Mission

Society of American Archivists (SAA)

The Society of American Archivists is the oldest and largest national archival professional association in America. It was formed in 1936 to provide leadership in the identification, preservation, and use of historical records. Members of SAA vote in organizational matters, receive The American Archivist and Archival Outlook, and receive a discount on SAA publications, conferences, and workshops. Participating in SAA is a great way to build your resume, network with archives professionals, and continue your archival education after graduation.

SAA also hosts several professional listservs. You don’t even have to be a member to subscribe to many of the listservs. The most important listserv is Archives and Archivists (A&A), where archivists post questions, archival news, job openings, and more every day. SAA also sponsors a student newsletter.

Simmons College Student Chapter of the Society of American Archivists (SCoSAA)

Our mission statement is simple, even if a little long-winded:

  1. “Serve as a means of introducing new archivists into the profession;
  2. Enhance the educational function by providing an additional focus for the students to discuss archival issues, identify with the profession, and engage in professional activities;
  3. Promote communication among student members;
  4. Develop the leaders of tomorrow’s archival profession; and
  5. Attract new members into the Society of American Archivists.”

SCoSAA provides many opportunities for archives concentrators and those interested in archives, including:

  • Field trips to local repositories
  • Volunteer projects at local non-profits, whose archives have not been organized
  • Guest lectures and career panels
  • Networking and socializing with other current and future archives professionals
  • Opportunities to practice leadership skills, contribute to the GSLIS community, and build your resume

There are many ways to get involved with SCoSAA.

  • Attend monthly meetings and events.
  • Stay updated on group activities by joining the SCoSAA listserv
  • Blog for SCoSAA
  • Interact with SCoSAA on Twitter and Facebook

For more information on how to get involved, contact group leaders at scosaa@simmons.edu. To get an idea of what we’ve done in the past, check out the SCoSAA past events and projects. SAA’s official guidelines for student chapters may be found in the SAA Council Handbook.