Preserving the History of Boston’s Diversity:

Northeastern University’s Project to Document African American, Chinese, Latino, and GLBT Communities

of Boston

Joan D. KrizackNortheastern Universityj.krizack@neu.eduSALALM 55 - July 26, 2010

Overview

Motivation Collecting Community involvement

and outreach Access and use

Motivation Develop special collections

Freedom House Gov. Volpe Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra

Find niche and develop collecting policy Avoid competition Appropriate for Northeastern Available without cost

Motivation Personal Interest

Howard Zinn, “The Archivist and the New Left,” 1970 Gerald Ham, “The Archival Edge,” 1975

Collecting NHPRC grants

1. Freedom House 2. Plan to document 4 communities + process 3

collections

Collecting Documentation Topics Framework:

http://www.lib.neu.edu/archives/collections/framework/

Collecting, cont. Social Reform and Welfare:

“Efforts to achieve or oppose social, economic, and political change, including grassroots efforts outside of mainstream organizations. Individuals, organizations, and activities that address issues such as civil rights and discrimination related to population groups, animal rights, environmental affairs, war and peace, health care, abortion/reproductive rights, public safety (including domestic violence, neighborhood watch groups, hate crimes, gun control, death penalty, police actions, etc.), welfare reform, trade/globalization. Also scholarly research related to social reform.”

Collecting Topic → Population → Organizations /

Individuals → Records Example:

Topic = Social welfare and reform

Population = Latino

Specific organization = La Alianza Hispana

Specific record series = Board minutes

Collecting Strategy

Seek contact person

Collecting Strategy

Send letter and brochure

http://www.lib.neu.edu/archives/boston/index.html

Collecting Strategy

Make follow up call

Collecting Strategy

Hold meeting at NU / organization

Collecting Patience and persistence

Hispanic Office of Planning and Evaluation (1998) Action for Boston Community Development (2002)

Collecting Reputation and Serendipity

Positive Directions Fenway Community Health

Community Involvement and Outreach Proactive approach Community representation on Archives’ staff

Community Involvement and Outreach Advisory board and liaison Diversity within communities

Community Involvement and Outreach Long term commitment

Process quickly Publicize acquisition and processing Accept future accretions / documentation planning

Community Involvement and Outreach Programming

Exhibits – virtual and real Panel discussions

Community Involvement and Outreach Programming

Digitization projects EMC grant MBLC grant (IMLS)

Oral history initiative

Community Involvement and Outreach Community requests Invitations

Access and Use IMLS/MBLC grant EMC grant

Thank you.

Joan D. KrizackNortheastern Universityj.krizack@neu.eduSALAM 55, July 26, 2010