October is American Archives Month, and October 14th is Ask An Archivist Day, promoted by the Society of American Archivists. https://www2.archivists.org/initiatives/askanarchivist-day
Archivists employed by the Department of Records & Information Services perform a variety of tasks. They appraise New York City government records for historical or other significance; they transfer records designated as archival from the creating agency to the Municipal Archives; they catalog and describe the records; and they store them in appropriate conditions to ensure permanent preservation. All toward the goal of providing public access. The archivists regularly publish finding aids and collection guides and digitize selected materials to further facilitate access. Today, there are more than 11.3 million historical photographs, documents, maps, films, audio files, etc. digitized and available on the Archives’ Preservica site. Most recently, the Archives processed and made available records of the New York City Commission on Human Rights.
DORIS archivists have seen a lot, and on Ask An Archivist Day the public is invited to send questions to our social media accounts (@nycrecords on Facebook and X, @nycarchives on Instagram), which the archivists will try to answer.
Also, save the date for Wednesday, October 21, when NYC Department of Records will celebrate Archives Week with a full day of programming at the historic Hall of Records!
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/reflecting-on-nyc-history-a-community-forum-4859061/
Join us in person at 11am to learn about Neighborhood Stories, a unique storytelling initiative that gathers and permanently preserves oral history-style interviews with New York City residents, connecting local history with the records of City government maintained in the collections of the Municipal Archives and Library. Learn how the project began, how to get involved, and how your story can help preserve New York City history for future generations.
At 1:00 pm, our Lunch & Learn series brings a Zoom conversation with author Hugh Ryan and archivist Riah Lee Kinsey. The speakers will discuss their experiences conducting archival research at a range of institutions, with a particular focus on their work at the Municipal Archives and Library.
At 3:00 pm we have an in-person cross-departmental panel discussion with DORIS staff on how AI is affecting Municipal Archives services.
At 6:00 pm is the opening of “Change Preservation” a new exhibit located in the first-floor alcove of 31 Chambers Street. Curated by architects Wes Hiatt and Violette de la Selle, the exhibition brings together the material of Changing Change, a research project shown in two chapters at Citygroup in 2024 and 2025 on how buildings in Manhattan's Lower East Side and Chinatown endure through constant alteration.
And finally, at 7:00 pm our day’s events conclude with a live taping of Person Place Thing, with Randy Cohen and DORIS Commissioner Shawn(ta) Smith-Cruz.
Space is limited for these events please sign up in advance.
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/reflecting-on-nyc-history-a-community-forum-4859061/
