When someone requests information, particularly if searching for a religious or member of the clergy- and not directly associated with your Congregation, you may be able to assist them in their search by looking at the National Catholic Directory for the particular diocese to locate the Congregation or parish. Once the Congregation is known, often you can look it up and provide a website to the researcher so he/she can make the contact.
Marylu Stueber, FSM
[/accordion_section] [accordion_section title=”Using Spreadsheets”]The FSPA archivist shared a memo she sent to her community: One part of our social history that might be important to future historians is our individual travel outside the U.S. No doubt we have each made mention of trips in our Annals. Besides that, I would like to compile a spreadsheet that would summarize each Sister’s travels. Then, in the future, as I hear of someone’s trip, I will add that to the spreadsheet.
Please list the major trips you have taken outside this country. Include the year and purpose. Include in your travel summary convention sites, family visits, vacations, teaching abroad, etc. Ministry sites need not be included since we have a record of those already. But travel to Japan while you ministered in Guam, for example would be worth noting. The memo included a place to list these.
[/accordion_section] [accordion_section title=”Save Time”]Save time later: Why waste valuable time refoldering and labeling files when they are transferred to the archives? Save time and energy for yourself and make material available more efficiently by supplying acid-free folders and foil-backed labels to your administrative secretary. This way, from the time and point of origin, the records are filed in the correct archival material. When the time comes to transfer the administrative records to the archives, simply transfer them directly to records center cartons or document cases; label the container; shelve—little or no further processing is necessary.
Even better (although this may be too much to ask or expect!) – have your secretary prepare a list of all files labels- with a little shifting to match box contents, you have the basis of a finding aid with little or no work on your parts.
[/accordion_section] [accordion_section title=”Last Tip”]Tips can be added as time goes on. They can also be listed by topic. This type of setup gives the web visitor quick access to information they are looking for. It also has a clean look and keeps the page from getting to busy with information. This can also be titled Frequently Asked Questions.
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