Learn about the Advocacy Committee
The Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York Inc. is pleased to announce the release of the proceedings for the New York Archives Week symposium, “Artists’ Records in the Archives,” held on October 11, 2011 at the New York Public Library, and on October 12, 2011 at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
The proceedings are available for download here.
The symposium was dedicated to investigating and broadening the discussion surrounding artists’ records - documents created by artists that bear witness to the creative process, often including sketches, doodles, and other notations. Eight sessions featuring twenty-seven presenters addressed the relationships among artists’ records, artwork, and artists; the significance of artists’ records in archives for scholars and curators; and how archivists and special collections librarians manage artists’ records in their repositories.
A special meeting is called by the ART Board of Directors, in conjunction with the ART December event/Holiday Party, in order to vote for a vacancy for the position of Director of the Education Committee, Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York Inc. (ART). This position was filled by Board appointment on 08/31/12 until an official member election could take place.
Follow the links for candidate bio and statement and election ballot:
2012 Special Election Candidate Bio and Statement2012 Special Election Ballot Voting in person by current ART members will be possible from 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM at the ART Holiday Party on December 12, 2012 at the 92nd Street Y, Warburg Lounge, 1395 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10128.
If you are unable to attend the December 2012 meeting/holiday party you may vote by proxy via email. Please send an email to admin@nycarchivists.org by 3:00 pm on 12 December 2012; you may attach the ballot or indicate for whom you cast your vote. You must include your full name and must vote using the official email address registered with your ART membership account.
Results of the election will be announced at the end of the ART December event/Holiday party once the tally has been completed and membership will also be notified of the results following the election via email.
Thank you for participating in this special election.
ART Book Club
a meeting in the ART Discussion Group series
Please join us for a gathering of the ART Book Club. The group will convene on January 23, 2013 at 6pm at a location to be determined for an informal discussion of Francis X. Blouin Jr. and William G. Rosenberg’s book, Processing the Past: Contesting Authority in History and the Archives (Oxford, 2011).
We ask that all participants commit to reading the book and come prepared with one or two questions for group discussion.
The ART Discussion Group series is a periodic gathering of ART members to discuss issues of professional interest. All ART members are welcome. The Book Club grew out of a member's suggestion that books are a great way to initiate discussions around a theme.
Processing the Past has provoked significant debate amongst archivists and historians.
From Oxford University Press:
Processing the Past explores the dramatic changes taking place in historical understanding and archival management, and hence the relations between historians and archivists. Written by an archivist and a historian, it shows how these changes have been brought on by new historical thinking, new conceptions of archives, changing notions of historical authority, modifications in archival practices, and new information technologies. The book takes an "archival turn" by situating archives as subjects rather than places of study, and examining the increasingly problematic relationships between historical and archival work.
By showing how nineteenth- and early twentieth-century historians and archivists in Europe and North America came to occupy the same conceptual and methodological space, the book sets the background to these changes. In the past, authoritative history was based on authoritative archives and mutual understandings of scientific research. These connections changed as historians began to ask questions not easily answered by traditional documentation, and archivists began to confront an unmanageable increase in the amount of material they processed and the challenges of new electronic technologies.
The authors contend that historians and archivists have divided into two entirely separate professions with distinct conceptual frameworks, training, and purposes, as well as different understandings of the authorities that govern their work. Processing the Past moves toward bridging this divide by speaking in one voice to these very different audiences. Blouin and Rosenberg conclude by raising the worrisome question of what future historical archives might be like if historical scholars and archivists no longer understand each other, and indeed, whether their now different notions of what is archival and historical will ever again be joined.
a unique approach to the relationships between archives and the formation of historical knowledge jointly conceptualized by an archivist and a historian
develops a new understanding of the "archival divide" separating contemporary historical scholars and their former colleagues in the archival community
an essential work for scholars interested in understanding how archives really work, and for archivists interested in understanding current dimensions of historical scholarship
addresses how the study of history has and will change with the development of new technology
explains problems of access to archives and why they are likely to continue for conceptual, political, and technological reasons
"Blouin and Rosenberg have once again joined forces to write what is very like a total history of the modern western archive. From lust to dust to techno-rust, they detail the convergences and divergences of historical authority and archival practice, providing a sweeping and deeply researched account of the impact of political and technological change on archives past, present and future. As indispensably, the authors narrate the tectonic shifts we in the last few generations of historians and archivists have lived through without, perhaps, fully realizing the revolution under our feet - and under our fingertips as well. Both genealogy and prophecy, this book is a must read for anyone who cares about what history is and what it will be beyond our lifetimes."-Antoinette Burton, editor, Archive Stories: Facts, Fictions, and the Writing of History
"Processing the Past provides a compelling and well-illustrated analysis of the growing divergence between archivists and historians. Blouin and Rosenberg will generate constructive reflection and discussion with this substantial work of scholarship. They will help the community take a step towards bridging the gap between humanists and those who would serve their needs." -Roger C. Schonfeld, Manager of Research, Ithaka S+R; author of JSTOR: A History
For an interview with the authors, see the American Historical Association’s November 2011 issue of Perspectives on History: http://www.historians.org/perspectives/issues/2011/1111/1111con1.cfm
Kate Theimer has several related blog posts: http://www.archivesnext.com/?p=2448
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The ART Discussion Group series, in General
ART Discussion Groups take on topics that address the immediate needs and interests of working archivists. The meetings are intended to create a space where archivists may engage in focused, informal conversation around specific problems derived from archival work, exploring strategies from everyday practice. Participants come away with fresh approaches to practical challenges. The size of each group is kept small to encourage all attendees to participate. When noted, sessions are designed for archivists at similar levels of experience.
ART members themselves devise and lead the discussion groups. In order for the program to succeed, we need to hear from you! Please send in your ideas for future discussion topics. Or, even better, if you would like to lead a discussion, let us know. Send comments, questions and suggestions to Wendy Scheir and Maria LaCalle at discussions@nycarchivists.org.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Resources for artists and galleries affected by Hurricane Sandy
AIC-CERT
*****Do not throw damaged art away without first consulting a conservator!*****
Sources of assistance for artists and galleries:
Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF): www.craftemergency.org, 802-229-2306
New York Foundation for the Arts: www.nyfa.org
AIC’s Find a Conservator service: http://www.conservationus.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageId=495
ArtsReady Useful Links
https://www.artsready.org/page/useful_links
See especially the links to funding for emergency relief.
Disaster response resources and salvage guides:
AIC: http://www.conservationus.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.viewPage&pageID=593
NCPTT, Wet Recovery resources: http://ncptt.nps.gov/wet-recovery/
Heritage Preservation:
http://www.heritagepreservation.org/PROGRAMS/TASKFER.HTM
Connecting 2 Collections forum on disaster recovery
http://www.connectingtocollections.org/groups/c2c-disccussions/forum/topic/stormdamage-assistance#post-627
In September 2005, the Society of Southwest Archivists and the Society of American Archivists created the SSA-SAA Emergency Disaster Assistance Grant Fund established to address the stabilization and recovery needs of archival repositories that were directly affected by Hurricane Katrina. In October of that year, the Fund was expanded to include repositories affected by Hurricane Rita. Both SAA and SSA provided $5,000 in “seed” money to establish the Fund.
Working together, SSA and SAA have expanded the original scope of the Fund to provide grants that support the recovery of archival collections from major disasters, regardless of region or repository type.
Any repository that holds archival records or special collections is eligible to apply for a grant. The repository need not be a member of SSA or SAA. Grant monies may be used for the direct recovery of damaged or at-risk archival materials; such services as freeze drying, storage, transportation of materials, and rental facilities; supplies, including acid-free boxes and folders, storage cartons, cleaning materials, plastic milk crates, and protective gear; and to defray the costs for volunteers or other laborers who assist with the recovery.
IF YOU ARE ABLE TO ASSIST OUR COLLEAGUES BY DONATING TO THE FUND, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE, SEE BELOW FOR INFORMATION ABOUT APPLYING FOR GRANT FUNDS.
How much funding is available? Initially grants of up to $2,000 will be awarded. Additional requests may be considered if funds remain available. Approved grant payments may be made directly to a service provider, upon the grantee's request, if an itemized invoice is presented. Recipients will be asked to provide a financial accounting of expenditures made using the award within 6 months of receiving the funding.
How do I apply? Download and complete the application document and send as an e-mail attachment to saahq@archivists.org. Or, if you prefer, you may submit a letter containing the same information. Ideally the letter should come from the head of your organization, but it may come from a primary contact. Please include contact information for both the head of the organization and the primary contact if these are different individuals.
Send your application/letter, via either email attachment or postal service, to:
Society of American Archivists Foundation Attn: National Disaster Recovery Fund for Archives 17 North State Street, Suite 1425 Chicago, IL 60602 866-722-7858 (toll-free) fax 312-606-0728 saahq@archivists.org
How will recipients be selected? A review panel comprising representatives of SSA and SAA will review applications and select the grant recipients. The committee will score proposals based on the application criteria. The Society of American Archivists is responsible for financial administration of the fund.
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