Vermont Historical Society hosts workshop
Dateline: April 26, 2011
Barre, Vt.– For the first time in at least a decade, the Vermont Historical Society is bringing Vermonters the New England Archivists' well-regarded workshop on archival arrangement and description. This intermediate-level full-day workshop focuses on day-to-day decisions in arranging and describing archival and manuscript collections that have minimal order.
“In our ongoing effort to effectively serve the needs of local historical societies and museums, we are hosting this day-long workshop,” explained VHS Librarian Paul Carnahan, “to assist records keepers with the fundamental elements of their responsibilities.”
The workshop, Arrangement and Description: An Introduction to Archival Processing, will be presented on Friday, May 20, 2011, at the Vermont History Center, 60 Washington Street in Barre, Vermont. The presenter, Bruce P. Stark, has a Ph.D. in history from the University of Connecticut and has been an archivist for more than thirty years. He has been in charge of processing programs at the State University of New York College at Plattsburgh, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscripts Library, the University of Connecticut, and the Connecticut State Library.
The day-long program will include discussions on finding aid design, guidelines for establishing series and subseries, basic conservation practices, handling problem materials, restrictions, sensitive subject matter, and guidelines for appraisal and weeding. Registrants are encouraged to bring processing questions.
“The workshop will assist collecting institutions small and large by focusing on making proper decisions when arranging and describing archival and manuscript materials,” Carnahan added.
Workshop participants will receive a copy of “A Guide for Processing Manuscript Collections,” written by the instructor. Discounted registration fee is available for members of the New England Archivists and the Vermont Historical Society. Registration deadline is Friday, May 6. For more information about the workshop and registration instructions, please contact Lisa Evans at (802) 479-8522 or visit www.newenglandarchivists.org/workshops/workshops.html#IntroProc.
