 oard members Claire Grossman and Judy Basen Weinreb
attended "Going Beyond Memory II", a conference on
synagogue archiving, in August of 2001. This was the second biannual
conference sponsored by the American Jewish Archives, which are
located at the Jacob Rader Marcus Center on the campus of Hebrew
Union College in Cincinnati.
Nearly sixty volunteer and professional archivists from across
the United States participated in this thought-provoking two-day
meeting. Kevin Proffitt, the Chief Archivist of the American
Jewish Archives, welcomed the group with an enlightening speech.
He outlined the goals of the archive, which are to identify,
preserve, and make accessible the documents that represent the
history of an institution or organization. It was gratifying
to learn that these goals are consistent with the NM Jewish Historical
Society Archives' work.
Professional staff members from the American Jewish Archives
led lively discussions during breakout sessions. A wide range
of subjects relating to the organization and use of archives
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covered. Participants
could choose from topics such as how to physically arrange our
documents, the technical requirements to safely store such materials,
or how to create a database that will help organize the archives.
One particularly interesting aspect of the conference was a tour
of the newly renovated American Jewish Archives. Participants
were able to view the state-of-the-art methods of preservation
and organization that the AJA is implementing.
A vigorous exchange of ideas from the participants made the sessions
even more worthwhile. Networking among the archivists was a valuable
aspect of this gathering. It was particularly interesting to
see what Jewish archives in all parts of the country are doing.
Interest in New Mexico's Jewish heritage was keen, with many
expressing surprise at the age and size of the community. We
were able to share some of our unique history, as well as the
many activities of the NM Jewish Historical Society.
A highlight of the conference was a fascinating talk by Dr. Greg
Bradsher from the National Archives in Washington D.C. Dr. Bradsher
is in charge of the Holocaust-Era Assets Records. He spoke of
the ways that |
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archived documents
are currently being used to demonstrate the validity of Holocaust
survivor claims to Nazi-confiscated assets. Dr. Bradsher clearly
demonstrated the importance of preserving our history through
documentation.
From the perspective of the New Mexico Jewish Historical Society,
one of the most inspiring aspects of the conference dealt with
outreach from the archives. Organizing and preserving our records
are only part of the archive's mission. Using those records is
of equal importance. We hope to capitalize on some of the new
ideas for using those documents and photos that we learned in
Cincinnati. Our archive has already sponsored some very successful
programs but we've only just scratched the surface. Look for
some really interesting news from the Society's archive in the
coming months!
As a side note, the American Jewish Archives is planning a trip
to New Mexico April 24th - 28th, 2002. Participants will visit
sites of interest to Jewish New Mexico and study its history.
Several Society members are working with the AJA to coordinate
what should be a fascinating experience. More information about
this trip is available from the AJA. |
