The Processing Manual as a Tool for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Kate McNally & Maggie McNeely, Brandeis University

free knowledge share | Thursday, February 24, 2022, 2-3:30 pm

Are you currently working on integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) best practices into processing at your institution, or wondering how to do it and where to start? Are you interested in hearing more about the topic? Please join us for this special knowledge share event and learn how archivists at one New England institution developed a processing manual with a DEI framework.

Can standardized processing workflows encapsulate today’s minimal and extensible processing methods while simultaneously implementing DEI best practices? This was our central question when developing the first processing manual at Brandeis University, published in December 2021. The manual includes a processing level matrix, and covers accessioning, surveying, and workflows for five different levels of processing, restrictions, and access determination. The manual also solidifies new workflows which aim to balance the use of extensible archival practices to increase access to collections, with the need to address DEI concerns through transparency, care for content creators and subjects, thoughtful treatment of provenance, and mitigation of harm. This session will discuss the goals and challenges involved in developing our manual and engage the audience in considering the use of a processing manual as a tool for DEI action.

Participants are welcome, but not required to, review the manual before the session. https://www.brandeis.edu/library/archives/collections/processing-manual.pdf Presenters would recommend focusing on sections Introduction I.D., Chapter 1, and Chapter 6.E. Please be prepared to share thoughts and feedback on the presented material.

Presenter Bios:

Kate McNally
Kate received her M.A. in Archives and Records Management from University College London in 2016. She has worked at Brandeis University for 2 years, serving as the Records Assistant & Manuscript Processor. This work has her supporting both the University Records Management Program, as well as processing collections for both the University Archives and Special Collections. Before coming to Brandeis, Kate served as the Digitization Archivist at the Preservation Society of Newport County (Newport Mansions), in Newport, Rhode Island. Kate has made an effort to engage with anti-oppressive library practice both within Brandeis and without, including working with the Boston Library Consortium’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Community of Interest working group. Most recently, she and her colleagues published the Robert D. Farber University Archives & Special Collections Processing Manual, which is now available on the Brandeis University website.

Maggie McNeely
Maggie graduated from the School of Library and Information Science at Simmons University in 2004, and has worked at Brandeis University in various archivist roles for 15 years. Her current role focuses on the stewardship of University Archives and Special Collections materials. Her anti-racism work has included working with diverse alumni and student communities to bring visibility to marginalized voices. Together with alumni and students, we have built the Black Space Portal for engagement with primary source materials and university history. Most recently, she and her colleagues published the Robert D. Farber University Archives & Special Collections Processing Manual, which is now available on the Brandeis University website.

Chloe Gerson - Moderator

For questions or concerns about accessibility and/or disability accommodations that you would like addressed before registration, please contact NEA’s Inclusion and Diversity Committee at diversity@newenglandarchivists.org for assistance.