Society of American Archivists - UT Student Chapter

Society of American Archivists
University of Texas at Austin Student Chapter

3 MAY 2001 MEETING MINUTES

Next meeting TBA

Present: Carol Mead, Charles Hargrove, Becky Romanchuk, Joel Minor, Amy Braitsch, Jennifer Hecker, Heather Arnold

I. Meeting called to order by Carol Mead, president, at 6:30 pm.

II. SAA Web site: Discussion of design and content.

Charles suggested a regularly updated posting of announcements, jobs, and internships on the site to increase usefulness and encourage visits to the site as a resource for archivally-minded students. Carol added that upcoming events listings would also be an important service the web site could offer.

Several ideas as to the design of the site were voiced including the establishment of a theme or icon that would symbolize the identity of "archives", perhaps especially with a Texas/UT emphasis. Carol pointed out the popularity and convenience of using the cannon image of the Texas Archives War as an embracing theme of the site, and possibly of other SAA-UT materials. Jennifer and others favored incorporating hot dog symbols, in honor of our faculty sponsor, into the site design as an eye-catching and versatile device. Heather suggested looking at sites maintained by other student chapters of the SAA, links for which are available on the SAA web site.

III. Archives Week

Ideas concerning the theme for Archives Week 2001 were considered. Topics included non-paper formats, multimedia/multidisciplinary focus, digitization, and the marketing of archives. Agreement finally rested on Technology and Archives as a theme with enough breadth to allow for a range of special events during the week, and one that would interest archival students wanting to keep up with changes and developments in the use of technology in the archival environment.

Archives Week events should be limited to four in order to encourage maximum attendance and to focus organizational energy. The archives clinic held last year at the Austin History Center should be repeated. Coordination is needed with the PCS program, which used the clinic as an assignment for students last year. We will also approach Dr. Gracy about his extra credit option for attending Archives Week events.

Another proposed event is a panel discussion with Nicholson Baker as one of the participants, discussing technology and archives as he presents it in his recent book Double Fold. Jennifer pointed out that this panel would serve an outreach function, drawing an audience who may not normally think of archives at all, much less as an important field.

Other event ideas included a panel or presentation on Corbis and the recent enclosure of the Bettman photographic archive. Tours of local archives in academic and corporate settings, happy hours with local archivists invited to provide contacts and exposure to local opportunities, having recent graduates speak at UT and offer practical advice (e.g. administration, preservation/access for archives in real-world settings) are options for Archives Week and to fill out the rest of the year with activities.

Contacts for tours and speakers include: Joel/Sematech (Records Management); Amy/Linda Peterson's PowerPoint presentation of the Bailey Collection; Becky/Karl Miller (sound archives). Heather suggested the Architecture Library archives and the Texas State Archives Photography Collection as tours for the coming year. Coordination of off-campus tours with car-pooling, fliers and maps was discussed.

IV. Other business

Carol proposed a Career Fair for late fall.

VI. Meeting adjourned at approximately 8:30pm.

Minutes submitted by Becky Romanchuk on May 17, 2001.

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2001 Minutes

Society of American Archivists - University of Texas at Austin Student Chapter
E-mail: saa@ischool.utexas.edu