Archives 101 Workshop well attended

Post by Sarah Patton:

In 2023, the State Historic Records Advisory Board (SHRAB) conducted a needs assessment survey for those working with historic records in the state of Nevada, and one major finding was the need for more education, including arrangement and description of paper records. Responding to this expressed desire, SHRAB worked with the Nevada Museums Association (NMA) to offer a free workshop, Archives 101 for Museum Professionals, as part of NMA’s annual conference, held this year in Tonopah from October 15 to 18, 2024.

Facilitated by Emily Fellmer (The Neon Museum) and co-taught by Maggie Gaspar (The Neon Museum), Sarah Patton (Nevada Historical Society), and Cyndi Shein (Nevada State Library, Archives, and Public Records), the four-hour workshop focused on some of the fundamentals of archival work, including ethics; key concepts, such as provenance and original order; acquisition and accessioning of material; processing, including arrangement, description, and creating a finding aid; and providing access to researchers. Hands-on activities were interspersed throughout to give participants an opportunity to synthesize and digest the information presented.

The workshop attracted nineteen participants, including volunteers, registrars, curators, and directors, from museums and historical societies across Nevada. Feedback from participants in an anonymous post-workshop survey was positive, with one participant noting, “Access to learning opportunities like these will only increase understanding and improve the care of archives across the state. What an excellent professional development opportunity.” Another reflected, “This workshop was a great use of my time and was immediately applicable to my work. Your funding has made a demonstrable contribution to Nevada museums. Thank you!” There were also great suggestions for how to improve future workshops and topics participants would like to see covered.

In talking with participants before, during, and after the workshop, it was clear that Nevada has dedicated professionals who deeply care about the material in their collections. They strive to adhere to best practices and share their materials with researchers. SHRAB is grateful to these individuals and is committed to continuing to support them through future educational opportunities.

The workshop was offered at no cost to participants thanks to a collaboration between the Nevada Museum Association and the Nevada State Historical Records Advisory Board, the generosity of the workshop instructors, and the support of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).