Arielle Petrovich at 2019 Storytelling Event.
Submission deadline extended to August 31!
When did you decide that you wanted to be an archivist? What was your first encounter with a particular archives? How did you handle a challenge in your work? What is a unique, serendipitous, moving, mysterious, special, or humorous experience you’ve had as an archivist?
If you would like the chance to share your story, then pitch it to us! In 100 to 200 words, tell us about your archives story. (Please don’t give us a cliff-hanger; you should summarize the whole story.) Great pitches will let us know what happened, what changed for you (or the world!), and what was at stake.
If your story is selected, you will have an opportunity to share your 5-minute, true personal story at the 2020 A Finding Aid to My Soul. This annual storytelling event brings together archivists for an evening of stories that energize and inspire, and celebrate the diversity of the archivist experience. This year’s virtual event—on October 1, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm ET—will be hosted by award-winning storyteller and educator Micaela Blei (The Moth, Risk). It is sponsored by SAA’s Committee on Public Awareness and will kick-off American Archives Month. If you’re unable to join us, the program will be recorded.
We’re looking for a wide range of voices to share their experiences. Absolutely no prior storytelling or performance experience is necessary—Micaela will support and guide you as you practice your story.
You may think that your story is not “dramatic” enough. We beg to differ! We want to hear stories with high stakes as well as small, and intimate stories of the work you do and the personal ways it connects to your life. If it mattered to you, it will matter to us, too.
If you need some inspiration, here’s a story from Travis Williams that closed out the 2019 event.
Want to listen to more? Selections from past Finding Aid to My Soul events can be found on the Archives in Context podcast.
Pitches are due August 31. Selected storytellers will be notified by September 4.
ArchivesAware 