News & EVENTS

New England Archivists (NEA) invites submissions of session proposals for the Fall 2019 Meeting, “Maps & Legends.” The meeting will take place at the Osher Map Library, University of Southern Maine, in Portland, Maine, on November 1, 2019. The deadline for proposals is Friday, July 26.

Maps, charts, globes, and GIS data are found in many archival collections—but how much do we really know about caring for them? Are we handling them correctly, describing them effectively, and providing thorough access to them? Are we maximizing their ability to support research and study? “Maps & Legends” will bring us together to share experiences with these materials, demystify them, and learn from each other how to unlock their potential for all users.

The Fall 2019 Program Committee is seeking proposals for short presentations that facilitate conversation about maps, charts, globes, GIS data, and related materials in the archival environment. Does your job include routine processing and/or care for cartographic materials and data, or do you have experience with a project involving such material? Whether about storing, preserving, digitizing, or something else, we welcome your cartographic case studies, stories, data analyses, and more. We encourage creative proposals that foster group conversation. Each presenter will have 15 minutes: 10 minutes (or less) for the presentation and the remaining time for questions and discussion.

We are particularly interested in any topic that relates to the following areas of work with cartographic materials:

• Cataloging and description
• Preservation
• Digitization and re-digitization
• Supporting researchers
• Building and engaging audiences

First-time presenters, current graduate students, early-career professionals, and those doing archival work in community-centered contexts are all strongly encouraged to submit proposals. Applicants do not need to be “map professionals.” We welcome anyone who has encountered maps as part of their work or studies.

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To submit a proposal, complete this form.

The Program Committee will acknowledge all submissions. If your proposal is selected, your acknowledgment will include instructions about next steps. All presenters are required to register for the conference upon acceptance, at the member rate, and to fund their own travel expenses.

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NEA is committed to making the Fall 2019 Meeting welcoming and accessible to all presenters and attendees. Presenters are also required to abide by the NEA Code of Conduct, which can be found here: https://www.newenglandarchivists.org/Code-of-Conduct.

If you will need specific accommodations, such as interpretive services, to support your participation in this event, please contact the Program Chair.

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Questions? Please contact the Program Chair, Patrick Ford, at patrick.ford@mysticseaport.org.

The New England Archivists (NEA) Mentoring Program is a 2019 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award given by the Society of American Archivists (SAA). The award will be presented at a ceremony during the Joint Annual Meeting of the Council of State Archivists and SAA in Austin, TX, July 31–August 6. The award recognizes an archives institution, education program, nonprofit organization, or government organization that has given outstanding service to its public and has made an exemplary contribution to the archives profession.

Launched in 2013, NEA’s Mentoring Program rethinks traditional one-to-one mentoring models through the creation of Mentoring Circles. The Circles, consisting of four to six mentees and two co-mentors, foster relationships between mentors and mentees and expand mentoring into ongoing peer relationships. The Program has served more than 100 mentees in six years and has increased to include a virtual program connecting those who may otherwise be geographically isolated. The NEA Mentoring Program has been used as a model for other regional archival organizations, such as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference (MARAC). The Chair of the Membership Committee of MARAC states, “[The NEA Mentoring Program] is truly innovative and incredibly beneficial to participants. As such, where we were initially going to borrow several aspects of many programs for our mentoring enterprise, we are now going [with] the entire NEA model.”

The Mentoring Program not only fulfills an important need by helping its members grow and connect in innovative ways, it also actively and openly shares this model allowing the possibility for expansion beyond its community. During its six-year history, the NEA Mentoring Program has grown steadily and developed into an engaged, enthusiastic community of archivists and record keepers who generously share their insights, advice, and expertise with one other.

SAA’s Distinguished Service Award was established in 1964. Previous recipients include the Society of Southwest Archivists, Council of State Archivists, Georgia Archives Institute, the Archives Leadership Institute, and the Black Metropolis Research Consortium.

- Society of American Archivists press release, May 2019

The Fall 2019 Meeting Program Committee is currently seeking members - experience with maps is a plus, but not required. The workload will be consistent but not too heavy - we will check-in monthly via email and/or Zoom to discuss content and logistics.
The meeting, which will focus on maps - demystifying them, digitizing them, unlocking their potential - will be held on Friday, November 1, 2019 at the Glickman Library, University of Southern Maine, in Portland.

Please contact Patrick Ford, PC chair, by Friday, April 19, if you are interested in serving: patrick.ford@mysticseaport.org.

The NEA Mentoring Program is seeking participants for the 2019 cycle! This 7-9 month program will begin in May or June 2019. All interested mentors and mentees are encouraged to sign up by the end of April. We also encourage folks interested in being mentors to consider self-selecting a co-mentor. Is there a colleague you’d love to partner with? Encourage them to sign up to be a mentor with you!  

Applications and more information about this popular program are available here. 

WHY PARTICIPATE? 
The NEA Mentoring Program offers members the opportunity to participate in Mentoring Circles, which are small groups that typically consist of four to six mentees and two mentors. Diverging from the traditional one-on-one mentoring model, the circle model fosters not only mentoring relationships between the mentors and the mentees, but also peer-mentoring relationships among the mentees and the co-mentors. 

Mentoring Circles aim to:

• Encourage the exchange of experiences, challenges, and opportunities to facilitate goal-setting for career and personal development.
• Build competence and character to reach those goals. 
• Foster self-confidence, communication skills, and collective growth. 

Mentors and mentees are matched to a circle depending on their interests, goals, and availability. The application process includes an initial survey to determine everyone’s interests and support the initial matching. All participants should be current NEA members able to commit to a full cycle of the program (seven to nine months). 

HOW TO PARTICIPATE 
Please visit the NEA Mentoring page to learn more about the program and to apply to join. Applications will be accepted through May 1, 2019. Applicants will receive placement information by May 15, 2019.

If you have any questions about the program, please contact Mentoring Program Administrator Jessica Holden (jessica.holden@umb.edu).

Approaching Transition and Grief in Acquisitions Work

Acquisitions work often takes place during times of transition. Donors, whether records creators or their family members, independent agents or institutional faculty/staff, may be experiencing associated feelings of grief and loss. As a result, an acquisitor’s job involves far more than simply bringing in records. A holistic understanding of a donor’s transition, along with the ability to navigate and negotiate difficult conversations at the point of acquisition, can determine our success as stewards of cultural heritage.

For the last three years, Mumford, Hayes, and Ilacqua have explored the topics of transition, grief, and loss through interviews with professionals including palliative care workers, ombudspersons, and members of the clergy, as well as extensive research into medical perspectives on loss and grief.

This live webinar will map loss and grief to archival acquisitions work and offer techniques adopted and developed by grief professionals to assist in handling donors in transition. It will also explore affect theory, maintenance work, emotional labor, and self-care techniques, and offer attendees an opportunity to review and respond to case studies. This webinar is for forward-facing archivists at any point in their career.

Presenters: Heather Mumford, Carolyn Hayes, and Joan Ilacqua, all of Harvard Medical School

Date/Time: April 30, 2019 / 2:00-3:00 PM

Maximum registration number: 50

Cost: Free

Registration link: https://www.newenglandarchivists.org/event-3323324

National History Day (NHD) is an interdisciplinary research project for students in grades 6-12 that encourages exploration of local, state, national, and world history. Each year more than half a million students nationwide, encouraged by thousands of teachers, participate in the NHD contest. History day teaches students to:

● Conduct in-depth research
● Use primary and secondary sources
● Work with libraries, archives, museums, oral history interviews, and/or historic sites
● Analyze and interpret their findings
● Write and present their historical research.

This year, New England Archivists is encouraging all members to get involved in their communities and volunteer as a judge. Many of you already participate in NHD through your institutions or have served as judges or volunteers in past competitions. But if you haven't done so before, please consider it! For your convenience, each state’s coordinator contacts, competition dates, and judge sign-up links or instructions can be found below. Contact abigail.malangone@nara.gov with any questions!

Connecticut
NHD Website: www.historydayct.org
Contact: Rebecca Taber-Conover
Email: info@historydayct.org

Maine
NHD Website: umaine.edu/history/national-history-day
Coordinator: John Taylor
Email: john.m.taylor@maine.edu

Massachusetts
NHD Website: www.masshistoryday.com
Contact: Kate Melchior
Email: kmelchior@masshist.og

New Hampshire
NHD Website: nhdnh.weebly.com
Coordinators: John Krueckeberg and Brandon Haas
Email: nhdnh@plymouth.edu

Rhode Island
NHD Website: https://ri.nhd.org/?f=0ecf6c4e-c45b-4b40-b977-dd3977606994
Coordinator: Rick Ring
Email: rhodeisland@nhd.org

Vermont
NHD Website: vermonthistory.org/educate/vermont-history-day
Coordinator: Victoria Hughes
Email: victoria.hughes@vermonthistory.org

The 2019 New England Archivists Nominating Committee seeks nominations for the following: 

NEW ENGLAND ARCHIVISTS ARCHIVAL ADVOCACY AWARD

If you know an individual or organization that has provided extraordinary support—politically, financially, or through public advocacy—for New England archival programs and records, please consider nominating this person or organization for the NEA Archival Advocacy Award. Nominees need not be a member of NEA and do not even need to be in the New England region to be considered. This is a wonderful opportunity to recognize advocates for archives. See the NEA website for criteria for eligibility, previous award recipients, and more details.

NEW ENGLAND ARCHIVISTS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

If you know a colleague who has been a leader in promoting and furthering the objectives of NEA, please consider recognizing them by nominating them for the NEA Distinguished Service Award. This award provides a way to showcase the leadership our members bring to the profession. Please see the NEA website for criteria for eligibility, previous award recipients, and more details. 

Nominations for both awards must be submitted by MARCH 1, 2019. Please send nominations and supporting documentation, as well as any questions, to Ellen Doon, Immediate Past President, at ipp@newenglandarchivists.org

​Dear New England Archivists members:

The field of archives is changing every day -- and this is your chance to help shape the evolving profession in the New England region. Participate in NEA's annual Membership Survey to help us better serve you and our profession. If you are a current member or even if your membership has lapsed, we are interested your feedback. Your responses will be completely anonymous.

The survey, which takes about 15-20 minutes, includes questions about general NEA membership, meetings and events, education/training, NEA roundtables, and how NEA communicates with members. At the end of the survey, current NEA members can enter to win a prize: a free year of membership in NEA!

The survey will be open until Saturday, February 16, 2019, at 11:59pm. The NEA Membership Committee thanks you for your participation.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TVZBP8C

Remember to Vote!

Mark your calendars now for the 2018 New England Archivists election. Voting will start November 19 and continue through December 7.

Candidates are listed below alphabetically, and you can read the candidates' statements on the NEA website. Private and secure voting will take place online through electionbuddy.com, which will send each voter a unique link.

The candidates are:

Vice President/President Elect
-- Linda Hocking
-- Eliot Wilczek

Treasurer
-- Myles Crowley
-- Cynthia Harbeson

Representatives-at-Large (two positions open)
-- Jennifer Betts
-- Molly Brown
-- Michael P. Dello Iacono
-- Michael Lotstein

To be eligible to vote, you must be a member in good standing. Please make sure your membership is current and that your contact information, including email address, is up to date in the NEA membership database. If you have questions about your membership status, please contact the Membership Secretary (membership@newenglandarchivists.org).

New England Archivists Nominating Committee 2018:
Ellen Doon (chair)
Maria Bernier
Stephanie Call
Rosemary Davis
Jennifer Gunter King
Tom Rosko

Meghan R. Rinn of the Barnum Museum, in Bridgeport, CT, will join us to discuss her article “Nineteenth-Century Depictions of Disabilities and Modern Metadata: A Consideration of Material in the P.T. Barnum Digital Collection.”  Read the article and join us for an online discussion of the issues of description and disability in archival collections.

Article link: https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/jcas/vol5/iss1/1/

This event is free and will be hosted by the New England Archivists Education Committee, using Zoom, on December 11th at noon.

Registration is limited to 10 participants and will open soon. Please register by December 7th at 12:00 PM.