Archivists really do have power

January 23rd, 2012

When I tell people that I’m going to school to become an archivist, a lot of times I get a lot of blank stares and looks of confusion.  People have told me that they saw me as a journalist because they see me wanting to make a change.  Well despite what people may think of archivists, I am still going to have a voice in the archival world, and more importantly, a role in deciding what records to keep to shape the cultural memory of society.

I think one reason this happens is because a lot of times people don’t really understand the full scope of the profession.  It is not a profession that is glorified in the media, and very few if any children want to grow up to be archivists.  We all seem to stumble into this fantastic career, where despite the misconceptions, we do have power.

I think the Society of American Archivists’ website has a good explanation of the profession, and also a video detailing what we as archivists do on a very basic level.

Last semester I read an article in my Archives and Records Management class that really articulates that archives are not just “passive storehouses of old stuff.”  The article “Archives, Records, and Power: The Making of Modern Memory” by Joan M. Schwartz and Terry Cook addresses the power archives hold in shaping cultural memory.

It is evident that archives are not storage for dusty old boxes, but more so places where societal memory is kept, preserved, and maintained, and this article does a great job of explaining the role of archivists in society.

As opposed to trying to summarize the article, here are some excerpts that really explain the importance of the profession:

- “Archives, then, are not passive storehouses of old stuff, but active sites, where social power is negotiated, contested, confirmed.  The power of archives, records, and archivists should no longer remain naturalized or denied, but opened to vital debate and transparent accountability.”

- “Archives contain the evidence of what went before.”

- “Archivists appraise, collect, and preserve the props with which notions of identity are built.”

- The principles and strategies that archivists have adopted time, fundamentally influence the composition and character of archival holdings and, thus, of societal memory.

How my career path changed

January 8th, 2012

If someone asked me five years ago what I would be doing when I graduated from Elon University in 2011, attending graduate school would never have crossed my mind.  I would have said that I was going to be a journalist, specifically a sports writer.  There was not a doubt in my mind or any of my family or friends’ minds that this would happen.  Sports and writing were my two biggest passions and it only made sense for me to pursue a career as a sports journalist. 

As I began to pursue a journalism degree at Elon and gained a tremendous amount of experience, I learned that this was not the career for me.  While I was slowly realizing this, I found a new passion – archives.  When I was a freshman at Elon, I was hired in the Elon’s Archives and Special Collections Department.  After my first few months working in the archives, I realized the important role archives played in society and how I wanted to be a part of this field.  Even though I never anticipated becoming an archivist, I am excited what my future holds.

While at Elon, some people described me as an “old-school” journalist.  I read the physical newspaper everyday and was hesitant to rely on the Internet as my number one source of news.  I enjoyed looking at old newspapers and really understood the historical significance these documents had in society.  Journalism is described as the first draft of history, with providing a primary source account of what occurred in a specific place and time.  For many small towns across the nation, the local newspaper is the main historical record.  Now with many news organizations moving part or the entire publications online, the purpose of newspapers has not changed.  They still provide news to the public and provide a historic record, but the way archivists preserve this information has changed with the digital age.  Digital information presents a new set of challenges to archivists, and if careful preservation of this information is not instituted, valuable information will be lost.  Working with digital materials, specifically at a news archive, would be an ideal career for me.

My ideal career would be to work at a sports media company’s archive, such as ESPN or the MLB Network, archiving digital materials.  This would be my top preference, but if I could work in any athletic archive, I would be incredibly happy.  Not only am I a huge sports fan, but also I understand the historic role sports have played in society.  Sports are historical markers and can be marked with major events in our nation’s history.  For example during World War II, there were several women’s baseball teams formed in order to provide entertainment, while many of the male athletes were overseas fighting in the war.  These teams are an important part of our country’s cultural history and documents about these teams need to be preserved.  There is nothing that would make me happier in life being able to work each day at an athletic archive. 

If working at a media company or an athletic archive does not work out, I would like to return to university archives.  Unlike larger institutions, when I worked at Elon, I was able to work on many different projects.  At this point, I think I working in a smaller university’s archive would give me more flexibility in working in all areas of archives and not just one area.  The university setting is a great environment to work in and is a small community.  Working at a smaller institution, I would be able to work with different departments of the campus in providing reference help and work with these departments on any projects that may come up.  Even though working in a university would not be my first choice, I think it would still be a rewarding career. 

After having several journalism internships, and leadership positions at Elon’s student newspaper, I think my journalism experience will be able to bring a different perspective working in a media company’s archive.  Combining my journalism background and my sports passion, working in a setting such as ESPN or MLB Network would be my dream job.  I understand the many budget cuts taking place in the media industry, which will make it difficult for me to earn a position in this sector.  Regardless of where I work, I hope to be a mentor to younger individuals interested in archives. 

Archives in the News: The legacy of Jobs lives on

January 3rd, 2012

There is no question that the legacy of Steve Jobs will live on in the Apple Company and the many innovations he was able to create.  But the legacy of this great innovator is preserved at Stanford University in the school’s Silcon Valley Archives.

The collection is the largest assembly of Apple historical materials.  The collection takes up hundreds of boxes and about 600 feet in length.  Some highlights of the collection include, photos of young Job and Steve Wozniak, blueprints for the first apple computer and old TV commercials to name a few. To read a full list of what the article holds, check out the article.

This is just one of the many examples that shows how archives can preserve the legacy of an individual who contributed so much to society.

The Penn State Scandal

November 21st, 2011

It was bound to happen. I knew I had to blog about the Penn State scandal. I, like so many people have been extremely moved by this entire story.  There are very few stories that have received this amount of massive attention and have evoked the full range of emotions from people.

As the next few months of trials unfold and more information will come out.  Every person is due a fair trial, and this even includes Jerry Sandusky.

I have an opinion on how the university handled the situation, but nothing I can say hasn’t already been said in one form or another.  So this blog is intended to direct you to two articles that I found are the most important ones to read about the Penn State scandal.

One thing is for sure, Jerry Sandusky’s interview with Bob Costas, did not help his case.  Under no circumstances should an older male be showering with young boys.  If you haven’t heard the interview yet, be sure to check it out here.

Rick Reilly, an ESPN columnist, gracefully expressed the true story underneath all of this mess.

This column, published on November 2nd, describes the situation is not about Joe Paterno, or any other university official.  It is about the children. Reilly’s column brings us back to earth and helps us sort through all of this other mess.

Reilly’s November 2nd column was so well-received, Reilly posted a follow up column about how those people who have been abused when they were children, can reach out and get help.

Through all the news article, television stories, and radio commentary, it is hard to identify who did what wrong, and who knew what information.  Reilly helps to remind us that the heart of the story are the alleged victims.

Our heroes are people too

November 6th, 2011

I remember when I first found my basketball hero.  I was in middle school and picked up a book titled, Raise the Roof, which told the story of 1997-98 Tennessee Lady Volunteers.  While the stories of the players were interesting, I became immediately intrigued by the person behind this miracle season – their coach.

As a lifelong basketball fan, and a long time player, I always knew that I would make a better coach than a player, and reading about Tennessee’s coach Pat Summitt was when I knew someday I wanted to have the opportunity to coach basketball.  My inital impression of Summitt was her philosophy, “the harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.”  For a player that wasn’t blessed with too much natural basketball ability, I knew the only way I would be able to succeed was to try to outwork everyone.

Reading Summitt’s basic philosophies inspired me not only on the basketball court, but off it as well.  So much of the lessons you learn on the basketball court can be translated into life lessons.  Throughout my life, I have gone back to various Pat Summitt sayings that I have written down to inspire me when life throws me some curve balls.

I know Pat Summitt is not just my hero, but many others look up to her as well.  She is one of the few figures in women’s basketball that is a household name.  She is known for her fierce glares along the sidelines, her intense persona in a huddle, and most her successes.  Summitt was hired at the age of 22 to be the head coach of the University of Tennessee’s women’s basketball team. Since accepting this challenge, she has rose above every challenge in her professional career to become the winningest coach in Division I basketball.

Now, Summitt is facing a challenge that makes even her most difficult challenges coaching seem like a walk in the park.  At the end of August, Summitt released a statement that she has been diagnosed with early onset dementia, Alzheimer’s type.  She is only 59 years old.

In typical Pat style, she has vowed to continue coaching as long as she can and even with her recent diagnosis, she expects to win a championship.

When I heard the news, I was immediately shaken up.  Pat is one of my heroes and our heroes aren’t supposed to get hurt, injured, or sick.  Our heroes don’t have any weaknesses right?  Pat’s diagnosis quickly reminded that our idols are humans and run into life’s challenges like we do.

Summitt recently shared her story on ABC’s 20/20 and her assistant coaches know that they have entered into unprecedented territory.  No college or professional coach has continued to coach after being diagnosed with dementia.  As Pat has preached in the past, basketball is a team effort and this season will show that as each person on the Lady Vols staff and team will have to step up their game a little bit more to relieve some pressure off of Summitt.

The next few years will become increasingly difficult for me to watch as Pat’s memory will begin to slip away and eventually she will get to a point where she can no longer coach.  At some point she will no longer be able to inspire us with her persona on the court.

With her son by her side, Pat will continue to inspire us with her courage and perseverance even when she retires from coaches.

Fear doesn’t benefit anyone

October 28th, 2011

Throughout the years I have heard many criticisms of the school district I went to growing up, but as a graduate of CB South High School in 2007, I thought a lot of criticisms were ridiculous.  I had a great education and always thought the school district acted in the best interest of the students.  That is until recently.

There was an article this week in The Intelligencer that the Central Bucks School District is banning all field trips to New York City and Washington D.C.    Robert N. Laws, superintendent of CB School District, cites the main reason for banning trips “as the level of responsibility when you send kids on trips where their safety could be at risk is a big burden.”  Laws went on to say that he can’t sleep at night when kids are sent on these field trips.

Ten years ago, we had the most devastating terroist attacks on our nation’s soil.  Many people felt fear during this time and years later, but in the past 10 years our nation’s security has improved tremendously.  As a nation we have overcome these terrorist attacks.  It is about time that Laws and the CB School Board join the rest of the nation in not letting the terrorists win.  That was one of the goals of the terrorist attacks – to make us live in fear.

These field trips are incredible opportunities for students, some who will never have the opportunity to visit these great cities, to expand their perspectives of the world.  They can go to different museums, see where laws in our nation’s government are passed, or have a cultural experience by seeing a show on Broadway.  These are all great experiences we should be teaching students.  What we shouldn’t be teaching them is how to live in fear.

A day after the article appeared in The Intelligencer, the paper published an editorial about the bans on field trips.  The Intelligencer’s response to the ban is simply put is AWESOME.  The paper takes a stance on the issue and emphasizes that there is no reason live in fear anymore.  If anything, these cities are the safest in America because of the extra security precautions that are taken on a daily basis.

What is the future going to hold for field trips for the school district?  The district is located about 30 miles northwest of Philadelphia.  Philadelphia is a major metropolitan city that has a fantastic history and easily accessible by students for field trips.  Is the district going to start to ban trips there because they are afraid of what could happen?

This ban is detrimental because students are being denined amazing experiences, but more importantly, it is the message Laws and the other school board members are sending.

After Sept. 11th, as a nation we bonded together and vowed we would not live in fear.  It is time, 10 years later, that Laws and the CB School Board teaches this to our students

More blogs coming

Hi everyone. I would like to apologize for not updating more often, but I will be updating my blog at a regular rate from now on, I promise!  There will be a blog update later tonight or sometime tomorrow about what has me fired up.

Photos of the 76ers game

Here are some photos of the Philadelphia 76ers game vs. the Chicago Bulls in January.

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More blog updates soon

Feb. 1st, 2010

Sorry everyone that I haven’t been blogging as much lately.  I’m planning on getting back into blogging, and adding some more photos with different blog posts. Enjoy!

Why I love sports

Oct. 9, 2010

I have watched a lot of sports in my lifetime. There’s no question about that. A lot of times people ask me why I watch so many games if I’m not going to remember most of them in a few weeks anyway. I don’t agree with that statement for the most part, but on Wednesday, Oct. 6, the world saw why I love sports

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher, Roy Halladay pitched a no-hitter in Game 1 of the National League Division Series.  This was only the second no-hitter in postseason history, the last one coming in 1956 with Don Larsen’s perfect game.

What made the feat even more impressive was that this was Halladay’s first postseason appearance and there were questions around how he would fare with the pressure of the postseason lights turned on him. Secondly, Halladay pitched a perfect game at the end of May earlier this season. Most major league pitchers dream of even coming close to one no hitter in their career, but Halladay pitched two in one season.

We can look at the statistics and analyze how Halladay was able to be so dominant, but days after his pitching performance people start to forget the numbers, but emotions still remain. Halladay had thousands of people standing on their feet at Citizens Bank Park and thousands more in their living rooms across the nation.

Tears were brought to my eyes after Halladay recorded the final out of the game. It was a phenomenal individual performance that also lifted the team to victory.

No. 36: Sports bring us joy 

There are so many negative things in the world around us and we tend to get caught up in them and not focus on the positive. But that changed on Wednesday night.  In my mind, nothing could go wrong after Halladay pitched his heart out and pitched one of the best performances in postseason baseball history.  

I have watched countless sporting events, but I’m not sure if there was a sports moment that I can remember that I have witnessed that was more historic than Halladay’s game 1 performance.