Candidate Bios for 2012 Officer Candidates

Candidate for Chairman

J. Michael Miller

Head, Archives and Special Collections, Library of the Marine Corps

Mr. Miller is a graduate of the University of Alabama with Bachelors Degree in 1978, and Masters Degree from Virginia Tech in 1981, both degrees in American History.  Mr. Miller began work for the Marine Corps in 1983 for History and Museums Division as Curator of Personal Papers. He has worked with almost every aspect of the Archival Profession, from manuscripts to audiovisual materials. He has also worked on several major museum exhibits to include Marines in the Boxer Rebellion, From Dawn to Setting Sun: the Marines in World War II, and Marines in Desert Storm Desert Shield. He has also served as an adjunct faculty with the Marine Corps University and Penn State University.

Publications include From Shanghai to Corregidor, Marines in the Defense of the Philippines, (1997) a part of the 50^th Anniversary of World War II Series, Even to Hell Itself, The North Anna River Campaign, May 1864, (1989) a work of nonfiction of the American Civil War, “Bayonets, Blood and Beyond, A Single Day of Combat for a Marine Rifle Company,” part of the anthology, Unknown Soldiers, The American Expeditionary Forces in Memory and Remembrance, (2008) and “St. Mihiel Campaign 1918” which appeared in the anthology, The United States in the First World War, (1995). He has also edited My Dear Smedley, The Letters of John A. Lejeune and Smedley D. Butler, (2003),  Echoes of Mercy, the Diaries of John H. Simpson, a Civil War Chaplain, (2002) and John H. Russell, Jr., 1872-1947 : Register of his Personal Papers.. He has written numerous articles on both on Marine Corps and Civil War History for national publications such as Leatherneck, Fortitudine, Civil War Times Illustrated, Blue and Gray Magazine, Gettysburg Magazine, and others.

He received the 2001 Robert D. Heinl Award for best article on Marine Corps history for his trilogy, “Marines in the Boxer Rebellion,” which appeared in Leatherneck Magazine, 2000. Membership both past and present: Society of American Archivists, Society of Military History, Company of Military Historians, Marine Corps University Foundation and Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.

“I am honored to be nominated to the first Chair of the MART, and look ahead to setting up the ground work to make this roundtable reach the potential that awaits us. Long overdue, the MART will insure that Military Archivists from all areas of the archival universe will now have a more formal place within SAA. I can remember attending many conferences and wishing for such a roundtable, and now this dream has come to fruition. I welcome all who have an interest or even a curiosity about Military Archives to join the MART and attend our meetings in San Diego. To those who have already joined and put their shoulders to the process of making this vision happen, I give thanks and congratulate you on all that has been accomplished and look forward to all the great things the future holds.”

Canditate for Vice Chair

Dr. Jim Ginther

Archives and Special Collections Branch, Library of the Marine Corps

Jim Ginther,  Holds a Ph.D. in military history from Texas Tech University, an M.A. in history  from Abiliene Christian University, and a BS in business administration from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.  Currently he serves as an archival team leader with the Archives and Special Collections Branch Library of the Marine Corps.   Prior to that he has served as archivist for the Vietnam Archive and Southwest Collection at Texas Tech University.

I am very happy to be nominated for the position of Vice Chair for the MART.  Since its conception I have worked with Mike Miller on laying the foundation for the MART.  I served as recording secretary for the first MART interest group meeting in Chicago in 2012 where I also presented a paper regarding electronic records in military archives.  Worked with Mike Miller to organize the interest group, maintain the mailing list, archive the materials documenting  MART’s origins and helped draft the petition to SAA leading to the establishment of the MART.  I would like to serve as Vice Chair to finish laying the foundation put forth in our petition to SAA and.  Due to the fact that military collection exist in archives of many collecting focuses, sizes, and affiliations across the country, the MART has a real opportunity to build bridges, share information and resources in a way that can strengthen our profession as a whole.  I would like work to see us accomplish this goal and make MART a model of for collaboration and advocacy within our profession.

Candidate for Secretary

Amy Mondt

Vietnam Archive, Texas Tech University

Amy Mondt has been with the Vietnam Archive at Texas Tech University since 2008.  She is currently the collection development archivist where she works with the Archive’s donors and accessions all of the incoming materials. Amy graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology in 1997 and a Master of Arts degree in Museum Science in 2000. In 2007, she became a Certified Archivist. Before joining the Archive staff, Amy spent seven years working for the Petroleum Museum in Midland, Texas ending her term at the museum as the Director of Collections and Archives.

I believe MART is a wonderful and much needed addition to the SAA roundtable family.  I see MART as a great place to bring military archives and their archivists closer together.  A place where we all speak the same language and understand the unique needs of military collections and even though we may work in a lone arranger shop or a large institution, MART is the place where we can go to commiserate, find answers to our questions, connect donors to the appropriate facility, or even just find some moral support. 

Candidate for Secretary

Melissa Wiford

Army Heritage and Education Command

Melissa Wiford is currently the Chief of the Archives Branch, United States Army Military History Institute (USAMHI), United States Army Heritage and Education Center (USAHEC), United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA. Wiford began working in the archival profession eighteen years ago after serving in the United States Army for nine years with overseas tours in Korea and in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, where she served with the 101^st Airborne Division. Wiford previously worked at the Ohio Historical Society (OHS) in the Reference Services Division, Manuscript Division, and on the Archives, Library, and Museum Access (ALMA) Team. She also worked in the State Archives of Ohio where she worked with the Ohio Adjutant General’s Civil War records as well as other military records. During her time at OHS, she worked extensively with the organization’s digitization initiatives to include the creation and development of The African American Experience in Ohio: 1850-1920; Fight for the Colors: Ohio’s Battle Flags; and OhioPIX: Online Picture Gallery. Wiford also served as a consultant to the Borden Foods, Inc. Archives. Since moving to Pennsylvania, she has volunteered many hours of archival work at the Cumberland County Historical Society. She has been employed at the USAMHI/USAHEC for eight years, originally in the Patron Services Division before moving to the Collections Division.  

Two vivid childhood memories shaped my career and who I am today. First, my family’s history and heritage were deeply connected with military service to our nation, and I wanted to contribute to that legacy. (I later served in the Army for nine years.) Second, as an elementary school student, my class had a field trip to the same museum every year—the Neil Armstrong Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta, Ohio. I could not reconcile in my mind why I saw the same documents and artifacts on display every year. Did those people not understand I wanted something new? I trace the genesis of my career as an archivist to those museum visits and my insatiable need to learn new information.

My career in the archival profession has progressed from intern to contract employee to permanent entry-level position to consultant in a corporate archives to supervisory archivist, my current position. I have worked in reference, digitization, manuscripts, a state archives, and even in a museum. I have learned a lot and continue to learn at every stop along the way, even if it is how not to do something. While I have enjoyed the diversity of my career, I recognized a commonality throughout my experiences—I was the happiest when I was working with military records or a collection where the person had served in the military. So, while I could work in any archives, I choose to work in a military archives. I feel humbled everyday to provide access to collections that share the history and legacy of my fellow veterans.

I was extremely excited when I heard about the development of the Military Archives Roundtable (MART). I knew immediately I would be involved in any capacity I could. My hopes for the future of MART include that we are able to discuss archival issues (especially ones that are unique to the military), find commonalities, share knowledge and expertise, create professional development opportunities, and develop future collaborative efforts and projects. I want the MART members to serve as subject matter experts in the field of military archives. I want members of SAA and the historical community at-large to know we are a resource. I am excited for the future of MART and look forward to our journey together. I am completely honored to be nominated to run for Secretary of MART.  

My love of history, archives, and the military are so ingrained that I feel that they are part of my DNA. I am not just an archivist who works in a military archives, I am a . . .  MILITARY ARCHIVIST.