Archives Month at the Smithsonian

October is American Archives Month, a time to focus on the importance of the Smithsonian’s vast collections of archival and historical records and to highlight the many individual Smithsonian archival units responsible for maintaining these rich and complex documentary resources.

Smithsonian Archives Fair 2011

Friday, October 14
10:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m.
S. Dillon Ripley Center (National Mall), concourse level
Free and open to the public!

Organized by the Smithsonian Institution Archives and Special Collections Council (SIASC), the Archives Fair will highlight vast collections of archival and historical records at the Smithsonian. Staff from over a dozen different archival units will be on hand to showcase some of the Smithsonian’s archival treasures as well as current projects and programs.

• Lecture Series - speakers throughout the day will spotlight the infinite number of stories waiting to be told through the Smithsonian’s archives.
  View Archives Fair Lecture Series Program
  
  
• “Ask the Smithsonian” Program - timed slots will be offered for attendees to consult with experts including archivists, conservators, and librarians on how to better care for their own archives-worthy items.
  Register now for your appointment to “Ask the Smithsonian”

Ask the Smithsonian Facebook Q & A

Wednesday, October 12
10:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m.
Smithsonian’s Facebook page

For those not able to attend the Smithsonian Archives Fair, Smithsonian conservation and archives specialists will be available virtually on the Smithsonian’s Facebook page to answer questions the public may have about their own paper-based and electronic archival items.

31-Day Blogathon

To celebrate Archives Month 2011, Archives throughout the Smithsonian Institution will be participating in a month-long Blogathon, with posts highlighting stories from the archives as well as challenges and issues facing archives. To follow the blogathon, subscribe to the RSS feed or check back on this website throughout the month to see the most recent posts.

Participating blogs include:

• Archives of American Art blog
• The Bigger Picture (Smithsonian Institution Archives)
• Chandra X-Ray blog (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory)
• Eye Level (Smithsonian American Art Museum)
• Field Book Project blog (National Museum of Natural History & Smithsonian Institution Archives)
• National Air and Space Museum blog
• National Museum of the American Indian blog
• Smithsonian Collections blog
• Smithsonian Institution Libraries blog
  
  

Questions about American Archives Month? Contact a Smithsonian staff member at rappaportg@si.edu

Smithsonian Archives Fair 2010

Watch Videos from the 2010 Archives Fair Lecture Series