SAA Foundation 2024 Catalyst Grant Program Recipients

July 25, 2024—The SAA Foundation plays a crucial role in supporting projects that align with the Foundation's mission and goals, as well as SAA's strategic planning priorities. This year, the SAA Foundation awarded a total of $38,400 in grant funds to eight deserving projects that are making significant contributions to the field of archival work. 

One of the projects that received grant funding is the Fresh, Bold & So Def (FBSD) Women in Hip-Hop Digital Archive, submitted by Martha Diaz. This project aims to highlight the important role that women have played in the hip-hop industry and preserve their contributions for future generations. By digitizing and archiving materials related to women in hip-hop, this project ensures that their stories are not lost to history. 

Another project that received funding is Improving the Maturity Model for Reparative Description (MMRD) submitted by Sharon Mizota. This project focuses on developing a more inclusive and reparative approach to archival description, ensuring that marginalized communities are accurately represented in archival records. By improving the MMRD, this project is working towards a more equitable and just archival practice. 

The Developing the Literary Archive project submitted by the Cave Canem Foundation, Inc. is also receiving grant funding. This project aims to preserve and promote the literary contributions of Black writers, ensuring that their work is accessible to future generations. By developing a comprehensive literary archive, this project celebrates the richness and diversity of Black literature. 

The AI is for Access: An Investigation of AI Adoption project submitted by Christina Fidler is exploring the use of artificial intelligence in archival practices. By investigating the adoption of AI in archives, this project is paving the way for more efficient and effective methods of managing and preserving archival materials. 

Martin Olliff submitted the "Capturing Black History in the Wiregrass" Oral History Project. The project involves conducting interviews with nine African-American residents of Dothan, Alabama who lived through racial segregation and desegregation. The interviews will be donated to the Wiregrass Archives. Additionally, Dr. Martin Olliff will make the videos accessible through various platforms, promoting a little known segment of local history.  

The Academy Foundation Archival Research Fellowship Request was submitted by Sabira Parajuli, Academy Foundation. The Academy Foundation project will fund an archival research fellowship for a student from an under-represented background at the Academy Film Archive. The fellowship aims to provide hands-on experience in archival processing, training in digital practices, and mentorship for professional development. Activities will include cataloging records in a database and researching and highlighting the careers of underrepresented individuals in the film industry. 

The Connections to Collections: Archival Education and Outreach in the Arkansas Ozarks submitted by Jessica Lyons, of the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History in Arkansas, is working to diversify its collections. The project aims to address the legacy of slavery and racism, expand research and interpretive strategies, and build relationships with their African American community through workshops and events. This project will help tell a more complete story of the Arkansas Ozarks and connect visitors to the experiences of marginalized individuals in the area. 

The Archive Response Team was submitted by Susan Durkin, of the Women Religious Archives Collaborative. The Collaborative’s project hopes to support Archival Response Team visits to provide on-site archival assistance to participating members. Teams will help congregations organize and make decisions about the long-term preservation of their collections.  

Congratulations to all the awardees for their dedication and hard work in advancing the field of archival work. Thanks to the generous donors who have supported the Catalyst Fund, these projects are able to make a lasting impact on the profession. To learn more about the SAA Foundation's Catalyst Grant Program and how to get involved, visit the website and consider making a donation to support future projects. www.archivists.org/foundation