The Montana archivist

8 Pages·1999·0.28 MB·English

by  Montana State Historical Records Advisory Board

MONTANA
STATE
This "cover*' page added by the Internet Archive forformatting purposes

MONTANASTATELIBRARY
s
027.0786
H6ma Montana State Historical Records Advisor 3 0864 0015 4140 1
Spring 2002
Spring 2002 Volume3, Number2
HERITAGE MUSEUM IN LIBBY: THE CREATION OF AN ARCHIVES
BySamiPearson, Archivist
Due to a grant from the National Historical $178,000 Institute ofMuseum and Library Services
Publications and Records Commission awarded grantwasapplied forandreceived. The ideabehind
through the Montana Historical Society, the the grant was to create a model that could be
Heritage Museum in Libby, Montana, was able to appliedtoareas similarto Libbybyusinga library
begin a rather monumental project. That project and museum partnership to create access to historic
wasthecreationofanarchivesofhistorical material information. The Heritage Museum had close to
housed in the Heritage Museum. This archives twenty fiveyearsofmaterialsandartifactsthatwere
would achieve two main objectives: preserving the inaccessible to the general public due to lack of
historic documents residing in the museum's cataloging. The IMLS grant would allow the
extensive collections and making them accessible museum to catalog its collections and work closely
wheretheywerenotbefore. with the school district and the libraries to
The museum was able to gainthe assistance disseminate the information about the collections.
ofAnne Foster, the Traveling Archivist funded by a A full time archivist was hired to continue training
grantto the SHRAB, forthemonth ofOctober2000 the volunteers and lead the effort to catalog the
to begin the process. A week before her arrival, collections. With a full time archivist, volunteers
volunteersbusily emptiedthe formerworkshop area have greater flexibility ofhours, the research room
of the museum to create space for documents, is open close to forty hours a week, and archival
shelving, and a work area. The tools and supplies trainingisongoing.
previously housed inthe workshop were placed in a Not only did the IMLS grant provide an
new building behind the museum buih exclusively employee but also money to properly house the
asaworkshop. valuable historical papers regarding Libby and
Upon Anne's arrival she led the museum Lincoln County. As collections are processed and
volunteers and various board members through a finding aids written, the papers are permanently
process of crafting and writing collections policies housed in acid free folders and boxes. Photographs
and procedures. Following the policies creation, are encapsulated to prevent damage. Maps and
she prioritized the work that needed to be done and other large items are filed in a ten drawer flat file.
began training volunteers. During the month Anne Expanded shelving has allowed collections to be
was in Libby, several collections were completed grouped together and remain easily accessible for
and thirteen volunteers were trained in proper researchers.
handling procedures. Anne returned in March of Throughthe effortsofthevolunteers,the
2001 to check on the progress and help the archivesare startingto beusedonaregularbasis.
volunteerswithadditionaltraining. Local studentsinvolved intheMontanaHeritage
The same group ofdedicated volunteers that Projectaretaking
started the initial project decided to continue on advantage ofthe sources Contents:
their quest to create an archives that could be used onaweeklybasisand
not only by community members, but also a much researchrequestsfrom
v/ider audience. A collaborative effort between the outsidetheimmediate
Libby School District, the Lincoln County Public areaarecomingin
Libraries, and the Heritage Museum was created to throughemailand
benefitaccesstohistorical documentsinLibby. A telephone, (cont. onp.3)
UM & MHSARCHIVES RECEIVEGRANT LECTURE ON "PRESERVING YOUR
The University ofMontanaandthe Montana FAMILYMOMENTOS" AVAILABLE
Historical Society archives have both received a What do you do with fading family
portion ofa $350,000 National Endowment for the photographs, grainy videos, and yellowing
Humanities grant as part of the Northwest Digital newspaper clippings? The program "Preservii
Archivesconsortium. Your Family Mementos" by certified archivist and
The 2 year project, which consists of a SHRAB board member Anne Foster will answer
consortium of 15 repositories at 13 institutions in this question and more. From cherished baby
Montana, Washington, Oregon and Idaho, will pictures to scrapbooks of high school football
provide enhanced access to archival materials exploits, everyone keeps tokens of those special
through a union database of finding aids. The moments in life. Unfortunately, time and the
database, which will be available on the web, will environment conspire to ruin these precious items.
include information on over 2.000 collections "Luckily," explains Foster, "there are some things
across theNorthwest. you can do to slow the deterioration and preserve
By making information from many your family heirlooms for future generations."
institutions available in one database, researchers Accompanied by slides and handouts, Foster
will be able to make significant subject connections discusses museum preservation techniques anyone
between collections at many institutions. Significant canmaster.
subjects held in common include agriculture, forest The program is available free of charge to any
products, fisheries and natural resources; urban and nonprofit organization in Montana; venues outside
rural social andprogressive movements; local, state, ofYellowstone County will beaskedto reimburse
regional, and national politics; outdoor recreation; travel expenses. For more information or to
Native American language and culture; and the schedule a talk, contact Anne Foster, Huntley
place ofreligious communitiesintheregion. Project Museum; PO Box 353; Huntley, MT 59037;
Participating institutions are the University phone[phone]; email [email protected].
of Montana, Montana Historical Society,
University of Idaho, Oregon Historical Society, COLLECTIONS ON THE MOVE
Oregon State University, University of Oregon, The University of Montana Archives and
Center for Pacific Northwest Studies (Western Special Collections will move into a new facility in
Washington University), Pacific Lutheran the summer of 2002. Since 1975, the department
University, Seattle Municipal Archives, University has been housed in the traditional Archives location
of Washington, Washington State Archives, ofthe library's sub-basement, but will nowmoveto
Washington State University, and Whitworth a new facility on the fourth floor. Forvisitors to the
College. department, this means a quiet and pleasantreading
room inwhich to work, spacious newdisplay cases,
EVENTS IN & AROUND MONTANA and a space in which to attend seminars and
April 25-27: Museums AssociationofMontana receptions. Forthe materials, it means growth space
annual conference, Butte in storage areas, a clean and uncarpeted floor, and a
April 25-27: Montana Library Associationannual state-of-the-art fire protection system. And for the
conference. Great Falls Archives and Special Collections staff, it means all
April 26-27: NorthwestArchivists, Inc. annual thispluswindows intheworkroom and offices!
WA
conference, Corvallis,
MMaayy43:: MSoHnRtAanBamSeteattienGge,nHeaelloegniacal Society NOTE: UM StaffNews Jodi Allison-Bunnell. UM
boardmeeting, Helena Archivist, will resign from the University of
May20-25: ARMA Basic Blitzworkshops, Montana, effective June 30, 2002. She may
Kalispell, Havre, and Glasgow- continue to work past that date until the library can
June 23-29: History Camp forKids, Virginiaand hire areplacementarchivist. Jodi will alsocontinue
NevadaCities to serveonthe SHRAB. (
July 7-10: HistoryCamp forEducators,
VirginiaandNevadaCities
TheMontanaArchivist,page 2
MONTANAUNION CATALOG JOB OPENING: ASSISTANTPROGRAM
The Montana Union Catalog is a special MANAGER,LIBRARY & ARCHIVES
program of the National Union Catalog of MontanaHistoricalSociety
Manuscript Collections (NUCMC), which is Position: The Montana Historical Society seeks an
sponsored by the Library ofCongress, designed to Assistant Program Manager for the Library &
make the records ofarchives in Montana available Archives Program. The position is responsible for
to researchers around the nation and the world. developing, implementing, and evaluating a
NUCMC provides bibliographic records and makes program of patron service that effectively delivers
associated authority records for collections in the historical research and reference assistance to the
custody of repositories located throughout the public statewide and nationally. The position
country. The repositories must be open to provides direction for the acquisition, cataloging,
researchers onaregularbasis and mustbeunable to and maintenance ofarchival and library resources;
contribute cataloging to a national computer assists the Program Manager in administering the
databaseontheirown. Small archivesthatare open program's budget, policies, and equipment; and
to the public are especially encouraged to provides training and technical assistance to library
NUCMC
participate in this project. will catalog andarchivesstaff.
manuscript collections, oral histories, multimedia Qualifications: This position requires skills and
materials, and individual manuscript items (such as abilitiestypicallyacquiredthroughacombinationof
a diary, letter, or journal). The project aims to education and experience equivalent to a Master's
&
provide widespread access to the holdings of degree in Library Archival Science with an
archives ofall sizes. Ifyou or your organization is undergraduatedegree inhistoryorarelated field; or
interested in participating in this project, please aMaster's degree inHistorywiththreeto five years
contact Tony Gonzalas at the Library ofCongress, direct experience as an archivist or librarian. The
[phone], orEllie Arguimbauat the Montana position requires at least three years ofsupervisory
Historical Society, [phone]. Cataloging experience. Successful grant writing experience is
NUCMC
submitted to is available for researchers desirable.
onthe internetathttp://lcweb.loc.gov/coll/nucmc/ Institution: The Montana Historical Society is the
nucmc.html. repository for the official records of the state of
SHRABMEETING Montana. The Library and Archives also holds
The Montana State Historic Records extensive manuscript, photographic, map,
Advisory Board will hold the first of its biannual newspaper, and book collections pertaining to the
meetings for 2002 in Helena on Friday, May 3, at fur trade and exploration, mining, railroads, and
1:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in the third earlysettlementinMontanaandthewest.
floor conference room of the Montana Historical Salary Range: $33,000 - $42,000 annual salary
Society, 225 N Roberts Street. The public is (Montana salary grade 16, pending classification,
welcome to attend. Discussion will include position#51700076).
reappointment of current Board members, the ClosingDate: May6, 2002.
appointment ofnew members, and future activities. Application Procedure: Candidates must submita
For more information contact Molly Miller, State letter ofinterest, and complete a State ofMontana
Coordinator, at444-7482 [email protected]. employmentapplicationand supplemental questions
(see http://www.state.mt.us/css/stateiobs ) to the
LIBBY(CONT.) MHS Personnel Office, 225 No. Roberts St., PO
A research request tracking system has been Box 201201, Helena, MT 59601-1201. For more
implemented to gauge general use and individual informationcontact Dr. Charlene Porsild, Library &
collection use. With the increased activity at the Archives Program Manager, voice: 444-4787;
museum, community interest is rising. Donations email: cporsildfojstate.mt.us.
of historical documents have increased along with
the number of volunteers wanting to become IF YOU HAVE an item you would like to include
involved. For more information on the Heritage in the nextMontanaArchivist, please contactMolly
Museum in Libby, contact Sami Pearson at Millerat444-7482 [email protected].
[email protected][phone].
TheMontanaArchivist,page3
(h\t-m ilahimi