as a digitization intern and working my way up to Reference Assistant, Archives Assistant, and
ultimately to Archivist. While much of my work at the GHS related to working with donors and processing manuscript collections I also managed
their digital catalog through PastPerfect and worked extensively on making finding Aids accessible through their EAD database.
SAA Participation: SAA member since 2011; member of this group since 2011.
Other Activities: Member of Mid Atlantic Regional Archives Conference (MARAC) 2019- Present. Member of Society of Georgia Archives (SGA) 2012-
2020. I have served twice on SGA’s Archives Month Committee as well as their Education and the Annual Meeting Local Arrangements Committees. Attended 2018 Digital Directions workshop in Atlanta, GA.
Eric C. Stoykovich
Manuscript Librarian and College Archivist, Watkinson Library, Trinity College (Hartford, CT)
Since July 2019, Eric Stoykovich has served as Manuscript Librarian and College Archivist at the Watkinson Library, a public research library at Trinity College in Hartford. He oversees physical processing, reference, and collection development of the over 80 manuscript collections, dating roughly from the beginning of the seventeenth century to the present, as well as the over 2000 linear feet of Trinity College's archives, of which many from the nineteenth century are manuscripts. Some notable collections include the papers of educator Henry Barnard and author Charles D. Warner, the manuscript poems of Robert Frost and Martha L. Spencer, the letters of Wallace Stevens, and the papers of several important Connecticut families. His work with the archives of Trinity College also takes him into the world of manuscripts, including a current project to transcribe the first two volumes of Trustees' Meeting Minutes, originally in manuscript book form.
Eric has a range of archival and library experience, including work in special collections at the University of Maryland’s Hornbake Library and the Main Reading Room of the Library of Congress, as well as with the digitization partners of the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Interested in archival history and the history of women’s role in 19th-century manuscript collecting and family archives in the United States, he currently volunteers as a co-editor of Archival History News, the online newsletter of the Society of American Archivists’ Archival History Section. He served as Chair of that section in 2016-2017. He has published several book reviews involving ancient and modern archives.
Eric graduated with a B.A. in History from Brown University in 2002, a Ph.D. in American History from the University of Virginia, and a M.L.S. from the University of Maryland’s iSchool. In 2019, he was re-certified by the Academy of Certified Archivists.
Eric looks forward to addressing current challenges facing manuscript repositories with a historical perspective, looking specifically at how to revitalize the art of reading handwriting by making it an core part of liberal arts and humanities classrooms. Also, teaching with manuscripts in an all digital format -- as many educators are currently doing -- presents challenges and opportunities, which the Manuscript Repositories Section members are uniquely positioned to address. Thanks for your support.
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Society of American Archivists
Manuscript Repositories Section
Section Leadership
Created | 29 June 2004
Last updated | 28 September 2018
