From the bottom up…One historian’s

journey developing and maintaining a working archives

Why create a history room & archive for the Sunflower

County Library System?

• 2001, Assistant Director’s tour of the branches revealed lousy situation• Genealogy room discrepancies

• Compiled materials and moved them to upstairs meeting/storage room

Why hire an archivist for the Sunflower County History

Room and Archive?

• Staff genealogist GeeGee retired• David- former journalist, well known

local historian and president of the Sunflower County Historical Society

• Me-academically trained

Public History Coordinator• ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

– Promotes the libraries polices, goals and objectives and works with the library administration and other staff in the formation of goals and objectives. Recommends public service procedures.

– Coordinates programming throughout the system. Leads, trains, directs and utilizes subordinates, interns and volunteers effectively and appropriately.

– Facilitates the preparation of public history collection documentation. Compiles reports as requested; implements systems for gathering statistics and information.

– Serves as a liaison between the library and community organizations, schools, government boards, and commissions as appropriate. Represents the library and library trustees as requested and as appropriate.

– Initiates inter-agency cooperative efforts for networking purposes; including program development, collection development; and staffing.

– Coordinates the annual Black History Month activities. This may includes scheduling presenters, special events, recommending volunteer needs.

– Participates in selection of materials for all branches—particularly as they pertain to local, state and regional history.

– Reads library journals and electronic sources for professional development.– Performs adult, young adult, and children’s reader’s advisory and reference service as

needed.– Staffs branches as required.– Participates in professional and community organizations. Provides consultation on

local community needs which can be met by the Library.– Maintains awareness of trends in public history service and of historical events and

issues affecting citizens of Sunflower County. – Attends workshops and appropriate professional meetings and conferences.– Attends library staff meetings. Participates in the leadership of the administrative team.

Me & my background

• BA in Anthropology at Florida State University

• MA in History at University of Montana• Intern/employed at K. Ross Toole

Archives at U of M for 2 years• Missoula International School parent

• US Space and Rocket Center Educator

Sunflower County History Room and Archive

Jennifer D. RosePublic History Coordinator

What was waiting for me…

• Wal-Mart bags• David’s attempts• Boxes • Genealogy

materials• And who knows

what!

Me and my hats

• Archivist• Outreach• Advocate• Oral historian• Grant writer

What DO I do?• Acquisitions• Processing• Proper housing• Finding aids• Digitizing• Creating exhibits • Presentations• Writing grants• Oral histories• Public relations

Archivist

• Acquisitions• Processing• Preservation• Finding aids

outreach

• Presentations and education

• Professional workshops, conferences…

• Social events and Festivals

• Just talking to people

advocate

• Get the stuff out of attics and from under beds

• Promote the responsibility to preserve

• History’s relevant• Support your local

library• Again, just talking to

people

oral historian• Recorded a couple at

school, transcribed a few and wrote a lot of summaries

• I like to talk, and to listen

• Wanted to document undocumented

• B.B. King Museum’s program and equipment

grant writer

• This one kinda fell to me after Director left

• Grant writing workshops

• Internet search and word of mouth

Thank you and I hope you enjoyed the show!