Working together while working alone
A small bit of working at the Congregational Library
Hiya!
I thought I'd kick us off on this new forum category.
First off, I'm not quite a lone arranger anymore. I have acquired a part-time (one day a week) assistant. However, most of the time, I'm the only one at the Congregational Library who has the voice of authority for archive things. Certainly most of my career has been Lone, so it's hard to let go of that designation.
I recently visited a Simmons class with fellow Ning/Lone Arranger, Alyssa Pacy. One of the questions that was asked of both of us is what recent thing has gotten us excited about being an archivist. This is what I said:
There's a collection that I've just finished (as of last week, since I spoke to the class) that was pretty tedious: compact individual files so there are multiple per folder; create a name list of everyone for the finding aid. 22 of the 26 boxes was just this. I listened to a lot of podcasts and was in danger of getting RSI, but I'm done! Victorious! Here's the great bit: I have reclaimed two and a half shelves.. Also, it's very possible that this collection will be a gem for researchers who are looking for biographical information about an ancestor or their church's former minister (or both). Getting this work done may have been mind-numbingly dull, but it was good, useful, brass tacks archive work. I also get to throw away a metric ton of nasty, old folders.
This picture is of me in my office from spring 2007- a work in progress on my table.
I thought I'd kick us off on this new forum category.
First off, I'm not quite a lone arranger anymore. I have acquired a part-time (one day a week) assistant. However, most of the time, I'm the only one at the Congregational Library who has the voice of authority for archive things. Certainly most of my career has been Lone, so it's hard to let go of that designation.
I recently visited a Simmons class with fellow Ning/Lone Arranger, Alyssa Pacy. One of the questions that was asked of both of us is what recent thing has gotten us excited about being an archivist. This is what I said:
There's a collection that I've just finished (as of last week, since I spoke to the class) that was pretty tedious: compact individual files so there are multiple per folder; create a name list of everyone for the finding aid. 22 of the 26 boxes was just this. I listened to a lot of podcasts and was in danger of getting RSI, but I'm done! Victorious! Here's the great bit: I have reclaimed two and a half shelves.. Also, it's very possible that this collection will be a gem for researchers who are looking for biographical information about an ancestor or their church's former minister (or both). Getting this work done may have been mind-numbingly dull, but it was good, useful, brass tacks archive work. I also get to throw away a metric ton of nasty, old folders.
This picture is of me in my office from spring 2007- a work in progress on my table.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Christina Zamon on -
I don't have the luxury of having a regular assistant (although in title I get someone from our IR department for 15 hours a week but not for "archival" duties but rather doing things like scanning, moving boxes, replacing light bulbs in exhibit cases, etc.) but I do have the luxury of using interns from Simmons College as do most of us in the Boston Metro area. Here's a pic of one of my students at work.
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