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Thank you to our candidates for standing for the 2023 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:
Ballots will be managed by SAA staff through Survey Monkey; keep an eye on your inbox for when the ballot opens!
The following candidate is running for the Vice Chair/Chair-Elect position:
Laura Starratt
Laura Starratt is the Senior Collections at the Archivist Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library, and before that, she worked at the Atlanta History Center managing the Kenan Reading Room, training students and volunteers, and processing collections. She earned her MSIS from the University of Tennessee, School of Information Sciences and has been active in the Society of Georgia Archives, holding a variety of positions on the board as well as improving engagement in the programs. Laura recently rotated off as the SGA Mentorship program's Chair where she increased participation significantly and now serves on the Nominating Committee, encouraging student members and new professionals to seek out their own leadership roles. She has also participated in programs with the Society of Tennessee Archivists, Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Consortium, and in SAA through her leadership in the Issues and Advocacy, EAS, and Jameson Award committees and others.
I would like to see the Manuscript Repositories Section become a truly collaborative group, working with other sections to increase the knowledge of and engagement with archivists including students and new- and established- professionals. I want to create a space that is inviting and welcoming to new members and supports established professionals as they experiment and innovate within their organization or in collaboration with other Manuscript Repositories Section members. I see the role of the section as a place that allows connections to happen and encourages the growth of professionals and the archives profession either by connecting people and encouraging mentorship or hosting workshops and giving new presenters the space to promote their work and hone their skills.
Susan McElrath
I am the Head of Public Services at the Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley, where I manage circulation, duplication, exhibits, interlibrary loan, reference, research, and stack maintenance. I have worked in archives, libraries, and museums for over thirty years in a variety of capacities, including instruction, acquisitions, archival description and processing, and reference. I have served in leadership positions in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference and the Society of American Archivists (Privacy and Confidentiality and Reference, Access, and Outreach Sections).
After a long hiatus, I would like to get more involved in SAA again. I strongly believe in the value of the sections and their role in sharing expertise and making professional connections. Social media and Zoom make it easier for sections to connect with their membership. They are invaluable in reaching members who may not be able to attend conferences. I would love to see the section continue to offer virtual programming throughout the year in addition to in person activities at the annual meeting. I would be honored to serve on the Section’s Steering Committee to help make that a reality.
Candace Pine
I earned my Master of Library and Information Science degree, with a concentration in Archives and Special collections, from Kent State University in the spring of 2018. My first job after graduate school was a temporary position of Visiting Manuscript Librarian at the Walter Havighurst Special Collections and University Archives at Miami University, which is located in Oxford, Ohio. I’m grateful to say that that led to a permanent position in the same archive, where I’m now serving as the Rare Books and Manuscripts Librarian. My duties are primarily split between processing our manuscript collections and cataloging the rare books in our collections, with some extra duties of teaching, outreach and engagement work, etc. mixed in too. I enjoy my work very much, and I’m looking forward to continuing to grow in my position, and in this field.
I became a member of SAA in July 2022. It was important to me to become a member of this national-level professional organization because I knew there was a lot of value I could get from the resources, information, and fellow colleagues that SAA would provide me with access to. I’ve spent some time familiarizing myself with the organization, and now I want to get more deeply involved. When I saw that the Manuscript Repositories Section was seeking nominations for Steering Committee members, I knew this was an ideal place for me to get involved. The majority of experience I have working in archives is related to working with manuscript collections, so this Section is of particular interest and relevance to me and my everyday work. That means I have a lot to bring to the table, and I would get a lot out of serving this Section.
My other committee work currently includes serving on my home institution’s DEIA Strategic Planning Committee, and on the Midwest Archives Conference’s (MAC) Archie Motley Memorial Scholarship for Students of Color Committee. As this may suggest, I’ve made an intentional effort to get involved with committee work that has a DEIA focus. I also strive to present on my work with manuscript collections with an eye towards the themes of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. That is something I am passionate about, and I would try to bring that kind of focus to my work with the Manuscript Repositories Section as well.
I look forward to the opportunity to expand my service and work on behalf of the Manuscript Repositories Section of SAA.
Robert A. McInnes, CA
Robert McInnes has been an archivist since 1987 and over the years has worked for the Tampa City Archives, the Virginia Historical Society, the Kansas State Historical Society, the New London County Historical Society, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte Christian College, and Theological Seminary, and is currently the Archives and Research Services Librarian at Westminster Theological Seminary. Over the years he has processed literally hundreds of manuscript collections, and also the archival records of dozens of organizations of all sorts.
Mr. McInnes believes that the standardization of practice among archivists in their work in the arrangement and description work with manuscript collections makes it easier for researchers to work across collections, and also makes it easier for to train the next generation of manuscript curators. Toward that end the Manuscript Repository Section plays a vital role in the establishment of standards of practice.
Sarah Roberts
I received a MLS from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a specialization in archives in 2002 and BA in History from the University of Iowa in 2000. I have been at the Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections since 2002.
My position entails the selection of collections for acquisition, including university, local and state related materials as well as shepherding alumni, faculty and private individuals through the donation process. In addition, I accession and inventory new acquisitions, perform reference services, process collections, supervise students and serve on MSU Libraries’ committees related to accessibility, and best practices.
My previous committee work has been at the state level where I was a board member-at-large for the Michigan Archival Association from 2010-2017 as well as chair of the MAA Marilyn McNitt Memorial Scholarship Committee from 2013-2017.
I have served on the Manuscript Repository Steering Committee since 2021. I look forward to the opportunity to renew my service and work on behalf of the Manuscript Repositories Section, SAA as well as collaborate with my colleagues.
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Society of American Archivists
Manuscript Repositories Section
Created | 29 June 2004
Last updated | 28 September 2018