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October - American Archives Month
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. Organized by the Smithsonian Institution Archives and Special Collections Council (SIASC), the Archives Fair highlights 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 through lectures, Ask The Smithsonian in-person and online events, and new this year - a film series. The Archives Fair is the highlight of our month long celebration. Free and open to the public!
Archives Fair 2012 - Revealing Hidden Treasures
| Online | Washington, DC | |||
| October 17, 2012 | October 19, 2012 | |||
| Interactive Q & A | Lectures - Films - Ask the Smithsonian |
Each October, archivists, curators and conservators intensify their efforts to get the word out about the collections and projects they are involved using blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube and other online social media.
Online Q & A: Ask-the-Smithsonian
A perennial favorite, archivists specialzing in audio/visual material, photos, and digital objects (or electronic records), together with a paper conservator gather on the Smithsonian's Facebook page to field questions posted on the Smithsonian's "wall".
Archivists, conservators, and collection specialists discuss a variety of topics ranging from collection highlights to new initiatives that are making their collections easier to access to preservation techniques.
Film Series
A new part of the Fair in 2012, these are films from the collections of the various archives at the Institution. These valuable materials are, in some instances, newly available now that major preservation efforts have been completed.
Ask-the-Smithsonian
Archives Fair attendees are able to consult in person with experts including archivists, conservators and librarians on how to better care for their own archives-worthy items. Occurring on the last day of the Fair, this event has been heavily attended. To make sure people are able to meet with Smithsonian experts, pre-registration is required.
