MARAC Bylaws Vote Results & Transition Team Announcement

November 24, 2015 themaracblogLeave a comment

Dear MARAC Member,

The votes are in and the MARAC Bylaw revisions have passed. There were 297 votes cast with 288 “yes” and 9 “no” votes. The new revised MARAC Bylaws will go into effect July 1, 2016 and there are several issues that need to be addressed to make this a smooth transition. In order to plan for this transition, I have appointed Danna Bell, former MARAC Chair, to lead the Bylaws Transition Team.

My sincere thanks go out to those who served on the Ad Hoc Committee on the Revision of MARAC’s Governing Documents, including Committee Chair Lisa Mangiafico, and Committee members Andrew Cassidy-Amstutz, David D’Onofrio, Jim Gerencser, and Amy Schindler. Thank you to former MARAC Parliamentarian Dawn Fairchild, who served the committee in an advisory capacity, and special thank you to John LeGloahec, my predecessor as MARAC Chair, for his hard work and dedication to this effort. Most importantly, I am especially grateful for the feedback from MARAC members, because an integral part of any successful and strong organization is the participation and feedback of the membership.

Thank you,

Brian Keough

MARAC Chair, 2015-2017

Join the Conversation: NEC Twitter Chat on November 17

November 16, 2015 themaracblogLeave a comment

Thinking about throwing your hat in the ring for MARAC’s upcoming election? Have a question about running? Want to learn more about what it’s like to serve on MARAC’s committees? The Nominations and Elections Committee will be hosting a Twitter chat using the hashtag #electmarac on Tuesday, November 17 from 8-9 PM. All MARAC members, including new, experienced, and prospective MARAC leaders, are encouraged to attend!

How to read the chat: Follow the #electmarac tweets during or after the chat.

How to participate in the chat:

You will need a Twitter account to participate in the chat. If you don’t already have one, you can sign up for free at https://twitter.com/signup.

During the chat, @MARACtweets(the official MARAC Twitter account) will post a series of questions (e.g. ”Q1, Q2”) with the #electmarac hashtag. For example, a question would be constructed as follows:

Q1 What positions have you held in MARAC? #electmarac

To respond to a question, include the question number (e.g. “Q1, Q2”) and #electmarac in your response so others can find your tweets. A response might look like this:

Q1 Currently serving as WV Caucus Rep, previously served on Custer Committee #electmarac

Attendees can also use the hashtag to ask each other questions related to MARAC leadership and committee service.

Has anyone here served as a state caucus rep? What was your experience like? #electmarac

Can’t make it to the chat? You can email any member of the NEC with your questions about running or to submit a nomination.

The 2015-2016 Nominations and Elections Committee

Cindy Bendroth (cbendroth@pa.gov)

Rebecca Goldman (rebgold@gmail.com)

Susan Kline (susan.m.kline@gmail.com)

Christie Lutz (christie.lutz@rutgers.edu)

Charlotte Sturm, Chair (charlotte.sturm@gmail.com)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art Archives Opens Records of Former Director Thomas Hoving for Research

November 11, 2015 themaracblogLeave a comment

The Metropolitan Museum of Art Archives announces the availability for research of 43 linear feet of Museum records from the office of Thomas Hoving, Director of the Metropolitan from 1967-1977. Under Hoving’s leadership the Metropolitan developed and set in motion a major expansion plan for the Museum, acquired important artworks and collections, and mounted a sequence of highly popular special exhibitions. The records include official Museum correspondence with trustees, staff, donors and other institutions; news clippings and publicity material pertaining to exhibitions, acquisitions, and Hoving himself; proposals and other documentation of special exhibitions; interdepartmental memoranda and reports concerning collections, galleries and administrative matters; and materials related to the Metropolitan’s centennial celebration in 1970. The records also include some correspondence from Hoving’s term as New York City Parks Commissioner (1966-1967), as well as his graduate studies, and research he conducted as a curator in the Metropolitan Museum’s Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters. Collectively, these materials provide an in-depth view of the administration of the Metropolitan during a pivotal era of expansion, and provide key insights on the personality and work style of one of the institution’s leaders. The records will support important new scholarship in art history, museum studies, New York City history and many other fields.

A complete inventory of the records is now available online:

http://libmma.org/digital_files/archives/Thomas_Hoving_records_b18583829.

For information about access to the physical materials at The Metropolitan Museum of Art Archives, contact archives@metmuseum or visit our website at http://libmma.org/portal/museum-archives/.

Processing of the Thomas Hoving records was funded by a generous grant from the Leon Levy Foundation, a private, not-for-profit foundation created from the estate of Leon Levy, an investor with a longstanding commitment to philanthropy. The Foundation’s overarching goal is to support scholarship at the highest level, ultimately advancing knowledge and improving the lives of individuals and society at large. www.leonlevyfoundation.org.

Nomination Time, Come On!

November 5, 2015 themaracblogLeave a comment

(Yahoo!)

Looking to get more involved in MARAC leadership? The Nominations and Elections Committee is seeking volunteers and nominations of members to stand for election in the 2016 election. All current MARAC members are eligible to serve on the Steering Committee and other MARAC committees.

Our previous blog post has the full list of open positions. Not sure which position is right for you? Here are some suggestions:

If you’re interested in building your local community of archive and archivists…consider running to be a caucus representative.

If you want to make sure your hardworking colleagues get recognition…consider running for the Distinguished Service Award Committee.

If you enjoy reading about the history of the MARAC region…consider running for the Arline Custer Memorial Award Committee.

If you love archival description…consider running for the Finding Aids Award Committee.

If you want to write next year’s blog post begging for nominations…consider running for the Nominations and Elections Committee.

Contact any member of the Nominations and Elections Committee if you are interested in running or if you would like to nominate a colleague. If you’re not sure which position is right for you, contact us anyway–we’ll help you figure it out.