News & EVENTS

Black Lives Matter. Archivists must do better. 
Statement from the New England Archivists Board
June 6, 2020

The Executive Board of the New England Archivists (NEA) unequivocally states that Black Lives Matter. We condemn the police brutality that violently ended the lives of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Tony McDade, and innumerable others. We condemn the racist individuals and corrupt systems that continually inflict violence and death upon people of color like Ahmaud Arbery and Nina Pop. We recognize that the history of the United States--and the history of so many archival collections that we steward--is rooted in slavery, genocide, and oppression. We stand in solidarity with all Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Color (BIPOC), as well as their communities.

We acknowledge not only that structural racism exists, but specifically that archivists and archival work have played a role in perpetuating many oppressive systems. We recognize that archivists can be agents for change, but that reparative and diversity-focused efforts cannot be the sole responsibility of our BIPOC colleagues. Anti-racist actions must be taken by all archivists. NEA affirms its commitment to cultivating a more inclusive archival profession: one that values and preserves the evidence of human experiences, while also working to dismantle damaging archival practices that compound historical erasure and harm. 

While the current political and social climates are immensely challenging for most of us, to Black Americans and people of color, these circumstances are yet another deadly escalation in a history full of hateful violence. We hope that NEA can serve as a source of opportunities for serious introspection, positive actions, and continued professional engagement that prioritizes the lives, experiences, and safety of BIPOC.

To that end, the NEA Inclusion and Diversity Committee has compiled a list of readings, resources, and guidelines to support all of us in learning how we can work towards a more just society and more transparent, accountable archival practices. Included in this list are ideas for specific actions archivists can take in our work to create a truly representative historical record and provide better access to collections for all.

Archivists must apply a critical lens to the work we do, identifying the power and privilege informing so many of our practices. In the coming days, the NEA board will develop concrete action items: progressive steps both to improve equity within our own organization and to assist our members in deconstructing oppressive environments within their workplaces. Likewise, we encourage our members to share resources they have found helpful, and to participate in ongoing dialogues about race, justice, and oppression. Discussing these issues and taking thoughtful action is the way forward. Silence is complicit.

In solidarity,
The New England Archivists Executive Board

Statement to NEA Membership → June 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has destabilized the lives of countless people worldwide, including archival workers. Many of us have lost our jobs, been furloughed, had our hours cut, or lost access to healthcare and childcare. In light of these circumstances, the Society of American Archivists (SAA) established the Archival Workers Emergency Fund (AWEF), a mutual aid fund that provides financial support to archival workers who have experienced acute economic hardship related to COVID-19. 

NEA believes strongly in the AWEF’s mission to support archival workers regardless of educational attainment or job status, and we stand in solidarity with all archival workers who have been affected by the pandemic. We are proud to join many colleagues across the country in supporting this crucial fund. On Monday, June 1, 2020, the New England Archivists donated $2,000 to the AWEF.  

This donation money comes from unused scholarships originally allocated to fund travel to the NEA Spring 2020 Meeting. Although this money could not fulfill its original purpose, it can still provide critically important support to those in need. These are financially uncertain times for many people and professional organizations, and we believe it is our duty to stand with our colleagues by giving what we can. 

NEA wishes to extend special gratitude to all the individuals who worked to bring the AWEF into existence and whose continuing efforts help ensure that all funds raised make their way to individuals in need. Now more than ever, it is important that we advocate for the most vulnerable members of our professional community. NEA plans to continue our work promoting salary transparency and raising awareness about the impacts of overreliance on temporary and contingent labor in our field. 

As always, we welcome any suggestions and ideas about how we can best support archivists in our region during these difficult times. And we encourage each of you to donate to the AWEF if you are able, or to apply for a grant if you are in need. 

Stay safe and take care!

The leadership of New England Archivists (NEA) is closely monitoring the ongoing coronavirus developments and their implications for our organization. The health, safety, and well-being of our community are our top priorities. Due to the continuing uncertainties affecting our ability to plan for the future, and the personal and professional challenges many of our colleagues are experiencing, the NEA Executive Board made the difficult decision to postpone the Fall 2020 Meeting until we can, hopefully, safely meet in Fall 2021.

Please continue to consult the NEA website, social media, and listserv messages for information regarding the resumption of our regular meeting schedule in 2021. Until that time, we wish the best of health to you and your loved ones.

The Mentoring Administrator will be responsible for supporting the activities of the NEA Mentoring Program. They will recruit and organize the liaisons, mentors, and mentees; launch the next round of the program; and work with the Communications Committee to promote the activities of the program. The administrator will report on all Mentoring Program activity to the Membership Chair and, when requested, to the NEA Executive Board. The person in this position will be a member of the Membership Committee and will serve for two years.

If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please send a letter of interest and your resume/CV to the Chair of the Membership Committee, Samuel Howes (Samuel.Howes@maine.gov), by Friday, May 22nd.

The leadership of New England Archivists (NEA) is closely monitoring the ongoing coronavirus developments and their implications for the Spring 2020 Meeting in Providence, Rhode Island. The health, safety, and well-being of our community are our top priorities. At this time, the physical meeting in Rhode Island cannot proceed as planned. The leadership is considering all of NEA’s options and is working to determine the best course of action, including all digital and physical (later date) alternatives. 

We know that this decision will affect many of you, and we thank you for your patience as we work to find the option that will best serve our community. We plan to reach a decision on alternatives soon, and we will share updates via the NEA website, social media, and the NEA listserv. In the meantime, we kindly ask registrants to wait on requesting a conference registration refund. Once an alternative plan is formulated, NEA will honor any requested refund (free of cancellation fees). With respect to hotel accommodations, please contact Marriott directly to cancel your reservation and receive a refund. Thank you for your support of NEA while we navigate the complexities of the coronavirus’s impact on the Spring 2020 meeting. 

We appreciate your patience while we establish protocol. 

The New England Archivists Membership Committee is looking for two volunteers to take on the roles of Mentoring Administrator and Membership Engagement Coordinator. 

The Mentoring Administrator will be responsible for supporting the activities of the NEA Mentoring Program. They will recruit and organize the liaisons, mentors, and mentees; launch the next round of the program; and work with the Communications Committee to promote the activities of the program. The administrator will report on all Mentoring Program activity to the Membership Chair and, when requested, to the NEA Executive Board. The person in this position will be a member of the Membership Committee and will serve for two years.

The Membership Engagement Coordinator develops and implements strategies for re-engaging lapsed members; recruits new members to the organization through targeted outreach efforts, such as attending membership meet-ups, career and internship fairs, and regional archives events; encourages donations to the NEA general fund and the awards and scholarship funds; works with the Membership Survey Coordinator to develop relevant questions for the annual membership survey; and identifies and recommends new opportunities for generating membership financial support.  The Membership Engagement Coordinator will report to the Membership Chair and, when requested, to the NEA Executive Board.  The person in this position will be a member of the Membership Committee and will serve for three years.

If you are interested in either of these exciting opportunities, please send a letter of interest, specifying which role you are applying for, and your resume/CV to the Chair of the Membership Committee, Samuel Howes (Samuel.Howes@maine.gov), by Friday, March 13, 2020.

Join NEA at the Spring 2020 Meeting, April 2-4, in Providence, RI, for “Inside and Outside.” This year’s meeting will explore ideas of inclusion and exclusion in our collections, audiences, and workforce. 

In addition to sessions, the program will include four full-day workshops, plenary speakers, a community Day of Service, local repository tours, roundtables, special programming, and the opportunity to meet and share ideas with colleagues from across New England. In the coming weeks, look for sneak peaks into the many areas of programming that will be on offer!

See the meeting’s webpage for more information on all of the events planned for the three-day meeting.

Questions?

If you have questions about registration, please see our Registration FAQ or contact NEA’s Registrar, David Read, at registrar@newenglandarchivists.org. 

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 co-chairs, Rosemary Davis and Rose Oliveira, at diversity@newenglandarchivists.org.

For questions about the program, please contact the Program Committee chair, Amber LaFountain, at Amber_LaFountain@hms.harvard.edu.

Looking forward to seeing you in Providence!

The New England Archivists Nominating Committee is pleased to announce the winners of the 2019 election:

Vice President/President-Elect: Genna Duplisea

Secretary: Kate Herbert

Treasurer: Michael Dello Iacono

Representative-at-Large: Stephanie Krauss

Congratulations to our incoming Board members! Thanks to the voting membership for participation in this important process, and many thanks to all the candidates who put themselves forward to serve our organization.

New England Archivists Nominating Committee 2019:
Karen Adler Abramson (Chair)
Prudence Doherty
Ellen Doon
Sarah Galligan
Heather Moran

The New England Archivists’ Education Committee is looking for one student member and one full member to serve a one-year term each, from Fall 2019 to Fall 2020 (beginning after the Fall 2019 meeting). We are also looking for three full members to begin serving next year, after the Spring 2020 Meeting.

Responsibilities include planning workshops and webinars (which can be done from the comfort of your home through email), liaising with members to determine their education needs, and serving as a day-of workshop representative at NEA’s Spring meetings. It is a fun, easy way to build your resume.

If you are interested, please contact co-chairs Becky Parmer and Nadia Dixson at education@newenglandarchivists.org