Interview with museum archivist

Hannah Whitman Clement

HWC: How did you become the archivist for Museum of Art and History, Santa Cruz (MAH)?
AD: I volunteered at MAH for two years while I was in the master’s program at SJSU. When the position became open, I was already well-versed on the collection of this institution, and the needs of the archive.

HWC: As the sole archivist at MAH, what are your job responsibilities?
AD:  I work with all aspects of a library and archive including management, budgeting, cataloging, writing finding aids, supervising volunteers, creating collection policies, and answering reference questions. It is great to have each day be such a diversity of experience.

HWC: How is your organization different than a public or academic library?
AD: MAH is a museum with an archive and history library inherited from the former Santa Cruz Historical Society. A museum provides its information primarily via exhibitions. Our resources are more specialized and are non-circulating, so our clientele is also much more focused.

HWC: How do the collections you work with relate to the rest of the museum?

AD: Artifacts are often used in exhibitions, and research materials are available for curators when developing exhibit proposals. MAH’s permanent collections are often used to supplement an existing exhibition to give it more local flavor.  As a research facility we are open to the public, and we can provide supplemental information for displays both in our permanent history gallery and in rotating exhibits.

HWC: What populations do you deal with? Do many people contact the archive in order to access collections?

AD: I work with people interested in some aspect of Santa Cruz County history. Professional researchers, students, reporters, genealogists, authors, and curious visitors all use the archive.  While I work with mostly local people, I do get a lot of questions that can be handled via e-mail and telephone. We receive an average of four inquiries per week.

HWC: What was the situation like when you started as the head archivist? What was the biggest challenge at that time?

AD: I was the first archivist at MAH with an MLIS and some previous training in the handling of archival materials. When I began the job, retrieval systems were memory-based and the storage room looked like my grandma’s attic. We had to come up with a plan of action that would not only preserve our valuable collection, but also make our research materials available in the shortest amount of time. In doing so, we also had to educate our Board of Trustees that this would be a worthy endeavor and worth the large investment of time and money.

HWC: What are the most rewarding aspects of your job?
AD: There are many rewards to this job: introducing volunteers and interns to the profession; Watching a researcher light up when finding an original source document they have never seen; Solving the puzzle and finding the answer; Coming to work knowing that every day is a new discovery.

HWC: What are the most challenging issues you face in this position?

AD: Funding is always a big issue. MAH is a privately supported non-profit and most of our funding comes from community grants.  We always have to keep our eyes open for additional sources of money for our projects. Educating our constituency about what we offer and why we are of value to the community is an important aspect of this issue.

HWC: What are the benefits and deterrents of working alone?

AD: Although I am a solo archivist, I do work with a team of volunteers and interns. I have been able to set the vision for this archive; there is a great sense of personal accomplishment when achieving something on one’s own. The downside of being a solo-archivist is not having someone in my institution to consult with on questions and issues specific to the profession. I have to make contacts at other libraries and museums, attend workshops, and participate in professional societies.

HWC: What are your goals for the archive in the future?

AD: My most immediate goal is to gain intellectual control over all our collections and for the community to have access to our research materials. Ultimately, we would like to digitize our photograph collection and have finding aids available online.

HWC: What courses have been useful to you in the transition to becoming a solo archivist?

AD: Libr 256, Archives & Manuscripts, and Libr 259, Preservation Management, have had the most direct impact on my career.

HWC: What suggestions or advice do you have for students interested in becoming archivists?

AD: Internships are invaluable; do as many of them as possible and get to know the people in your profession. Professional contacts in this field are invaluable.

HWC: What publications and/or professional associations do you recommend students to be aware of?

AD: Society of American Archivists(SAA)and Society of California Archivists (SCA)

The Museum of Art and History web site: http://www.santacruzmah.org/