Author Archives: Emily Gainer

Council Statement on Recent Federal Government Actions that Impact Archivists & Archives

The leadership of the Society of Ohio Archivists are deeply alarmed by many recent actions taken by the U.S. federal government, including, but not limited to:

These actions undermine the invaluable work of archivists and cultural heritage workers across this nation and the state of Ohio, as well as the transparency, accountability, and integrity that are foundational to democratic governance.

SOA Council condemns these actions and the reckless nature with which they were undertaken, as they unnecessarily jeopardize the livelihood of dedicated professionals and damage our ability to preserve and make accessible the rich tapestries of our national, state, and local histories. We will continue to monitor this rapidly changing landscape, and will proactively work to provide support for the Ohio archival community in accordance with our core professional values.

As we move forward please feel free to contact the current SOA President Matt Francis with any suggestions, questions, or concerns and we encourage you to contact your federal representatives to make your voice heard.

United we stand.

Society of Ohio Archivists Council

Archives Spotlight: National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center (NAAMCC)

by Collette McDonough, member of the SOA Advocacy and Outreach Committee.

To acknowledge Black History Month, the Society of Ohio Archivists would like to shine a spotlight on the archives located at the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center (NAAMCC). The museum opened to the public in 1988 and is the home to about 10,000 artifacts and artwork that tell the story of African Americans. The museum also contains “350 manuscript collections, and thousands of photographs.” The museum has a wide variety of materials in their collections including the “final draft of Roots, a buffalo hide coat worn by a Buffalo Soldier, Gregory Hines’s tap shoes, and artifacts representing the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s.” The NAAMCC archives hold hundreds of photographs and many collections that relate to the Civil Rights Movement in the 20th century. In addition, they are the caretakers of collections on enslavement and manumission plus the papers of Charles Young. The archives is located next to the museum in a former Carnegie Library building. The library was built with matching grants in 1907 for Wilberforce University and now houses the offices, archive, and museum storage for NAAMMCC.

Black and white photograph of a brick building.

Photograph of the Carnegie Library, courtesy of National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center (NAAMCC).

The museum has a dynamic collection and eye-opening exhibits. If you are interested in art, World War Two or Women’s history, NAAMCC has something for you. Currently the museum has an exhibit called Rhythm of Revolution-The Transformative Power of Black Art 1619 to the Present. “The exhibit maps the visual flow of artistic, cultural, social, and political change in America from 1619 to the present day. Using three-dimensional objects from the NAAMCC collections, Rhythm of Revolution explores how Black artists, religious leaders, and activists worked within their spheres of influence to transform Ohio and our nation.”

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Call for Applications: 2025 Meeting Scholarships

The Society of Ohio Archivists is pleased to announce five scholarships to attend the SOA Annual Meeting available to students (2 awards), and new archival professionals (2 awards) with three years or less experience in the workplace. The final scholarship category, the Ohio Preservation Council Student/New Professional Scholarship, is available to either students or new professionals.

The awards will be presented at the SOA Annual Meeting business meeting which will be held on Friday, May 16, 2025, at the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio. Deadline to apply has been extended to March 8, 2025. Deadline to apply is March 1, 2025.

 

The scholarship consists of registration to the SOA annual meeting (including lunch), a one-year SOA membership, and a $100 travel stipend. Awardees are required to submit a photograph and write about their experience for publication in the Ohio Archivist newsletter.

How to Apply:

A fillable PDF Scholarship application is available to download. The Scholarship rubric is available for your reference. Applications should include the following information:

  • Applicant’s name, mailing address, and email address.
  • Students should list their school’s name and academic program;
  • New professionals should list their employer and number of years working within the field;
  • Description about how the meeting will benefit the applicant professionally;
  • Brief description of the applicant’s scholarship and contribution to archives. This will be taken into consideration along with the applicant’s number of years in the field or academic study;
  • Statement of the applicant’s need for financial support to attend the conference;
  • Details: Scholarship page.

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Call for Nominations: 2025 Merit Award

The SOA Membership & Awards Committee seeks nominations for the 2025 Society of Ohio Archivists Merit Award.

The award is given to individuals or organizations that have by excellence in deeds, actions, or initiatives improved the state of archives in Ohio over the past year. The award will be announced at the SOA Annual Meeting, which will be held on Friday, May 16, 2025 at the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio.

A fillable PDF Merit Award nomination form is available to download. The Merit Award rubric is available for your reference. Deadline to apply has been extended to March 8, 2025. Deadline to apply is March 1, 2025. Continue reading →

Council Meeting Minutes from Dec 6, 2024

The Society of Ohio Archivists most recent leadership meeting minutes from December 6, 2024, can now be found on the Council Meeting Minutes page.

Interested in SOA over time? Also on that page are minutes dating back to 1997. In addition to documenting actions from the leadership meeting, minutes include reports from the treasurer as well as from committees and task forces.

Questions about minutes? Contact SOA Secretary Shelby Beatty.

Call for Nominations: SOA Council 2025

The SOA Nominating Committee announces a call for nominations for:

  • Vice President/President-Elect,
  • Secretary,
  • Member of Council, and
  • JEDAI Committee Co-chair (2) (one is a 1-year term and the other is a 2-year term).

Self-nominations and peer nominations are welcomed and encouraged. We also encourage nominations from new professionals and/or individuals seeking to get involved in a professional organization for the first time. All positions are for two-year terms of office, except for the VP/President/Past President cycle, which is one year in each position (a total commitment of three years).

If elected, you must be a current SOA member in good standing by the beginning of your term and willing and able to attend monthly council meetings and business activities (virtually or in person).

The election will be held during the SOA Annual Business Meeting, which will occur during the SOA Spring Meeting on May 15-16, 2025. Prior to the election, candidates will be required to respond to a question printed in the Ohio Archivist.

More details about responsibilities and terms can be found in the SOA Constitution and Bylaws.

Please send nominations to committee chair Melissa Dalton by Friday, March 7, 2005. (Deadline extended from Friday, February 21, 2025.)

Questions? Contact the committee chair, Melissa Dalton.

Join us for Coffee Chat on Jan 15, 2025

Grab a hot beverage and join us for the first Society of Ohio Archivists (SOA) Coffee Chat on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, from 10-11am on Zoom! These casual gatherings are an opportunity for SOA members to network, share challenges and successes in their work, and bounce ideas off colleagues outside of the Annual Conference.

This first Coffee Chat will be a conversation about what we want these gatherings to look like (round robin, topical discussions, etc.) and how often they take place. This is your chance to shape a benefit of SOA membership! We hope to see you there. Please register to join the conversation. If you are unable to attend but would like to help shape what these meetings look like, please complete the survey.

Questions?  Contact Kristen Newby and Jim DaMico, SOA Council Members.

Council Meeting Minutes from Oct 25, 2024

The Society of Ohio Archivists most recent leadership meeting minutes from October 25, 2024, can now be found on the Council Meeting Minutes page.

Interested in SOA over time? Also on that page are minutes dating back to 1997. In addition to documenting actions from the leadership meeting, minutes include reports from the treasurer as well as from committees and task forces.

Questions about minutes? Contact SOA Secretary Shelby Beatty.

Renew Your SOA Membership for 2025

Dear SOA Member:

The Membership & Awards Committee invites you to renew your SOA membership or join as a new member in 2025. Membership may be renewed online through the secure site provided by the Ohio History Connection’s Ohio History Store or by mailing the PDF invoice with check or money order. SOA continues its hardship membership program for those experiencing uncertainty. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with questions or interest in the program. Continue reading →