SAA Council Resolution Honors Taronda Spencer

August 12, 2013

WHEREAS Taronda Spencer was a dedicated and committed archives professional; and

WHEREAS Taronda was a second-generation archivist, following in the footsteps of her mother, Emanuella Julien Spencer; and
 
WHEREAS she served as archivist for the Amistad Center, Historic New Orleans Collection, and the Walter P. Reuther Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University; and

WHEREAS Taronda served Spelman College, her alma mater, as University Archivist for sixteen years; and

WHEREAS she also served Spelman College, her alma mater, as College Historian for thirteen years; and 

WHEREAS Taronda’s leadership led to the Spelman College Archives being recognized as a valuable resource for the entire College and a broader community of researchers and scholars; and

WHEREAS she served as a mentor for many students who then entered the archives profession; and

WHEREAS Taronda actively organized and participated in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Archival Survey Project as Project Archivist; and

WHEREAS, she was a charter member of the Academy of Certified Archivists; and

WHEREAS, she was an active and involved member of the Society of Georgia Archivists; and

WHEREAS she was a member of the inaugural 2008 Archives Leadership Institute class; and

WHEREAS she was an active and involved member of the Society of American Archivists and participated in the Committee on the Status of Women, the Harold T. Pinkett Minority Student Award Committee, and as Chair of the Archivists and Archives of Color Roundtable; and
 
WHEREAS Taronda’s contributions have also been acknowledged by the Archivists and Archives of Color Roundtable: http://www2.archivists.org/groups/archivists-and-archives-of-color-roundtable/in-memoriam-taronda-spencer; and

WHEREAS Taronda's consistently positive attitude, generosity of spirit, great story-telling ability, and good humor generated great enthusiasm among all those who knew her;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Society of American Archivists honors the memory of Taronda Spencer for her many outstanding contributions to the archives profession.