SAA Archives Panel, March 3, 2009

What makes the archive field unique?

John Calhoun (the Seaver Center for Western History Research)

http://www.nhm.org/research/history/seaver_center.html

Calhoun has a background in History.

Where he works is a natural history, anthropological and archaeological special collections, and includes 300 collections of photographs, maps, ephemera.

Sue Hodson (Huntington Library—private research library)

http://www.huntington.org/

Has an English degree background. Got Masters in English, then MLIS at UCLA.

The Huntington focuses on collections in English and American literature and history…Sue mentioned that they have been broadening collections into works by women and people of color. Also some history of science.

Library has a Rare books dept. and a Manuscripts dept. Hodson is with the Manuscripts dept. Most people that come in to the library are academics doing high-level research. Some days can be taken up entirely by academics/researchers doing high-level research. But she can also work daily with rare book and manuscript buyers, addressing reference questions, help scholars/researchers on-site, emails, phone calls, communications dept., bookstore. Every day is varied with lots of interaction with people, which provides a good working environment. Every day is something new and different and interesting. The Huntington allows its employees opportunities to conduct your own personal research (mostly evenings and weekends).

Andrea McCarty (Archives Mgr. at HBO)

http://www.homeboxoffice.com/

Did not have an archive background.

The HBO archive is a studio archive (in-house archive)…does not deal with researchers. The lending library for the studio is to help with projects regarding syndication, etc.

Oversees the older video tape formats, digital migration, older material through mergers and acquisitions, etc. Oversees management, storage, and use of the entire collection. McCarty echoes the variety the comments of the other speakers in that there are always a variety of tasks that archivists must deal with on a daily basis. It is really changing her job with the company. She is learning more about traditional archival practices and organizing, long-term storage and preservation. All different types of positions within the moving image archive field: use, preservation, access.

Paul Warmser (the National Archives, Laguna Niguel)

http://www.archives.gov/pacific/archives/laguna/finding-aids/holdings.html

Warmser has a background in history. Works in one of NARA’s 12 regional archival branches throughout the US—Laguna Niguel.

NARA traditionally likes candidates with strong history and government backgrounds, though this seems to be changing. Warmser also agrees that working within an archive is interesting b/c there is something new to discover everyday working in an archive. Challenging and stimulating issues. A lot of reference queries at this location have to do with naturalization and immigration records.

Morgan Yates (Automobile Club of Southern California)

http://www.aaa.com

Yates has as a background in history, and was interested in museum work/studies. Interned at state archives in Sac, CA. Auto Club has a corporate environment, though non-profit—involved in public programming. Yates has an ongoing article in the organization’s magazine publication (Westways), allowing him to write and research regularly.