Author Archives: soa

2019 Scholarships for Students & New Archival Professionals

The Society of Ohio Archivists (SOA) is pleased to announce four scholarships available to students (2 awards), and new archival professionals (2 awards) with three years or less experience in the workplace to attend their annual spring meeting on Friday, May 17, 2019 at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn Hotel.

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

Applications should include the following information:

        • Applicant’s name, mailing address, and e-mail 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
        • Applications are due by February 25, 2019.

       

Applications and inquiries can be sent via e-mail or mail to Devhra BennettJones, [email protected] Lloyd Library, 917 Plum Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.

The awards will be presented at the Society of Ohio Archivists Annual meeting on Friday, May 17, 2019 at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn Hotel.

SOA Annual Meeting (Save the Date!) May 17, 2019

Mark your calendars!

The Society of Ohio Archivists’ 2019 Annual Meeting will be held on Friday, May 17, 2019, at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn Hotel in Akron, Ohio, with a preconference workshop and mixer on Thursday, May 16.

Join us for two days full of Invention and Innovation.

Follow the Annual Meeting website and hashtag (#soaam19) for more information. And be on the lookout for the call for proposals, which will be sent out mid-December.

We hope to see you all in May!

Stephanie Bricking & Stacey Lavender
Co-chairs, Society of Ohio Archivists Educational Programming Committee

Ohio Archives Month Poster Entries 2018: Hometown Heroes: How the People of Ohio Made a Difference in their Communities

It’s October and you know what that means- it’s American Archives Month! This year’s annual SOA poster to celebrate the event in Ohio recognizes “hometown heroes” who have made a difference in their communities and the world. Ten photos were chosen as winners but only a selection were included in the final poster. You can read the stories behind all ten winning images below. Congratulations to the winners and please consider sharing something from your own collection when the call goes out for next year’s poster.

Bowling Green State University Center for Archival Collections 

Ella P. Stewart (1893-1987) was among the first practicing African American woman pharmacists, a civil rights and women’s rights activist, and a respected community leader in Toledo, Ohio.  She was elected president of the Ohio Association of Colored Women in 1944 and served as president of the National Association of Colored Women from 1948-1952.  In 1952 she was also chosen to be a delegate to the International Conference of Women of the World, and in 1963 was appointed commissioner of the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).  The Ella P. Stewart Academy for Girls in Toledo is named in her honor.

Case Western Reserve University Archives

Frances Payne Bolton reviews a Negro Nursing Unit, ca. 1940-1945.

Frances Payne Bolton was the first woman representative from Ohio in Congress. A particular interest of hers was nursing. She provided funds for the School of Nursing at Western Reserve University (which was named in her honor in 1935).

Among her accomplishments in representing Ohio, she was the sponsor of The Bolton Act which opened up the nursing profession to all women. It created the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps.

Frederick C. Robbins in Italy during World War II. Ca. 1942 – 1945.

Dr. Robbins served in Italy and North Africa as Chief of the Virus and Rickettsial Disease Section of the 15th Medical General Laboratory. He received a Bronze Star and was discharged with the rank of Major.

In 1954 he received the Nobel Prize in Medicine with Drs. John F. Enders and Thomas H. Weller for their “discovery of the ability of poliomyelitis viruses to grow in cultures of various types of tissue.” This research led to the Salk and Sabin polio vaccines.

He continued to work on eradicating polio throughout his life and continued to work on research in other diseases such as HIV/AIDS.

Infant Welfare Clinic, University Public Health Nursing District, ca. 1917—1929.

The Public Health Nursing Program at Western Reserve University provided training for student nurses in caring for the community.

Clark County Historical Society

Sully Jaymes was Springfield’s first African-American lawyer, opening his practice in 1903. He was one of Springfield’s most tireless activists for equal rights. Jaymes represented primarily black clients, including Richard Dixon, the lynching victim of the 1904 riot, and other African-Americans indicted in the race riots of 1906 and 1921. Jaymes offered his services free of charge if clients were unable to pay. His commitment to securing equal rights under the law for black people by far took precedence over money.

Mahoning Valley Historical Society

Harry Burt, inventor and manufacturer of the Good Humor ice cream bar of Youngstown, OH.  He also pioneered the use of an ice cream truck and the “Good Humor Man” uniformed delivery/salesman of the Good Humor ice cream.  The location for the invention of and first manufacture of the product is now our Tyler Mahoning Valley History Center.

Old Worthington Library

George C. Blake, a World War II veteran from Worthington, Ohio, was awarded the Silver Star Medal in 1945 for his courageous actions on December 9, 1944 near Norville Les Vic, France. As a Private First Class in the 761st Tank Battalion, he worked through the night under intense artillery and mortar fire to administer first aid and evacuate the wounded. His Silver Star Medal citation states, “Private First Class Blake’s courageous action and devotion to duty exemplifies the highest tradition of the Armed Forces.” The 761st Tank Battalion was the first African American tank unit of the United States Army; it was not until the Carter Administration that a Presidential Unit Citation was issued to the 761st for extraordinary heroism.

University of Akron

Photograph of C.W. Seiberling as Santa Claus, 1919.  C.W. Seiberling co-founded with his brother F.A. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio, which eventually created millions of jobs for people in Ohio and around the globe.  Known as “the heart” of the company and a pioneer in the rubber industry, he is best known for his philanthropic work.  C.W. Seiberling devoted countless hours and resources toward helping the under-privileged, especially children.  He was an ardent supporter and financer of the Edwin Shaw Sanatorium, Akron Children’s Hospital, Akron’s Community Chest, the YWCA, both Girl Scout and Boy Scout movements, and the Handicapped Action Group, and donated generously to numerous churches and civic organizations regardless of race, creed, or color.   Image from the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Records, The University of Akron, Archival Services.

Photograph of Mary Gladwin, ca. 1889.
Mary Gladwin of Akron, Ohio served as a nurse in the Spanish-American War, the Philippine insurrection, the Russo-Japanese War, and World War I, where she served as supervisor of nurses at the American Hospital in Belgrade, Serbia.  She also played a key role in the Red Cross relief efforts in Dayton during the 1913 flood.  Gladwin helped found the Summit County Chapter of the Red Cross and the Visiting Nurses Association in Akron.  She was the first woman awarded the Florence Nightingale Medal for Nursing and the School of Nursing building on The University of Akron campus is named in her honor.  Image from the Mary Gladwin Papers, The University of Akron, Archival Services.

University of Cincinnati

Theodore M. Berry was a pioneering civil rights activist and politician from Cincinnati, Ohio, who from the 1930s to the 1990s was instrumental in National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) litigation, federal civil rights administration, and civic participation. Berry attended the University of Cincinnati College of Law, and in 1939 was appointed as Assistant Prosecutor of Hamilton County, the first African American to hold the post. Berry was elected to Cincinnati City Council in 1965, and later served in the Johnson administration. On December 1, 1972, Berry was sworn in as Mayor, making Cincinnati history as the first African American to hold the position.

If you want to continue your Archives Month celebrations, use SOA’s Passport to the Past to find out more about historical organizations throughout the state and visit one near you!

Ohio Archives Month Poster 2018: Hometown Heroes: How the People of Ohio Made a Difference in their Communities


This year’s theme for the Society of Ohio Archivists American Archives Month poster is “Hometown Heroes: How the People of Ohio Made a Difference in their Communities.” The images featured on the poster were submitted from historical societies, libraries, and archives around the state, representing local individuals who made significant contributions in their region of Ohio and to state and national history.

#AskAnArchivist Day Oct 3

Get ready for #AskAnArchivist Day on Wednesday, October 3, when archivists around the country will answer questions about archives. Find ideas for promoting the day among your users and developing a plan with your colleagues to respond to tweets. Follow other #AskAnArchivist Day participants, and email Abigail Christian with your institution’s handle to join the list.

Source: Society of American Archivists, In the Loop for Wednesday, September 12, 2018

What Is #AskAnArchivist Day? (Source: https://www2.archivists.org/initiatives/askanarchivist-day )

It’s an opportunity to:

  • Break down the barriers that make archivists seem inaccessible.
  • Talk directly to the public—via Twitter—about what you do, why it’s important and, of course, the interesting records with which you work.
  • Join with archivists around the country and the world to make an impact on the public’s understanding of archives while celebrating American Archives Month!
  • Interact with users, supporters, and prospective supporters about the value of archives.
  • Hear directly from the public about what they’re most interested in learning about from archives and archivists.

SOA/OLHA fall meeting Oct 5-6 – Preregistration closes 9/21

Fall Meeting 2018

Join the Society of Ohio Archivists and the Ohio Local History Alliance for the 2018 joint meeting and conference: The Past is Present

October 5-6, 2018 – Crown Plaza, Dublin, Ohio

It is OLHA’s annual meeting (packed with great sessions) with the addition of a SOA track on Friday (day 1), serving as SOA’s fall conference. Come for SOA’s sessions or come for the entire conference!

Registration

  • Member (SOA/OLHA) $85; Nonmember $105; Student $51
  • Also single day rates and preconference workshop available. See registration link.
  • Register online by September 21 at http://www.ohiohistorystore.com/Product_Min.aspx?ProductId=9209 

Accommodations: A block of rooms has been reserved at the Crowne Plaza in Dublin (800.309.0989). Ask for the event code OLH or register online using this link to receive the discounted conference room rate of $101.00 + tax per night. Be sure to book your reservation by September 20; after September 20, the block of rooms will be released and the hotel may charge higher rates. Parking is free.

For more information on the full program see http://www.ohiolha.org/what-we-do/alliance-annual-meeting/ or download the program brochure.

SOA TRACK – Friday Oct 5

9-9:50am – Basics of Finding Aids
Writing finding aids for your collections can feel daunting if you don’t know where to start. This session is intended for individuals who have little or no prior experience writing finding aids, and will focus on just the basics: what information does a finding aid absolutely need to include to meet archival best practices, and how can you get there simply.
Cate Putirskis, special collection processing manager, The Ohio State University Libraries

10:10-11:00am – Project STAND
This year’s SOA Merit Award winner will highlight and discuss Project STAND (Student Activism Now Documented), which unifies historical materials documenting student activism from a variety of academic institutions.
Lae’l Hughes-Watkins, university archivist, assistant professor, Kent State University Libraries

11:20-12:10pm – Grant Opportunities for Preservation and Access
Representatives from the Ohio Historical Records Advisory Board and the Ohio Preservation Council will discuss grant opportunities relating to preserving and providing access to historical materials offered by their respective organizations.
Ashleigh Schieszer, OPC & Ron Davidson, OHRAB

2:00-2:50pm – Ask an Archivist
Archivists from different sized institutions and with a variety of job descriptions will be ready to discuss a variety of archival issues including donor relations, digital projects, archival best practices, and more. Come ready with archives questions!
Robin Heise, records manager/archivist, Greene County Records Center and Archives; Nancy Horlacher, local history specialist, Dayton Metro Library; Amy McCrory, head, Digital Imaging Unit, The Ohio State University Libraries; Collette McDonough, archivist and library manager, Kettering Foundation; Adam Wanter, digital and special collections archivist, MidPointe Library System.

3:10-4:00pm – Bertie’s Journals: The Dawes Arboretum Digitization Project
In late 2016, The Dawes Arboretum History Department began to prepare for the digitization of its entire archival collection. The starting point of this project would be to digitize Arboretum co-founder Bertie Dawes’s journals. This presentation, using the journals as a case study, will outline the steps small institutions can take to begin mass digitization projects that have an online presence.
Sarah Aisenbrey, archivist, The Dawes Arboretum

Janet Carleton

Vice President | Liaison to Educational Programming Committee

Society of Ohio Archivists

https://ohioarchivists.org/educational-programming/

https://ohioarchivists.org/annual_conference/

Newest Council Members and Council Liaisons

Although the SOA Annual meeting is over, we have a couple of new bits of information to share below:

The newest council members and treasurer have been announced!

Council Members:

  • Cate Putirskis – Special Collections Processing Manager, Ohio State University Libraries
  • Sherri Goudy – Ohio History Service Corps Member, Logan County History Center/Ohio History Connection

Treasurer:

  • Mark Bloom – Archives Associate, Senior, The University of Akron

We also have the new list of Council Liaisons (check the various committee pages for updates soon)

 

Early Bird Registration for SOA’s 2018 Annual Meeting Ends Monday, April 30th

Just a reminder that early bird registration for SOA’s 2018 Annual Meeting ends on Monday, April 30th! That will also be the last day to register for the 50th Anniversary Mixer, which will be held Thursday, May 17 from 6-8pm at Polaris Grill. Join us to celebrate 50 years of SOA!

50 Years of New Frontiers: SOA at 50

Please join us for the Society of Ohio Archivists’ Annual Meeting Thursday May 17-Friday, May 18, 2018 at the Quest Conference Center, 8405 Pulsar Place, Columbus, Ohio, 43240.

See conference page at https://ohioarchivists.org/annual_conference/ for more.

Plenary speaker Tanya Zanish-Belcher, president, the Society of American Archivists, and director of Special Collections & University Archivist at Wake Forest University, will discuss several key components of an archival career, including the role of mentoring and networking, keeping up with trends in archives, and why belonging to professional associations is important.

Conference hashtag: #soaam18

Registration

  • Online registration: http://www.ohiohistorystore.com/Product.aspx?ProductId=9174
  • Printable form: download this PDF, and mail to Mark Bloom, Treasurer, 8477 Summer Road, Macedonia, OH 44056.
  • The meeting registration fee includes continental breakfast, lunch, and breaks (including cake!) on Friday. Due to catering restrictions, lunch cannot be guaranteed for those who register onsite.
  • Categories
    • Early bird meeting registration (ends April 30, 5 PM): $45 SOA members, $65 nonmembers, $30 students.
    • Regular meeting preregistration (May 1–May 11, 5 PM): $50 SOA members, $70 nonmembers, $35 students.
    • Onsite meeting registration (May 18): $60 SOA members, $80 nonmembers, $40 students.
    • Workshop preregistration (ends May 11, 5 PM): $20 for members of SOA/ALAO, $25 for nonmembers, and $10 for students. No onsite registration available for workshop. Limited to 40.
    • Mixer registration (ends April 30, 5pm): $20.

Hotel
SOA has reserved a block of rooms at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Columbus Polaris, which is right next to both the Polaris Grill and Quest Conference Center. The rooms will be available at a discounted rate of $119 a night. Book by April 18, 2018. To reserve a room in the block, use this link, or call 614-568-0770 and mention that you are with the Society of Ohio Archivists.

50th Anniversary Mixer

6PM-8PM. Polaris Grill, 1835 Polaris Parkway, Columbus, 43240

Our 50th Anniversary Mixer will be an excellent opportunity to talk with old buddies and colleagues, and to make new friends among your SOA peers over heavy hors d’oeuvres and beverages. Also available will be a cash bar. The mixer will be limited to 50 attendees, and registration will close when early bird registration ends on April 30, or when the event is full. Remember the early bird gets the worm!

Society of Ohio Archivists’ 2018 Spring Newsletter

The front cover of the 2018 Spring Issue of the Ohio Archivist.
The Spring 2018 issue of the Ohio Archivist is now available! In this issue you will find all the information about the spring annual meeting, including details on the Thursday evening mixer and the preconference workshop. The issue also contains grant and award information; news from SOA members and institutions across the state; a recap of the joint OLHA/SOA fall meeting; and statements from the the SOA slate of candidates that will be voted on during the annual meeting. Special 50th anniversary content includes more statements from SOA past presidents by Feature Editor George Bain.

Archives Month Posters for 2016 and 2017 Now Online

If you’ve been waiting for the 2016 and 2017 Archives Month Posters to appear online, then wait no more!

We have just updated our Archives Month page to display the 2016 and 2017 Archives Month posters, as well as several previous years that were already available. Follow the link below to check them out!

https://ohioarchivists.org/archives_month_posters/