Archival Manager Earns Certification

Meredith McFadden, archival manager for the Northeast Arkansas Regional Archives, recently passed the Academy of Certified Archivists exam, making her the only certified archivist on staff at a branch.

The Academy of Certified Archivists, which is an independent, nonprofit organization that certifies professional archivists, administers its exam annually during the Society of American Archivists summer conference. Applicants must have a master’s degree in progress or completed to qualify to take the test.

“Meredith’s achievement is significant on both professional and personal levels,” said Dr. Wendy Richter, director and state historian. “It indicates not only a high level of knowledge, but also a strong commitment to the archival profession. We are certainly proud of this accomplishment.”

McFadden joins four other current or former Arkansas State Archives employees who have been certified by the academy over the past 30 years. Dr. Richter is the only other employee currently on staff who has been certified previously.

McFadden studied an extensive list of archival literature for several months leading up to the Aug. 15 test date. The test is offered to qualified candidates to assess their knowledge on a wide breadth of information including archival history, theory, best practices and situational response.  The exam is one of the very few professional certifications available in the archival field.

At least five other Arkansas State Archives staff members plan to seek certification to continue the agency’s growth and quality of service for Arkansas residents. The test includes knowledge of legal aspects of archives, marketing-reference services and preservation methods. Certification strengthens the archival profession by promoting best practices to ensure important historical items are better preserved and more readily accessible to residents.

Congratulations Meredith McFadden and best of luck to next year’s candidates!