- About Archives
- About SAA
- Careers
- Education
- Publications
- Advocacy
- Membership
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 social media on October 16.
This October, take steps (big or small) to reach out to your communities, make connections, and show others the significance of archives.
Berea College Speciall Collections and Archives
Berea College Special Collections and Archives is hosting a Lunch-and-Learn book talk on October 16. The speaker, Professor Emeritus Steve Gowler, will discuss his newly published work, Thoughts That Burned: William Goodell, Human Rights, and the Abolition of American Slavery (Cornell University Press, 2025). A book signing will follow the presentation. In Thoughts That Burned, Dr. Gowler presents a scholarly biography of abolitionist William Goodell based largely on primary resources in the Berea College Special Collections and Archives.
City of Kettering
As part of American Archives Month this year, the City of Kettering's weekly electronic employee newsletter asked readers to send questions about the history of the city. These questions will be answered throughout the month of October and into the future.
City of Sacramento
In October of 2025, the Sacramento Archives Crawl celebrated 15 years. The Crawl aims to educate the public on what archives are, what archivists do, and the importance of historical prservation and research. On October 4, archives and special collections libraries across the Sacramento region set up exhibits at four host archives in Downtown Sacramento to display items from their collections. The four host locations included the California State Archives, California State Library, Sacramento Central Library, and Center for Sacramento History.
Jazz & Heritage Archive
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Archive presented the first Allison Miner Series lecture of the 2025–2026 season this month. "Creating Identities and Building Reputation: Jazz & Heritage and the Press," led by Dr. Ann D. Summerall-Jabro, examined how early press coverage and PR shaped the legacy of Jazz Fest.
Massachusetts Historical Society
The Massachusetts Historical Society took their #AskAnArchivist Day participation one step further by sharing their most frequently asked questions in a blog post. Take a look at these common questions.
New York City Municipal Archives
The New York City Municipal Archives (NYCMA) hosted a tour on October 16 of the storange and research location at Industry City in Brooklyn, where archivists are processing the City Commission on Human Rights Collection. In 2024, the National Historical Publications and Records Commission awarded the NYCMA a grant to process and partially digitize the collection. Once processing is completed, the collection will provide significant documentation on the evolution of laws, investigations, and prosecutions related to housing, employment, gender, and race discrimination. During the program, processing archivists will share insights regarding personal privacy issues and the use of harmful language redescription as well as featuring some of the great finds that were hidden within the collection.
Portsmouth Athenaeum
Archivist Katy Sternberger produced two new videos with a local filmmaker for the Portsmouth Athenaeum. In the October 4 video, Sternberger discusses how the Athenaeum has facilitated relationships with other cultural heritage institutions by providing access to collections on deposit. On October 18, she answered frequently asked questions about how the Athenaeum collects and cares for archival resources.
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
As part of American Archives Month this year and leading up to the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026, the Texas Historical Records Advisory Board (THRAB) and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) are highlighting how essential archives with a Texas Archives Month poster and website.
Tulane University Special Collections
Tulane University Special Collections (TUSC) is hosting a Community Day at the Dew Drop Inn of New Orleans on October 18. The event includes admission to "Legends of the Dew Drop: Road to Rock and Roll," a musical show that traces the evolution of the New Orleans sound in rhythm and blues, and a Creole brunch buffet. At this special Community Day edition during American Archives Month, TUSC staff will host archives activities
Virginia Archives
Virginia Archives is hosting a plethora of activities and events in honor of American Archives Month. This year, their theme is "Oh Snap! : Photography in the Archives," and they have produced a zine to go with it. Upcoming events include a talk on the Appalachian Trail, a zine-making "HallowZines" event, and more.
