American Archives Month 2022

Share your American Archives Month activities: 
Send a note about how you are participating to saahq@archivists.org.

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 12.

This October, take steps (big or small) to reach out to your communities, make connections, and show others the significance of archives.

Here’s how your colleagues are celebrating 
American Archives Month

Border Regional Archive GroupSociety of Georgia Archivists
The Border Regional Archives Group (BRAG) hosted its sixth annual Border Archives Bazaar on October 22 at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Museum in Las Cruces, New Mexico. This educational event brought visitors together to see fascinating historical materials from the border region, including rare documents, photographs, maps, and more.

City of Philadelphia City Archives
The City of Philadelphia Archives shared some of their favorite pieces from their archives, including the birth certificate for Louis Feinberg—one of the original Three Stooges—and the death certificate for William Crothers Dulles, who died on the Titanic.

Dominican Sisters of Peace
The Dominican Sisters of Peace archives staff hosted three events. The first event was an archival roadshow in which Sisters provided items for staff to assess for archive-worthiness. The archives staff also participated in #AskAnArchivist Day, meeting with Sisters online and in person to talk about how the archives functions. The final event was an Annals Day workshop where all Sisters met virtually and in person to write their 2022 annals as a group.

Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia celebrated this year with Twenty Years of Virginia Archives Month. This October, they held an Open House at the Alexandria Library to celebrate the library's 85th anniversary. They also held the Shenandoah Valley Archives Fair, participated in #AskAnArchivist Day, and held a talk entitled "Memory's Journey: Addressing Difficult Family History."

Society of Georgia Archivists
The Society of Georgia Archivists is participating in #AskAnArchivist Day on October 12, 2022 across their social media. Follow them on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

South Dakota State Archives
The South Dakota State Archives held several events during October. On Thursday, October 27, they premiered Recently Accessioned Manuscript Collections on YouTube to highlight manuscript collections at the State Archives. On the same day, archivists Virginia Hanson presented "What to Keep, What to Throw, and Care of Your Family Documents and Photos" at Grant Country Library. And on October 28, archivist Virginia Hanson hosted "Beginning Genealogy Using the Library and Archives" at Britton Public Library.

Texas Archive of the Moving Image
The Texas Archive of the Moving Image headed to San Angelo on October 22 to help people digitize their media during the Texas Film Round-Up. Individuals, businesses, and institutions brought their Texas-related films and videotapes to be digitized.

Texas Historical Records Advisory Board
The Texas Historical Records Advisory Board (THRAB) created a themed poster and webpage highlighting the various types of primary sources students encounter. Both included links to a webpage with helpful strategies for analyzing documents, photographs, and maps, as well as a list of digital collections around the state that provide online access to primary sources.

Tulane University Special Collections
Tulane University Special Collections (TUSC) created a book display for the Howard-Tilton Memorial Library featuring favorite archives-related books selected by the staff. Additionally, TUSC hosted its first Archives Social Hour on Wednesday, October 26. At this informal mixer, Tulane students, faculty, and staff can meet TUSC staffers and learn how archives on campus enhance academic research and personal enrichment. Learn more.