Midwest Archives Conference
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| Midwest Archives Conference | |
|---|---|
| Name | Midwest Archives Conference |
| Formation | 1972 |
| Type | Professional association |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois |
| Region served | Midwestern United States |
| Membership | Archivists, librarians, records managers |
| Leader title | President |
Midwest Archives Conference is a regional professional association serving archivists, curators, and records managers across the Midwestern United States. The organization fosters preservation, access, and interpretation of archival collections linked to institutions such as the Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, Smithsonian Institution, Harvard University, and University of Chicago. It engages with allied bodies including the Society of American Archivists, Association of College and Research Libraries, American Library Association, Council of State Archivists, and regional historical societies.
History
The association emerged during debates at meetings influenced by leaders from Society of American Archivists, National Archives and Records Administration, American Historical Association, American Antiquarian Society, and state archives like the Ohio History Connection and Michigan Historical Center. Founders included archivists affiliated with University of Michigan, Indiana University Bloomington, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Wisconsin–Madison, and Minnesota Historical Society. Early conferences featured programs that referenced collections at Newberry Library, Chicago History Museum, Cleveland Public Library, Kansas Historical Society, and Missouri State Archives. The association’s development paralleled national initiatives such as those by the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Historical Publications and Records Commission, and philanthropic support from organizations like the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Organization and Governance
Governance follows a volunteer board model common to groups like the Society of American Archivists and Association of Research Libraries. Elected officers include a president, vice president, treasurer, and regional representatives who collaborate with committees patterned after committees at American Library Association divisions and state historical societies such as the Wisconsin Historical Society and Illinois State Archives. Advisory relationships have involved institutions like Library of Congress and National Archives at Chicago. Governance documents reflect nonprofit compliance similar to filings with the Internal Revenue Service and interactions with bodies like the National Coalition for History.
Programs and Activities
Programs include educational workshops modeled on initiatives by Society of American Archivists, cataloging clinics informed by standards from the Library of Congress, and digital preservation efforts in partnership with projects at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and university centers such as Northwestern University and University of Minnesota. Outreach initiatives have connected repositories including Detroit Public Library, St. Louis Public Library, Kalamazoo Public Library, Cleveland State University, and Purdue University with community archives projects like those coordinated by American Historical Association affiliates. Collaborative internships and grant programs have mirrored funding mechanisms used by the National Endowment for the Humanities and foundations such as the Knight Foundation.
Publications and Communications
The association produces a peer-reviewed journal and newsletters comparable to publications from Society of American Archivists and monographs housed at Newberry Library and University of Iowa Press. Communications channels include listservs and social media strategies similar to those of American Library Association divisions, newsletter exchanges with the Association of Academic Museums and Galleries, and partnerships for digitization guidance with the Digital Public Library of America and HathiTrust. Publication governance references metadata standards developed by the Library of Congress, Metadata Encoding and Transmission Standard, and preservation protocols influenced by the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program.
Membership and Chapters
Membership encompasses professionals and institutions from states such as Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Institutional members include universities like University of Iowa, Ohio State University, Michigan State University, University of Illinois Chicago, and municipal bodies such as the Chicago Public Library and Cleveland Public Library. Local chapters and affiliates have strong ties with state archives and historical societies including the Minnesota Historical Society, Kansas Historical Society, Missouri Historical Society, and Ohio History Connection.
Annual Meetings and Conferences
The association convenes annual meetings hosted at venues associated with institutions such as University of Chicago, Indiana University Bloomington, University of Minnesota, Washington University in St. Louis, Ohio State University, and University of Wisconsin–Madison. Programs often feature keynote speakers from entities like the Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, Smithsonian Institution, and scholars from Harvard University, Yale University, and Princeton University. Panels address topics paralleling initiatives at the National Endowment for the Humanities, Digital Public Library of America, and regional digitization consortia.
Awards and Professional Development
The association administers awards and scholarships akin to honors from the Society of American Archivists, American Library Association, and foundations such as the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Guggenheim Foundation. Professional development offerings include seminars on archival description using standards from the Library of Congress and Metadata Encoding and Transmission Standard, internships modeled on programs at Smithsonian Institution and National Archives and Records Administration, and mentorship initiatives similar to those run by the Association of Research Libraries.