Blog

Part of a history educator's responsibility is to ensure that their students see themselves reflected in history classes. As we begin Black History Month, we wanted to share a selection of education resources that aim to ensure that Black History is understood as American History, and to increase the potential for students of color to be reflected in that history. The New York State Archives Partnership Trust has produced a number of online educator guides building on historical resources held by the State Archives and collecting institutions across the State.

To increase the knowledge of the histories and cultures of this extraordinarily diverse state, the New York State Historical Records Advisory Board (SHRAB) is committed to supporting the collection, preservation, and accessibility of historical records documenting the life experiences of all New Yorkers.

For the past few months, we've shared and summarized specific resources that relate to antiracism work across all aspects of archives, museums, and libraries. In today's post, we hope to broaden the scope and showcase some of the wider organizations that have compiled excellent resources and are working to expand the conversation. These encompass everything from structured syllabi to crowd-sourced lists. Professional organizations and local professional networks are also great resources to turn to when seeking additional information.

Last week, we departed from our usual webinar format to hear firsthand how staff from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Library battled a tenacious mold outbreak in their collections. Recounting challenges posed by building infrastructure, unforeseen staff shortages, inclement weather, and later, the COVID-19 pandemic, RPI’s Tammy Gobert, Preservation and Access Archivist, and Jenifer Monger, Assistant Institute Archivist, recounted their experiences with humor and humility, sharing insights and lessons learned along the way.