 |
| Stephanie Carter, archivist at the Arkansas State Archives |
Q: What do you do
on a typical day at Archives?
A: I wear many
hats, so my duties for any given day vary. Some days, I work with donors to
accept new donations to our Archives. I make a record that includes the
donation information and get the historical material ready for processing.
Other
days, I visit state agencies to discuss a transfer of records or pick up a
collection of records that have been transferred. We also meet with county
officials to provide recommendations about the preservation of county records.
We continue to microfilm county records, which will create a record that can
last over 500 years.
Also,
I work in the research room and help our patrons find resources for research projects,
such as researching their family histories or finding certain maps or newspaper
articles. I spend the rest of my time processing archival collections, which
includes organizing records and creating finding aids to help researchers
navigate and access materials in our holdings. I also research records and
write historical information about the collection.
Q: How did you
become interested in Arkansas history or working at the Arkansas State
Archives?
A: I have had an
interest in Arkansas history for as long as I can remember. I visited museums
at a young age and watched my grandmother collect and research our family
history. Ever since I learned about the Arkansas State Archives, I have thought
it would be an interesting place to work. After college, I worked at a library
and eventually returned to school for a master’s degree in library and
information science. While I was getting my second degree, my interest in
archives grew because I learned more about what archivists do and spoke with
people who work in the archiving field. It’s an amazing honor to be part of a
team that celebrates and preserves Arkansas history the way the Arkansas State
Archives does.
Q: What’s the most
important or interesting thing you’ve discovered while working at Archives?
Why?
A: I come across
so much unique material every day that it’s hard to pick one thing that is the
most interesting or important. Arkansas has a long and culturally significant
history that is unique and fascinating. Before working at the Arkansas State
Archives, I didn’t know what an enormous collection of historical materials the
State Archives holds. I also didn’t realize what a wide-array of topics the
State Archives covers. We hold more records on Arkansas history than anywhere
else in the world. Our collections are phenomenal and range from the Arkansas
Territory to modern times. I am constantly learning something new.
Q: Why do you
think the Arkansas State Archives is important for Arkansans?
A: I think the
Arkansas State Archives is important because it records the state’s history,
particularly by preserving unique, primary sources. These historical materials
offer a view of Arkansas history that is more than can be read about in a book.
Our materials tell the stories of the lives of individual Arkansans in their
own words and as they experienced it. We have diaries, letters and photographs
that provide a glimpse into what life was like for these individuals.
Q: What is the
most rewarding part of your job?
A: There are many
parts of my job that are rewarding, but I think the most rewarding part is
being able to make our resources available to the people of Arkansas. Whether
I’m in the research room helping patrons find information, or I’m preserving
and processing collections, it’s important to me to be able to help provide
access points to our collections. It’s very rewarding to know a collection is
available for use and will be preserved for future generations because of the
work I do.
Q: How do you see
archiving evolving in the future?
A: One of the
biggest factors affecting archives right now is digitization, and we eventually
will have more collections available for viewing on our website. This is a very
time-consuming task, and I think a large part of our work in the future will be
making the difficult decisions of what to digitize first. Digitization has also
begun to affect us in other ways. We are receiving more collections in
“born-digital” format and in formats that are becoming obsolete, such as floppy
disks and VHS tapes. Some of these materials, including VHS tapes, deteriorate
quickly, too. We will have to continue to find ways to preserve the materials
and transfer them to usable formats. I think the technological ways people
access information will continue to evolve, so archivists must adapt to those
changes.
Q: What do you
wish people knew about Archives?
A: Many people
I’ve met don’t know where we are located or what we do. I wish they knew what a
large collection of resources we hold and that we are here to help them. We can
help with a variety of research needs, including finding genealogy resources,
governors’ papers, state records, court records, photographs and more.
For
more information about the Arkansas State Archives or research services, visit archives.arkansas.gov, email state.archives@arkansas.gov or call
501-682-6900.
