REPS Back-to-School Day of Service

Announcing the REPS Back-to-School Day of Service!

Archives students are starting back at library schools around New England and to welcome them back, REPS and NEA have organized a Day of Service! On Saturday, September 13, three institutions around New England will be hosting volunteers to help process some of their collections. All are welcome, from new students to NEA professionals. This is a great opportunity not only to get experience processing collections but also to help out some great institutions and to network with other archivists.

Our Day of Service sites are Brookline Historical Society in Brookline, MA, Norwich University in Northfield, VT, and Connecticut Historical Society in Hartford, CT. We have also just added a fourth location: Historic Newton! You can register via our sign-up sheet. Please read below for more information about each event.

The official hashtag for the event is #REPSserves14!

Brookline Historical Society

Brookline, MA

REPS Coordinator: Dan Bullman

The Brookline Historical Society is a non-profit community organization dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of Brookline’s diverse history. The society’s headquarters are located in the heart of Coolidge Corner at the Edward Devotion House, one of Brookline’s oldest colonial period structures. The Society also maintains the circa 1780 Widow Harris House as well as the Putterham School located in Larz Anderson Park.

Project

Rehousing, arrangement, creating container lists or folder lists, verifying existing inventories, identifying items for weeding, creating finding aids on paper-based collections which have not been worked on in many years.

Supplies

Volunteers are asked to bring a laptop. There is wi-fi. BHS will provide pencils, folders, boxes, etc.

Lunch

Volunteers should pack own lunch or eat at one of the many restaurants in Coolidge Corner, which is in walking distance.

How to Register

This institution has limited space. There will be three shifts (9:30-12, 12:30-3, and 3-5) and space for four volunteers for each shift. Please note that Brookline Historical Society has no air condition. Please sign up using the sign-up sheet.

NEW LOCATION! Historic Newton

Newton, MA

REPS Coordinator: Annalisa Moretti

Historic Newton encourages inquiry about and exploration of the history of Newton, Massachusetts within the context of the wider American story. They oversee the Jackson Homestead, the Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, and Newton’s Historic Burying Grounds. Theyalso collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit historic artifacts of local significance, and offer public programs in the form of seminars, workshops, tours, and discussions.

Project

Rehousing and creating box lists for several small collections.

Supplies

Volunteers will need to bring laptops.

Lunch

Volunteers should bring lunch or visit nearby Whole Foods location.

How to Register

There is a maximum of 12 participants. There will be two shifts: 9:30-12 and 12:30-3:30. Please sign up using the sign-up sheet.

Norwich University

Northfield, VT

REPS Coordinator: Mary Margaret Groberg

Norwich University is the nation’s oldest private military college. The University Archives preserves and provides access to written and still photographic records that document the history and accomplishments of Norwich and its alumni, faculty, and staff.

Project

Transcription of correspondence of Alden Partridge, founder of Norwich University; approx. 3500 letters dated 1805-1856. Collection is fully processed and currently being digitized for CONTENTdm site (http://bit.ly/1nzYiT6).

Supplies

Volunteers will need to bring laptops or tablets that have offline word processing capabilities.

Lunch

Provided on-site (pizza and beverages).

How to Register

A maximum of 15 volunteers can be accommodated; minimum of 4 needed. There will be 2 shifts (9:00-12, 1-5) or you can stay all day. Please sign up using the sign-up sheet.

Connecticut Historical Society

Hartford, CT

REPS Coordinator: VivianLea Solek

The Connecticut Historical Society is a private, not-for-profit museum, library, research and educational center. Its mission is to inspire and foster a life-long interest in history through exhibitions, programs, and Connecticut-related collections, because improving knowledge of the past enhances understanding of the present and the ability to meet the challenges of the future.

Project

Rehousing individual documents, shifting collections, and inventorying/adjusting storage location. The documents are found throughout the collections. All are in stable condition and have been cataloged.

Supplies

Volunteers will have access to typewriters to type labels for the new folders and will not need to bring anything.

Lunch

On-site. Volunteers should bring $5 for lunch. Pizza will be ordered and beverages and dessert provided.

How to Register

There are 10-12 spaces available. There will be 2 shifts (8:30-12:30, 12:30-4:30) or you can stay all day. Please sign up using the sign-up sheet.