Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference

Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference
Name	Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference
Abbreviation	MARAC
Formation	1972
Type	Professional association
Region served	Mid-Atlantic United States
Headquarters	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Leader title	President

Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference is a professional membership organization serving archivists, records managers, librarians, curators, historians, and information professionals in the Mid-Atlantic United States. Founded in the early 1970s, it connects practitioners working in state archives, university archives, historical societies, corporate archives, and special collections across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and surrounding areas. Its activities include regional conferences, workshops, publications, advocacy, and awards to promote archival practice and preservation.

History

The organization emerged during a period of expansion in archival practice alongside institutions such as Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, Smithsonian Institution, New York Public Library, and Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Founders included archivists from Princeton University, Rutgers University, University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, and Columbia University who responded to needs identified at meetings with representatives from Society of American Archivists, New Jersey Historical Commission, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Maryland Historical Trust, and Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs. Early conferences featured speakers from American Library Association, National Historical Publications and Records Commission, New-York Historical Society, Yale University, and Harvard University and engaged with preservation initiatives linked to National Trust for Historic Preservation and disaster response case studies such as the aftermath of events involving Hurricane Agnes. Over decades the organization adapted to digitization trends influenced by projects at Library of Congress Digital Collections, Internet Archive, Digital Public Library of America, HathiTrust, and Europeana while collaborating with local institutions like Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Newark Public Library, Maryland State Archives, and Pennsylvania State Archives.

Mission and Activities

The mission centers on professional development, advocacy, and resource sharing with ties to Society of American Archivists, Association of College and Research Libraries, Council of State Archivists, National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators, and International Council on Archives. Activities include workshops referencing standards promulgated by National Information Standards Organization, ISO 15489, PREMIS, and Dublin Core as implemented by practitioners at Cornell University, Princeton University Library, Johns Hopkins University, Temple University, and Boston Public Library. The organization organizes training on topics intersecting with digitization projects from New York Public Library Digital Collections, conservation techniques used at Winterthur Museum, legal deposit issues related to Library of Congress, and archival description strategies informed by Encoded Archival Description used in consortia including OCLC, HathiTrust Digital Library, and Digital Public Library of America partners.

Organizational Structure and Governance

The governance model features an elected board with roles comparable to leadership at Society of American Archivists, American Library Association, Association for Library Collections and Technical Services, and Council on Library and Information Resources. Committees mirror those at National Archives and Records Administration and Library of Congress units, covering education, nominations, program planning, publications, awards, finance, and diversity influenced by initiatives at The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Ford Foundation. The group maintains bylaws and strategic plans with input from representatives of State Historical Society of Iowa-style entities, regional associations such as New England Archivists and Society of Southwest Archivists, and partner organizations including Accessible Archives and Chronicling America project collaborators.

Conferences and Programs

Annual and regional conferences feature sessions with speakers from Yale University Library, Harvard University Library, Columbia University Libraries, Drexel University Libraries, Rutgers University Libraries, Princeton University Library, Johns Hopkins Sheridan Libraries, Pennsylvania State University, University of Delaware, Lehigh University, Syracuse University, Cornell University Library, Boston Athenaeum, New-York Historical Society, American Antiquarian Society, Frick Art Reference Library, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of the City of New York, and Winterthur Museum. Programs include hands-on workshops led by conservators from Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts, digital archivists from Internet Archive and Digital Public Library of America, and legal/privacy sessions referencing Freedom of Information Act matters as practiced in state offices like Pennsylvania Office of Open Records and Maryland Public Information Act processes. Special sessions have showcased projects funded by National Endowment for the Humanities, Institute of Museum and Library Services, and Andrew W. Mellon Foundation involving partners such as Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, State of New Jersey, State of Delaware, and State of Maryland.

Publications and Awards

The organization publishes a newsletter and proceedings analogous to publications from Society of American Archivists, American Archivist, Archivaria, and The American Archivist with contributions from staff at Princeton University, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, University of Pennsylvania], Johns Hopkins University and Drexel University. It administers awards recognizing excellence in archival description, outreach, and preservation similar to honors from Society of American Archivists and grants from National Historical Publications and Records Commission and Institute of Museum and Library Services. Recipients have included professionals affiliated with Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Maryland State Archives, Newark Public Library, Princeton University, and Rutgers University.

Membership and Affiliates

Membership comprises staff and volunteers from university archives at Princeton University, Rutgers University, University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, University of Delaware; state repositories like Pennsylvania State Archives, Maryland State Archives, New Jersey State Archives, Delaware Public Archives; cultural organizations including Historical Society of Pennsylvania, New-York Historical Society, American Philosophical Society, Winterthur Museum; and corporate or special collections at AT&T Archives, Pfizer Archives, and Bank of America. Affiliates include regional groups such as New England Archivists, Society of American Archivists, Society of Southwest Archivists, Southeast Archives Conference, and partnerships with funders like National Endowment for the Humanities and Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Category:Archival organizations