SAA@OU Minutes: 10/3/11
Officers present: Gwendolyn Gillson, Jasmin Chavez, Sarah Denton
SAA@OU members present: Rebecca Barlow, Magen Bednar, Andrew Baer, Sean o’ Brien,
Briann Zimmermann and Alexis Michelle Beaman. (Tulsa members not present).
Meeting commenced at 7:10.
Dr. White began the meeting by talking about the Archives track at OU. He discussed upcoming
spring 2012 archives courses (Archival Appraisal and Archival Representation and Use, which
fulfills Content Management requirement). He also mentioned that, in the near future, there will
be a shift from the topics covered in the Preservation of Information Materials class (focused on
paper preservation) to topics concerning the preservation of digital information.
Dr. White explained the archives field. He described the different career routes in the archives
profession: cultural heritage archives (like a historical society), state/government archives,
corporate archives, and academic/special collection libraries (private university collections). He
explained the distinction between a “collection” and an “archive.” He explained how an
archivist appraises and organizes materials in an archive. He talked about skills and issues
involved in archiving (provenance of materials; importance of metadata).
Dr. White talked about SAA and its annual conference. He also discussed regional archival
associations, in particular the Midwest Archives Association. He mentioned that he would like
to participate in a graduate conference in the spring and cosponsor the event with other
departments to show the diversity of Archives students.
Dr. White also contributed a website and a video link that explained more about the archives
profession: http://www2.archivists.org/profession
After Dr. White finished his talk, members introduced themselves.
Gillson explained that we’re an official OU organization; however, we will not get funds until
next year. She explained that SAA@OU is still in the process of sending required materials to
SAA for official approval of the OU chapter.
Gillson went over the present goals of the organization, which include: getting the word out
about SAA@OU to enhance interest in the Archives track (which will hopefully help in getting
the Archives class taught every year, instead of every 2 years); to network with practicing
archivists; to broadly explore all archives environments, like special collections and special
libraries.
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Gillson shared that the organization wishes to have an archives/special collections visit every
month during the school year and regular visiting speakers.
Gillson announced that the SAA@OU Facebook page is up and running and that Jennifer
Donner is the unofficial Tulsa liaison. She encouraged all members to join the Facebook page,
as it will be the primary resource used to advertise SAA@OU meetings and events. She also
informed everyone that the listserv is active and that it will be used for discussions. Lastly, she
stated that SAA@OU will have an OU website, where meeting minutes, photos, visit summaries,
etc. will be posted. She encouraged all SAA@OU members to join SAA if they want to vote on
SAA@OU issues, although SAA membership is totally optional. Gillson talked briefly about the
SAA conference (which will be held in San Diego in August 2012) and urged members to think
about getting a group together to go to the conference.
Gillson announced an upcoming event, an Oklahoma Historical Society Roundtable, which is
still in the planning process. It will tentatively occur on October 18th in the student union at 7:00
p.m. SAA@OU, OLISSA and Oklahoma Historical Society aims to have the Central Oklahoma
Archivist League (COAL) conduct a roundtable discussion event. OHS will provide snacks and,
after the event, attendees will go out for dinner.
Gillson also shared that SAA@OU will visit the History of Science Collection at OU in
November. She also mentioned that SAA@OU is going to try and have parallel visits with Tulsa
(in other words, when Norman members visit an archive, Tulsa members will visit a Tulsa
archive on the same day).
In December, Gillson and officers would like to have an “end-of-semester” get-together for
SAA@OU members so that members can get to know each other better.
In the spring semester, Gillson explained that events are not yet official, but that SAA@OU
would like to visit the women’s archives at OSU in Stillwater. It will be convenient because
Stillwater is equidistant for Tulsa members and Norman members. Other potential events could
be visits to a tribal archive and a corporate archive (Sonic or Chesapeake).
Member (Alexis) suggested a visit to the Nicholls Collection (rare books) at OU. Gillson
suggested that we combine the Nicholls Collection visit with the History of Science Collection
visit in November.
Gillson mentioned that there is supposedly a political cartoon archive at OU that SAA@OU
could possibly visit.
Member (Andrew) informed others about an upcoming conference taking place at OCU that is
geared toward United Methodist local church historians/ archivists from the Oklahoma Indian
Missionary Conference and the Oklahoma Conference. The conference will take place on
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November 12th at OCU and further questions can be directed to Christina Wolf at
cwolf@okcu.edu.
Gillson talked a bit more about archives in general. She explained security procedures archives
typically have in place for visitors so that SAA@OU members know what to anticipate.
Gillson ends by encouraging everyone to submit ideas for activities/archives visits.
Meeting concluded at 8:17 p.m.