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Since 2006, American Archives Month has given the profession an opportunity to tell (or remind) people that items that are important to them are being preserved, cataloged, cared for, and made accessible by archivists. To help you participate in American Archives Month, SAA has provided members with practical information and great ideas to help make your archives program more visible. Or check out our #AskAnArchivist Day page, which details how you can participate in an opportunity to engage with the public via Twitter on October 7.
This October, take steps (big or small) to reach out to your communities, make connections, and show others the significance of archives.
Archivists of Central Texas
The Archivists of Central Texas, which hosts the biannual Austin Archives Bazaar, is highlighting archives in the Central Texas area through photos and videos in a social media campaign throughout the month. Follow Austin Archives Bazaar on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram—or see all highlights here.
Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives
For American Archives Month, the Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives is telling the story of John Winston, a miner and historic citizen of Butte, through different archival resources via social media. Using city directorys, maps, a court case, school census, newspaper stories about Winston's death in a mine explosion, his death certificate, and his widow's pension fund, the archives is teaching users about the kinds of documents they can find in the archives. Follow along on the archives' Facebook and Instagram.
Greene County Archives
Greene County Archives in Ohio is celebrating American Archives Month through several events, including #AskAnArchivist Day on October 7, "Secrets of the Greene County Archives" on October 8, "How to Use Greene County Records in Genealogy Research" on October 15, and "Spooky Tales from the Greene County Archives" on October 30. In addition, a new online exhibit Greene County during the Prohibition Era can be found on the archives’ Flickr page. Learn more.
Punahou School
Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii, published an interview with archivist Kylee Mar about what is in the archives, including the oldest and most fragile items, and how to use the archives. Read the interview.
San José State University SAA Student Chapter
On October 7, the San José State University (SJSU) student chapter of SAA is hosting a free, virtual event with SJSU alumna and SAA-member Tiah Edmunson-Morton, curator of the Oregon Hops and Brewing Archives at Oregon State University. Tiah will talk about the steps (and hops) it took to create the archives from scratch and share insights about her journey from MLIS student to her current role. Join the educational happy hour with a frosty glass of your favorite brew: register for the event.
University of Arkansas Libraries
On October 23, the University of Arkansas Libraries presents "Confronting Biases: Their Impact on Collections, Research, and Scholarship." Four panelists who work at the intersectionalities of knowledge creation will discuss how archives and museums confront issues of race and its affect on building collections, conducting research, and producing scholarship. Moderated by Lori Birrell, associate dean for Special Collections, panelists include Dr. Cherisse Jones-Branch, the James and Wanda Lee Vaughn Endowed professor of history and dean of the graduate school at Arkansas State University; Valencia L. Johnson, archivist for student life at Princeton University; Joshua Youngblood, instruction and outreach unit head at the University of Arkansas; and Stace Treat, head of interpretation at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
Vermont Archives Month
The theme of Vermont Archives Month is "Vermont Voice and Vote," in recognition of a new census, a presidential election, and the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 2020. This year's virtual events include a video storytelling session inspired by the archival holdings of the Waterford Historical Society; a transcrib-a-thon of women's diaries, hosted by the University of Vermont's Silver Special Collections Library; and a research-a-thon sponsored by the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration, a division of the Secretary of State's Office. In addition, "Archives in Context," a new series of online conversations about archives, culture, and preservation, co-sponsored by Keene State College, the New Hampshire State Archives and the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration, will take place throughout the month. Find more information here, or visit www.vtarchivesmonth.org.
Virginia Archives Month
The theme of Virginia Archives Month is "An Archive for All Seasons: Virginia's Archives and Special Collections." On October, 7, in addition to participating in #AskAnArchivist Day, the Shenandoah County Library and other regional archives are hosting a virtual Archives Fair with a series of presentations on collections, access, and research. The public can also download coloring pages and do online jigsaw puzzles featuring archival images. Find more info here.