Many Happy Returns: Advocacy and the Development of Archives
Many Happy Returns: Advocacy and the Development of Archives
edited by Larry J. Hackman
Society of American Archivists, 2011 eISBN: 978-1-945246-95-1 | Paper: 978-1-931666-37-4 Library of Congress Classification CD971.M255 2011 Dewey Decimal Classification 021.7
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ABOUT THIS BOOK
Twenty-three well-versed archivists and allied professionals teach you how to advocate effectively for your archives in Many Happy Returns: Advocacy and the Development of Archives.
Editor Larry Hackman's opening essay is a tutorial on advocacy principles and application, including practical techniques and tactics. Hackman asserts that "advocacy is an investment that we make when we intentionally and strategically educate and engage individuals and organizations so that they in turn will support our archival work."
Thirteen case studies address a variety of advocacy experiences and methods. For example, the New York Philharmonic archivist has spent more than 25 years building a strong and highly visible archives by finding and using allies within the Philharmonic's own internal family. One vital strategy has been to link the archives to the interests and needs of the symphony's very prominent music directors.
Other examples include major breakthroughs, such as passage of a $7 million bond issue for the Butte archives in Montana, and creation of a significant preservation endowment for the Oberlin College Archives in Ohio, as well as more typical incremental advances made over longer periods by matching an archives advocacy methods to the culture, structures, and processes of the parent organization.
A highly instructive chapter describes seven categories of advocacy lessons learned from the case studies and suggests areas that archivists should give higher priority, particularly in finding and using external advocates. The book concludes with essays on advocacy and archival education, the use of new technologies to build support for archives, and advocacy at the federal level.
This book ably demonstrates that archivists can (and should!) invest time in advocacy efforts to produce "many happy returns" for themselves and their archives. And now, so can you!
REVIEWS
"The subject could be overwhelming, but this book makes it seem manageable both as a topic and a practice. It could be the beginning of more serious and in-depth conversation about the role of advocacy in keeping archives vital."
—Journal for the Society of North Carolina Archivists (Fall 2011)
"Turn to this book for a wealth of ideas and inspiration, great examples from an assortment of archivists and archives, and practice-based recommendations for garnering support from internal and external supporters."
—Journal of Western Archives (October 2011)
". . . A long overdue and welcome addition to the archival literature . . . Many Happy Returns will undoubtedly be an important reference for archival leaders, practitioners, students, and anyone interested in advocating for archives' successful future."
—Journal of Archival Organization (February 2012)
"Many Happy Returns is a comprehensive, provocative, and interesting look at the issue of archival advocacy."
—Archivaria (Fall 2012)
“Many Happy Returns absolutely succeeds in its desire to be a starting point for discussions on advocacy and to encourage further writing on the subject. There are also many tips, tools, and lessons in the book that can be used by almost every archivist on an immediate basis. Most importantly, Hackman inculcates the mindset of making advocacy part and parcel of all archivists’ daily work, something that is not as difficult as it seems.”
—Provenance, Volume 31, Issue 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction . . . vii PART ONE: Basic Advocacy Principles and Methods Advocacy for Archives and Archivists . . . 3 Larry J. Hackman
PART TWO: Case Studies in Advocacy for Archives Case Studies in Archival Advocacy . . . 43 Larry J. Hackman
Archival Advocacy: Institutional Archives in Corporations . . . 45 Elizabeth W. Adkins and Karen Benedict
Advocacy and Fundraising at the Oberlin College Archives . . . 67 Roland M. Baumann
Observations on Thirty Years of Advocacy . . . 86 Lewis Bellardo
Thoughts on the Reinvention of the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan . . . 107 Francis X. Blouin, Jr.
Building an Archives for Butte, America . . . 123 Ellen Crain and Donna E. McCrea
Many Happy Returns: Advocacy and the Development of Archives Leadership, Advocacy, and Program Development: Transforming New York’s Local Government Records Program, 1981–1995 . . . . 138 Bruce W. Dearstyne
Advocacy for the Archives and History Office of the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory: Stages and Methods . . . 161 J. M. Deken
Advocating Within the Institution: Twenty-five Years for the New York Philharmonic Archives . . . 186 Barbara Haws
Starting the Archives for Women in Medicine: Advocacy in Creation, Survival—and Beyond? . . . 200 Giordana Mecagni
The Jacob’s Pillow Archives: Creating and Nurturing an Indispensable Resource . . . 215 Norton Owen
Advocacy in the Service of Archives: A Continuing Issue at the Vermont State Archives . . . 232 Gregory Sanford
To Know Us . . . Is to Love Us . . . Is to Support Us: The Creation and Evolution of the New York State Archives Partnership Trust . . 250 Christine W. Ward and Judy P. Hohmann
Making the Case: Using Court Records to Win Friends and Influence Politicians . . . 279 Kenneth H. Winn
What the Case Studies Tell Us . . . 297 Edie Hedlin
PART THREE: Perspectives on Advocacy Issues Teaching Advocacy . . . 323 Richard J. Cox
Building a Community of Supporters: The Role of New Technologies in Advocacy . . . 337 Kate Theimer
Advocacy at the Federal Level . . . 357 Lee White and Heather Huyck
PART FOUR: Further Recommendations Parting Thoughts: Advocacy and the Archives Profession Larry J. Hackman . . . 371