|
Face Time
|
with:
|
THE BASICS:
What do you do at Smith?
I'm the Records Services Archivist
in the College Archives. My job is to help the Smith community
manage their records and information in both
paper and electronic form. I'm here to make sure that those
materials with historical, legal, or operational value to
the College are preserved and that other records are properly
discarded. Also, I'm here to spread the word about the College's
new records management policy that went into effect last
summer. I've started a to help with all of this.
How many years
have you been at the college?
I have been working here since
October. But I'm a class of ’95 alumna so
I've been here for 4 years before!
What is your busy season?
The College Archives is always
busy. In my work I've noticed that it gets a little busier
when the students are on vacation because that's when some
employees have more time to focus on their own files and
records.
NOW THE FUN STUFF:
Who gets the most face
time with you?
My husband and almost-3-year-old
son.
What are you reading
now?
I read Mike
Mulligan and His Steam Shovel almost every night these days. In my own reading,
I recently re-read Jane Eyre. New reading
includes Challenger Park and anything by Anne Tyler.
Who are your
role models?
Toddlers are actually
very inspiring. As for grown-ups, I've always admired Eleanor
Roosevelt as a woman who really got things done.
If you suddenly had two
hours of free time, what would you do?
I'd take my son on the train
in Look Park (he loves that); go home and bake pumpkin muffins
with him; and then magically finish the entire sweater that
I'm trying to knit before he outgrows it.
What is your
favorite wall hanging at home?
I have a lot of family photographs.
One of my favorites is a black-and-white picture of my son
when he was only 6 months old.
What annoys
the heck out of you?
People with a lack
of enthusiasm.
If you could live during
any period in time and in any place -- when and where?
I'm happy here and now. I wouldn't
mind visiting moments in the past, though; I'd love to sit
in on the Constitutional Convention.
Who does the work around you
abode?
My husband is a great cook and
does almost all of the grocery shopping and cooking; I do
the laundry and cleaning.
Is there any time in
your life you wish you could do over?
Not yet.
What did you do before you came
to Smith?
I was an associate curator in
the Department of Literary and Historical Manuscripts at
the Morgan Library and Museum in New York, NY. I was there
for 8 and a half years and it was an extraordinary opportunity
to work with wonderful colleagues and an amazing collection.
One of my favorite projects was researching the Morgan's
manuscript of Lady Susan, the only surviving complete
manuscript of a novel by Jane Austen, for an exhibition last
spring. I even got to place the bound manuscript in the
exhibition case, which was quite a thrill.
What single piece of
advice would you give to graduating Smithies?
Print
out the digital photos that are precious to you and take
care of
them! I'm concerned as an archivist about the longevity of
electronic records.
|
