Why do you love being an archivist?
On Valentine’s Day, the Committee on Public Awareness (COPA) asked archivists to share their answers to this question. Check out their responses below.
Why do YOU love being an archivist? Share your answers with SAA's Committee on Public Awareness (COPA) using #ILoveBeingAnArchivist or send your responses to archivesaware@archivists.org! Stay tuned as we share more responses! #ArchivesAWARE #HappyValentinesDay pic.twitter.com/T4C09Oc1dg
— Soc Amer Archivists (@archivists_org) February 13, 2020
Rebecca Pattillo (@life_of_sources ), metadata librarian @uofl, loves that archival work gives her the opportunity to challenge traditional power within our field, within the archive, and within her community. #ILoveBeingAnArchivist #HappyValentinesDay #ArchivesAWARE pic.twitter.com/2Zf21rK7fV
— Soc Amer Archivists (@archivists_org) February 15, 2020
Jenn Parent, @museumofflight reference archivist, loves figuring out the unique story in each collection! #ILoveBeingAnArchivist #HappyValentinesDay #ArchivesAWARE pic.twitter.com/z5rBCz06nz
— Soc Amer Archivists (@archivists_org) February 14, 2020
Jessica Ballard (@diva_archivist), archivist of multicultural collections and services @UIArchives, loves being an archivist because of the wide range of activities she engages in as part of her job. #ILoveBeingAnArchivist #HappyValentinesDay #ArchivesAWARE pic.twitter.com/pvifpCptqM
— Soc Amer Archivists (@archivists_org) February 14, 2020
Sammie Morris (@mzarchivist), head of archives & special collections @purduearchives, loves "seeing that a-ha moment on a student's face when they find a source that perfectly connects to their research topic." #ILoveBeingAnArchivist #HappyValentinesDay #ArchivesAWARE pic.twitter.com/4kxA8njvBq
— Soc Amer Archivists (@archivists_org) February 14, 2020
Rich Schmidt, director of archives & resource sharing @LinfieldCollege @ORWineArchive shares this story that reminds him of why he loves being an archivist. #ILoveBeingAnArchivist #HappyValentinesDay #ArchivesAWARE pic.twitter.com/wsOYt2KKsf
— Soc Amer Archivists (@archivists_org) February 14, 2020
Cathy Popovitch, archival program administrator at the Illinois State Archives (@ILSecOfState), is passionate about helping users—from family historians to legislative staff to surveyors. #ILoveBeingAnArchivist #HappyValentinesDay #ArchivesAWARE pic.twitter.com/RGE2ZC7R3k
— Soc Amer Archivists (@archivists_org) February 14, 2020
Jennifer Brannock, curator of rare books and Mississippiana @SouthernMiss, loves helping first-time users! #ILoveBeingAnArchivist #HappyValentinesDay #ArchivesAWARE pic.twitter.com/MxyHaRWJJm
— Soc Amer Archivists (@archivists_org) February 14, 2020
Kathleen Roe, former @archivists_org president, loves that archives have the power to change lives. #ILoveBeingAnArchivist #HappyValentinesDay #ArchivesAWARE pic.twitter.com/cBgtUvMmjY
— Soc Amer Archivists (@archivists_org) February 13, 2020
Tiffany Atwater Lee, assistant head of the @AUCWoodruffLib Archives Research Center, loves that primary sources can give us a glimpse into the lives of people from the past. #ILoveBeingAnArchivist #HappyValentinesDay #ArchivesAWARE pic.twitter.com/2k85ztEMta
— Soc Amer Archivists (@archivists_org) February 13, 2020
At JCAS, we love providing a forum for diverse voices in the archives profession and related fields to share their research in an #openaccess format ❤️ #ILoveBeingAnArchivist #ArchivesAWARE pic.twitter.com/6xB3NJYBfj
— Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies (@JCASonline) February 15, 2020
As an archive volunteer at @Levy_Library I go in for the drama & intrigue of the #scanner (OCR'ing some exciting publications, more info to come) & I leave in awe of the #teamwork! (& irresistible #metadata) #access #publicknowledge #NYChistory #MountSinai #ILoveBeingAnArchivist https://t.co/91wnAM5PpS
— Colleen Stapleton (@cstaplehealth) February 13, 2020
#ILoveBeingAnArchivist because I get to hold history in my hands and help preserve it for the future. https://t.co/AROaw6W3XH
— Mylynda Gill (@MylyndaGill) February 13, 2020
#ILoveBeingAnArchivist because I get to share in our community stories and memories ❤️ https://t.co/yr0OuXslLe
— OttawaJewishArchives (@JewishArchives) February 13, 2020
#ILoveBeingAnArchivist because I never know what materials I’ll get to come across, and I have the pleasure of creating the metadata hoping that someone else will get to experience the same enjoyment as I do. https://t.co/44CYxrovFD
— Ely Esparza (she/they) (@esparzarchives) February 13, 2020
https://twitter.com/taticanelhas/status/1228372596972032000
Here at the #Vermont State Archives & Records Administration, we love helping people bridge the past to the present and making history come alive. #LifeAtVSARA #ILoveBeingAnArchivist ❤️ pic.twitter.com/vaXIFkUHuJ
— VT State Archives (@VTStateArchives) February 14, 2020
The Archives at the #NichollsLibrary are so important to preserving Nicholls and Louisiana history. Here's Lynn Cowles, our Assistant Archivist, talks about why #ILoveBeingAnArchivist @archivists_org @nrdylibrarian pic.twitter.com/3xX1isNjE6
— Nicholls Library (@NichollsLibrary) February 14, 2020
@archivists_org #ILoveBeingAnArchivist because that "aha" moment with researchers and students is one I get to see over and over again in the reading room, and it never gets old.
— NSULA Watson Library (@NSULAWatson) February 13, 2020
Special thanks to everyone who participated!
We’d love to hear from you! Why do you love being an archivist? Tell us on Twitter using #ILoveBeingAnArchivist or email archivesaware@archivists.org.
ArchivesAware 