Fellow: Tara Zachary Laver

Tara Zachary Laver, senior archivist at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, MO, will be inducted as a Fellow of the Society of American Archivists (SAA) during an awards ceremony at the Annual Meeting of SAA in New Orleans, LA. The distinction of Fellow is the highest honor bestowed on individuals by SAA and is awarded for outstanding contributions to the archives profession.

A certified archivist, Laver has worked in libraries and archives since 1997. She received her BA and MLIS from Louisiana State University (LSU). She began her professional career as Delta State University’s first archivist before returning to LSU as assistant curator for manuscripts. Over the next sixteen years, Laver progressed from that role to tenured associate librarian and full curator, interim head of Special Collections, and head of public and research services. In 2017, she accepted a position at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, where she was quickly promoted to senior archivist.

Laver’s deep commitment to bringing archives to the public is evident through many impactful projects and initiatives she developed and supported throughout her career. With a focus on increasing the profile of the Nelson-Atkins’ institutional archives, she worked to integrate the collection into museum exhibitions and programming in meaningful and unprecedented ways and to surface previously overlooked histories, such as the role women played in running the Nelson-Atkins during World War II. At LSU, she co-authored and directed a multi-institutional NEH grant to create the collaborative digital project “Free People of Color in Louisiana: Revealing an Unknown Past.” This freely available online resource shares the important history of free African Americans in Louisiana during the time of slavery.

At the Nelson-Atkins, her creative approaches to activating the archives have run parallel with foundational improvements in their management and administration, including the implementation of ArchivesSpace, a digitization of significant collections, regular migration of obsolete AV formats, and expert reference assistance. Tara has been a strong advocate for improving discoverability, access, and transparency of archival materials. This has resulted in increased engagement and interest in the museum’s history, collections, and staff by researchers, authors, and the public. Her leadership at LSU similarly resulted in improved policies and workflows.

In addition, she has worked to address gaps in the archival record and to diversify the historical record. In 2021, she conducted oral history interviews with the six artists commissioned to create the Black Lives Matter murals on the streets of Kansas City. This important initiative to make the archives more inclusive came at a pivotal moment in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, when many institutions engaged in intense self-reflection about their current and historical relationships with people of color. Tara's expert research in this area was a vital part of the process, and supported current staff seeking to engage in transparent and authentic conversations about the museum. She continued those conversations in the community by conducting oral histories with Black, Mexican American, Asian, Native American, and South and Southeast Asian Kansas Citians to better understand their historic experiences and perceptions. Finally, her contributions as a speaker and research support for the museum’s award-winning A Frame of Mind podcast, which examined issues of race in America through the lens of art, centered the archives within an important conversation on equity, social justice, and inclusion.

Throughout her career, Laver has exemplified a high level of commitment to the archivist profession through her dedicated service in a variety of organizations. She has been an active member of SAA for twenty-six years, serving in numerous leadership positions, including chair of the Museum Archives Section, chair of the Manuscript Repositories Section, chair of the Spotlight Awards Committee, and chair of the Acquisitions and Appraisals Section. In that role, she initiated the development of the Reappraisal and Deaccessioning Guidelines, which are an approved SAA standard. She has presented at, and helped organize, numerous SAA conferences. Also at the national level, she served as Regent for Certification Maintenance of the Academy of Certified Archivists and led a major revision of recertification qualifications. She has also been active in local and regional professional organizations, including the Society of Southwest Archivists and the Midwest Archives Conference, and more recently the Missouri Association for Museums and Archives and Kansas City Area Archivists, where, among other activities, she has organized morale-boosting events for furloughed and laid off federal archivists. As a scholar, her work encompasses numerous publications, presentations, and digital initiatives. Her American Archivist article “In a Class by Themselves: Faculty Papers at Research University Archives and Manuscript Repositories” is often cited and a syllabus staple.

Speaking about Laver’s work at the Nelson-Atkins, one supporter noted, “She is a consummate professional and tireless advocate for the archives profession; a dedicated collaborator who has actively contributed to valuable scholarly projects. She changed the museum’s approach toward information accessibility and institutional history through her dedication to equity and transparency.” A former colleague also shared, “What has stayed with me over the years is Tara’s open, steady, and generous manner. She brings thoughtful listening, clear communication, and genuine care into every interaction.

Laver is one of six new Fellows named in 2026. There are currently 212 Fellows of the Society of American Archivists.