Society of American Archivists

Society of American Archivists
Name	Society of American Archivists
Abbreviation	SAA
Formation	1936
Type	Professional association
Headquarters	Chicago, Illinois
Region served	United States
Membership	Archivists, librarians, records managers

Contents

Society of American Archivists The Society of American Archivists is the largest professional association for archivists in the United States, serving practitioners across repositories such as the Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, and university archives at Harvard University and University of California, Berkeley. Founded during the interwar period alongside institutions like the New Deal programs and contemporaneous with groups such as the American Library Association and Association of American Museums, the organization grew as archival stewardship became central to institutions including the Smithsonian Institution and state historical societies like the New-York Historical Society and Massachusetts Historical Society.

History

The association emerged in 1936 amid professional consolidation similar to the founding of the American Historical Association and the Modern Language Association, influenced by leaders from the Library of Congress, the National Archives and Records Administration, and university special collections at Yale University, Princeton University, and Columbia University. Early decades saw collaboration with federal initiatives such as the Works Progress Administration and with municipal archives like the Chicago History Museum, while navigating archival crises during events like World War II and the Civil Rights Movement. In the late 20th century the group expanded programs paralleling developments at the Council on Library and Information Resources, the Digital Public Library of America, and academic centers at University of Michigan and Duke University.

The association’s mission aligns with principles advocated by organizations such as the International Council on Archives, the American Council of Learned Societies, and the Council of State Archivists, emphasizing stewardship of records held by institutions including the National Archives and Records Administration, the Library of Congress, and municipal archives like the Los Angeles Public Library. Governance structures mirror nonprofit boards found at institutions such as the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, with an elected Council, committees, and liaison relationships with bodies like the American Library Association and the Society of American Historians.

Membership comprises archivists from repositories including the National Archives and Records Administration, university archives at Stanford University and University of Wisconsin–Madison, corporate archives at firms like General Electric and cultural repositories such as the New York Public Library. Regional chapters and student chapters coordinate with state entities like the California State Archives and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, and form joint initiatives with groups such as the Association of Jewish Libraries and the African American Museum and Library at Oakland.

The association publishes journals and monographs comparable to venues like the American Archivist journal, professional newsletters, and guides akin to publications from the Council on Library and Information Resources and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Programs include annual meetings attracting attendees from the Library of Congress, the National Archives and Records Administration, academic institutions such as University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and cultural heritage organizations like the Smithsonian Institution and the Getty Research Institute.

Standards work involves collaboration with international bodies including the International Council on Archives and national partners such as the National Information Standards Organization and the Library of Congress, producing guidance related to metadata schemas used by projects like the Digital Public Library of America and cooperative digitization initiatives with the HathiTrust Digital Library. Advocacy efforts intersect with legislation and policy arenas involving the National Archives and Records Administration, federal funding agencies like the National Endowment for the Humanities, and privacy debates alongside organizations such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Continuing education offerings parallel programs run by institutions like the Society of American Historians, the American Library Association, and university centers at Simmons University and University of Texas at Austin, including workshops on description, digital preservation, and appraisal used by practitioners at the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration. Partnerships with academic programs at University of Michigan, Indiana University Bloomington, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill support archival education pipelines and internships comparable to fellowships funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

The association confers awards and fellowships modeled after recognition systems such as the National Humanities Medal and prizes administered by the American Historical Association, honoring contributions by archivists from repositories like the Library of Congress, university archives at Columbia University and University of Pennsylvania, and cultural institutions including the Smithsonian Institution and the New-York Historical Society for work in areas such as description, outreach, and preservation.