Archives-Related Websites

Indiana University | State of Indiana | Associations and Organizations | Professional Resources | Blogs

Indiana University

Archives of African American Music

"Established in 1991, the Archives of African American Music and Culture (AAAMC) is a repository of materials covering a range of African American musical idioms and cultural expressions from the post-World War II era. Our collections highlight popular, religious, and classical music, with genres ranging from blues and gospel to R&B and contemporary hip hop. The AAAMC also houses extensive materials related to the documentation of black radio."

Archives of Traditional Music

"The Archives of Traditional Music at Indiana University is the largest university-based ethnographic sound archives in the United States. Its holdings cover a wide range of cultural and geographical areas, and include commercial and field recordings of vocal and instrumental music, folktales, interviews, and oral history, as well as videotapes, photographs, and manuscripts."

Black Film Center/Archive

"The Black Film Center/Archive was established in 1981 as a repository of films and related materials by and about African Americans. Included are films which have substantial participation by African Americans as writers, actors, producers, directors, musicians, and consultants, as well as those which depict some aspect of black experience." The archives holds over 1,000 history and contemporary films.

Center for the Study of History and Memory

The Center was originally founded in 1968 as the "Oral History Project" by Oscar O. Winther. In 1981, Professor John Bodnar changed the Project's name to "reflect its broadened scope and its mission to preserve, collect, and interpret 20th-century history through the medium of first-person testimony." Currently, the archives holds over a hundred different oral histories ranging in a variety of scopes and contents.

Indiana University Archives

The Indiana University Archives contains a large collection of documents and photographs chronicling the history of the university from 1820 to the present.

Indiana University Libraries

IU's library system comprises 18 different libraries located throughout campus. When added together, there are 6,770,498 bound volumes -- the largest collection in the state of Indiana and the 13th largest library system among North American research libraries. This is the main portal to all the libraries and where one may gain access to IU's on-line card catalog.

Kinsey Institue

The Kinsey Institute houses extensive archival collections, including the papers of Dr. Alfred Kinsey, the records of the Institute and materials of other research scholars and instititutes.

Lilly Library

The Lilly Library is the principal rare books, manuscripts, and special collections repository of Indiana University, serving as a resource for scholars throughout the world as well as a center of cultural enrichment. The Library is open to anyone interested in its collections.

Mathers Museum

Bloomington's local museum containing over 20,000 objects and 10,000 photographs that represent a variety of African, Asian, Oceanic, and Latin and Native American cultures.

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State of Indiana

Indiana Historical Society

"Since 1830 the Indiana Historical Society - an independent non profit membership organization - has worked to collect, preserve, interpret and share information about the unique heritage of our state."

Indiana State Archives

"The Indiana State Archives is the official repository of Indiana government records of permanent historical and legal significance. It principally contains records generated by state government and state agencies, but also holds a major collection of county and local government records."

Monroe County History Center

Focusing on Monroe County history, this musuem contains a photographic and manuscript library of happenings in Monroe County. It also operates a genealogy library for those compiling family histories. The permanent exhibit contains a real log cabin, pieces from the Showers Furniture Factory, and a limestone industry exhibit, and much more. Special exhibits in the past have included antique quilts from the region, IU history, and clothing through the ages.

Monroe County Public Libraries

MCPL contains a unique collection of materials specifically relating to Indiana history. It's also a great place to browse for a good book on those afternoons when you really don't want to do any homework.

Society of Indiana Archivists

Founded in 1972, this growing organization seeks to bring together not only professional archivists, but librarians, manuscript curators, university personnel, local historical society members, and other persons interested in historic document preservation in the state.

Valley Visions & Voices

Wabash Visions & Voices: A Digital Memory Project for West Central Indiana focuses on the Wabash Valley region in west central Indiana and east central Illinois. The digital collection contains artifacts, administrative and personal papers, manuscripts, photographs, texts, yearbooks, maps, oral histories, and other audio/video files. No genealogical resources are included.

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Associations & Organizations

American Folklore Society

The Section's mission is to promote the exchange of information on all types of archival methodology relating to folklore, folklife, and other ethnographic collections. In addition the Section aims to share information and to help develop standards relevant to library collections and activities in folklore. The Section has maintained a particular interest in the developing technological systems that can advance the work of archivists and librarians working with folklore materials as well as improve collections management in the field.

Archive of Folk Culture (Library of Congress)

The American Folklife Center includes the Archive of Folk Culture, which was founded at the Library in 1928 as a repository for American folk music. The Archive of Folk Culture became part of the American Folklife Center in 1978. Today, its multi-format, ethnographic collections are diverse and international, including over one million photographs, manuscripts, audio recordings, and moving images. It is America's first national archive of traditional life, and one of the oldest and largest of such repositories in the world.

Association for Manuscripts and Archives in Research Collections (U.K.)

"The Association for Manuscripts and Archives in Research Collections (AMARC) promotes the accessibility, preservation and study of manuscripts and archives in libraries and other research collections in Great Britain and Ireland. It brings together curators, researchers and all who share a scholarly interest in this field."

Association for Recorded Sound Collections

Founded in 1966, the Association for Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to research, study, publication, and information exchange surrounding all aspects of recordings and recorded sound.

Center for History and New Media

"Since 1994, the Center for History and New Media at George Mason University has used digital media and computer technology to democratize history, to incorporate multiple voices, reach diverse audiences, and encourage popular participation in presenting and preserving the past." Projects include World History Matters, Interpreting the Declaration of Independence, and the September 11 Digital Archive.

Council of State Archivists

"The Council of State Archivists (CoSA) is a national organization comprising the individuals who serve as directors of the principal archival agencies in each state and territorial government." The site includes information on the council, links to state and regional contacts, and program resources.

Internet Archive

The Internet Archive provides free access to a digital library of Internet sites and cultural artifacts, including text and audio files and moving images.

Midwest Archives Conference

Founded in 1972, MAC is has over 1100 members from over 30 states. Its main region consists of the thirteen heartland states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. MAC offers annual symposiums and conferences that are designed to bring together archival professionals and educators to discuss a variety of archival topics and issues.

National Associaiton of Government Achives & Records Administration

NAGARA is an association dedicated to the improvement of federal, state, and local government records and information management. The organization is dedicated to the effective use and management of government information and publicly recognizing their efforts and accomplishments.

Southeast Archives Education Collaborative (SAEC)

Funded by an IMLS Leadership Grant in 2002, the SAEC developed a collaborative administrative protocol which enables five graduate archives education programs to share courses at virtually no additional cost to the programs or students involved. Participating programs are The Department of History at Auburn University, The School of Library and Information Science at Indiana University, The School of Library and Information Science at Louisiana State University, The Department of History at Middle Tennessee State University, and The School of Library and Information Science at the University of Kentucky.

Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage Archives

The Smithsonian is the home of the Ralph Rinzler Folklife and Archives Collection. Within the archive is the Moses and Frances Asch Collection, which consists of the original recordings, business records, correspondence and photographic materials that were included with the Smithsonian purchase of Folkways Records in 1987. The collection also includes the written, audio and visual representations of the Smithsonian Folklife festival, and other such festivals in the United States.

Society of American Archivists

The home page of our parent organization contains information a bout the history and mission of the SAA. You can also join the national organization on-line and browse current issues in the field of archiving.

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Professional Resources

A*Census: Archival Census & Education Needs Survey in the United States

A comprehensive, nation-wide survey that was completed in May 2004 that examined the archival profession in the United States. The survey examines nearly every aspect of the profession, from salary averages to how archivists entered into their positions.

Conservation On-line (CoOL)

This site, a project of the Preservation Department of Stanford University Libraries, contains a wealth of information about conservation issues facing archives and libraries today. A great place to find out what to do with the photographs you just spilled coffee all over or to simply browse to learn a bit more about conservation theory and techniques.

EAD: Encoded Archival Description Version 2002 Official Site

The official site for Encoded Archival Description (EAD). The site contains background information about EAD as well as the 2002 DTD, Tag Library, and additional links for extra EAD information.

Repositories of Primary Sources

Compiled by the Department of Special Collections and Archives at the University of Idaho, this site includes worldwide listings of more than 5000 websites of repositories containing archives, manuscripts, personal papers, and photographs. Search by geographical area.

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Blogs and Personal Sites

Alone in the Dark

This blog, created and updated by the archivist at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, provides personal insights into regular archival encounters. The blog sheds light on experiences such as dealing with donors, receiving donations, supervising student workers, and creating finding aids and exhibitions. It is archived by topic for quicker subject access.

Global Museum

This blog compiles headlines and news stories pertinent about museums and their possessions. The site also contains job postings and additional museum resources.

Hanging Together

"HangingTogether is a place where some of the staff at RLG Programs, part of the OCLC Programs and Research division, a partnership of libraries, archives, and museums, can talk about the intersections we see happening between these three different types of institutions. We travel to our partners a lot and go to conferences and take note of the interesting things we see along the way. Stop in, stay awhile, and hang out." Entries can be searched by category.

Reading Archives

A blog by Richard Cox, Professor in Library and Information Science at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Information Sciences, this site provides descriptions of new or recent scholarly and other publications concerning (broadly) the nature and importance of archives.

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