September 2006 Newsletter

Our Keynote Speaker for the first Plenary session, Regina Bechtle, SC, will reflect with us on  “Stewarding the Story:  A Spirituality for Archivists.” As stewards of a congregation’s sacred story, archivists play a dynamic, proactive role. Like the biblical writers, they build bridges between past and present; they remind the group of the Spirit-energy that gave it birth, and the hope to which it is called. In their ministry of service, archivists need to draw on the Spirit who empowers them to hear the deep story, to tell it with imagination, to discern wisely, and to leave room for God’s surprises.

 Regina, a Sister of Charity of New York since 1962, is a spiritual director, educator, writer, theologian and poet.  She gives retreats and programs on Vincentian spirituality, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton and the Sisters of Charity, religious life, and leadership. Currently, as Charism Resource Director for her congregation, she develops programs to deepen awareness of the Vincentian roots of the Charity heritage. With Judith Metz, SC, she has co-edited Elizabeth Bayley Seton:Collected Writings, a 4-volume annotated collection of material from over fifteen archives.

Bill is University Archivist and Professor of Library Administration (1995-) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). He was Assistant University Archivist at UIUC (1977-85 & 1985-95), and Program Officer at the National Endowment for the Humanities (1985-86). He was President (1997-88) and Treasurer (1991-94) of the Society of American Archivists (SAA); and President (1987-89) and Secretary-Treasurer (1981-85) of the Midwest Archives Conference (MAC).

As the author of The Management of College and University Archives and many articles, he is a regular speaker on archival administration and copyright law, especially as it pertains to archival and manuscript collections.

    “Introduction to Archives I” will be  presented by Carol Marie Widlt, SSND,  archivist for the School Sisters of Notre Dame, St. Louis Province since 1997, chairperson of the SSND Interprovincial Archivists, and active in the St. Louis Area Religious Archivists as well as other archival groups. A former  college philosophy professor, she co-authored “The Use of Convent Archival records in Medical Research: The School Sisters of Notre Dame and the Nun Study,” in The American Archivist.  Her session will include appraisal, description, cataloging, arrangement, and finding aids.

     “Introduction to Archives II”  in the afternoon will  cover preservation, physical conditions, policies, and access to archives presented  by Marylu Stueber, FSM, archivist of the Franciscan Sisters of Mary in St. Louis since 1980.  Founder of the St. Louis Area Religious Archivists, she belongs to SAA, MAC as well as numerous other archival organizations. Marylu has served as the chairperson of the ACWR election committee.

A former nurse, she has presented various sessions on the heritage of healing and heritage of the Franciscan Sisters of Mary.

Trying to recapture the senior sisters’ memories before they are gone?  Then, you won’t want to miss “Oral History,” presented by Mary Ellen Gleason, SC, Director of Archives, College of St. Elizabeth, Convent Station, NJ.  This workshop will explore the why’s and how’s of an oral history program for women religious and those associated with them.  An opportunity for conversation will be provided.

Mary Ellen, an archivist for 30 years, is active in SAA, Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference [MARAC], New Jersey Catholic Historical Records Committee, US Catholic Historical Society, serving on many committees and task forces over the years.   She also served as archivist for the Sisters of Charity as well as Assistant Archivist/Historical Researcher for the American Bible Society and has written about  and given presentations related to archives.

With millions of people visiting the Internet daily, you cannot afford to overlook this significant vehicle for communication and marketing. But to be effective, your website must be attractive, informative, easy-to-use, and linked. Discover what you need to know to accomplish this goal. “Developing Your Website” will be presented by Mary Kay Gilbert and Sharon Foley, SC. 

Mary Kay, a communications and public relations professional, has worked with profit and nonprofit organizations for close to 30 years. Before leaving in spring 2005 to pursue freelance opportunities, Mary Kay served as communications director for the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati for more than seven years.

Sharon  is a graphic designer and web developer with over eight years of professional experience in marketing and communications. Currently working for the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, she has developed and maintains the congregation’s website at www.srcharitycinti.org, the Daniel Comboni Community Clinic website at www.guatemalaclinicmixco.org, and the Sisters of Charity Federation website at www.sisters-of-charity.org. Sharon also holds the Professional CIW (Certified Internet Webmaster) Certification.

 

Looking to find the best software  for your archives?  Vickie Cravens, OSU, in “Approaches to Software and Hardware for Archives” will discuss the pros and cons of commercial packages and special programs, migration of information, different pieces of hardware that can be used in the archival setting, and a general discussion of computers in the Archives.

Vickie, active in ACWR, is completing her term as secretary for ACWR and has been Director of Archives  for the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph, Maple Mount, KY, since 2001. In 2003,  she was named Museum Curator. She spent 22 years in public and university libraries serving in many different capacities.  Sister Vickie is presently working on planning for merging of one to two Ursuline archives as  well as a possible move for the Mount Saint Joseph Archives.

“Marketing Archives” will be presented by Kathryn Callahan, CSC, Director of Congregational Archives and Records for the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Ind. since 1993. As member of SAA, and MAC, she is a former ACWR president. Her previous ministry includes nursing; nursing education and administration as well as community administration.

She will include a brief overview of the main ideas from her  marketing presentation from 2003 as well as practical information that can be used by the archivist in developing guidelines. She will also offer a series of examples of guidelines that have been developed by various congregations.

“Care of Photos” will be presented by Becky Ryder, Head, Preservation Services & Manager, Preservation Reformatting Center, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington, KY.  Becky  will provide an overview of film and photographs typically found in  archives.  She will discuss their basic composition, their natural inclination to deteriorate, the scourge of "vinegar syndrome," and some strategies for preservation.    Preservation management of digital photographs, as well as film photography, will be included in the presentation.

Ms. Ryder is an adjunct faculty member in the University’s School of Library and Information Science and teaches a class on preservation management.  She is a member of the Kentucky State Historical Records Advisory Board and the SOLINET Preservation Advisory Council.   She holds memberships in the American Library Association, the Kentucky Library Association and the Kentucky Council on Archives.

Though this session had been planned before the devastating effects of Katrina, which affected many of our members, Lisa Fox’s double session, “Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire: Preparing for Disasters” is very timely. Archives are subject to all manner of collection-threatening disasters, from the routine and small scale ones like roof leaks and plumbing malfunctions to potential calamities like fire, hurricane, or earthquake.  An effective disaster plan will help the archives reduce the likelihood of some disasters and greatly reduce the extent of damage in others.  This session will outline practical steps for disaster prevention, recovery, and planning.

Lisa is the senior Conservator for the Local Records Preservation Program of the Missouri State Archives and has taught nearly 300 workshops on all aspects of preservation. Lisa also wrote the definitive text on preservation microfilming published by the American Library Association in 1996.

Roger Fortin, Academic Dean and Professor of History, Xavier University, will speak on “The History of the Church in Cincinnati” in an evening plenary session. Among his many presentations and publications is Faith and Action: A History of the Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati 1821-1996, published by OSU Press, 2002.

He has received innumerable  awards for teaching as well research. In addition, he been awarded grants, many from NEH, including one to renovate the Greater Cincinnati Fire House as well as other local history and education projects. An engaging speaker, he continues to work on the history of the church in  Cincinnati, begun in 1821 and the second diocese west of the Appalachians.

  “Merging Archives”  A panel of Frances Gimber, RSCJ, Pauline Ingram,OP, Judith Metz, SC, and Marylu Stueber, FSM will discuss their experiences and provide time for your questions.  Mary Jeremy Buckman, RSM,  Moderator

The purpose of this panel discussion is to show unique ways of preserving the history of religious communities. Many congregations are joining larger communities and/or centralizing archival holdings. ACWR would like to show just a few models of saving the history of these congregations.

The past endeavors of religious women have played a vital part in the growth of the Catholic Church in the United States.  Without these records, church history is without a memory.

CONFERENCE TOUR OFFERINGS

Saturday afternoon of our Conference offers an opportunity for participants to visit sites of interest in the Cincinnati area. There is a $15.00 bus charge for each tour and an additional admission charge for those going to the National Underground Railroad/Freedom Center. The tours available are:

1. The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, which opened in 2004, features three pavilions, celebrating cooperation and perseverance. During the 1800s more than 100,000 enslaved people sought freedom through the Underground Railroad. The story of their quest for freedom is woven through the exhibits at the Center. In addition the Freedom Center explores a range of issues reflecting on the struggle for freedom in the past, in the present, and for the future. Group rates at the center are $8.00 for senior citizens and $9.50 for adults.
    
2. A visit to Mount St. Joseph, Ohio, the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati will include a tour of the Archives/Repository as well as the Chapel, Art Room and other display areas of the motherhouse.
    

3. A driving tour of Cincinnati will highlight geographical, historical and cultural aspects of the city. Founded in 1788, Cincinnati was, during the ante-bellum period, the main metropolis west of the Appalachian Mountains. In 1821 it was named a diocese and by later in the century became the center of Reform Judaism in America. By the end of the 19^th century, building on its strong German population, it became an important art and music center.