NWA 2011 Annual Meeting
Helena, Montana April 21-23
Preliminary Schedule
Click Here for Print-Off Copy of Preliminary Schedule
Thursday, April 21
Electronic Records Workshop 8:00-5:00
Project Management workshop 8:00-12:00
NWDA Committee Annual Meeting 9:00–3:45
Financial Management workshop 1:00-5:00
NWA Board Meeting 4:00-6:00
Reception at the Mo
ntana Club 6:00-8:00
Join your colleagues in the beautiful main dining room and lounge of the Montana Club, established in 1885 as the exclus
ive men’s club for Montana’s post gold-rush era millionaires. The Montana Club Building (built in 1903, and rebuilt 1905 following a fire) played host to the likes of Mark Twain, President Teddy Roosevelt, and more recently Liz Claiborne. The main dining area boasts breath taking chandeliers and Charlie Russell’s famous tribute to the west “When the Land Belonged to God”. NWA members will be treated to hors d'oeuvres and a no-host bar.
Photo: Man Pouring Glass of Wine. Unidentified Photographer. C978-002.Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives, Helena, Montana
Friday, April 22 
All-attendee breakfast 7:30-8:45
Welcome & introductions 745-8:00
Plenary Speaker – Rand Jimerson 8:00-8:45
Break 8:45-9:00
Photo: Going Places in Glacier Park. Bears on the Going to Sun Highway. Marble R.E. (Ray Elmer "Ted") 1883-1938. PAc 96-27. FR5. Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives, Helena, Montana
Session 1
Rare Books in the Archives: Hidden Secrets
9:30-10:30
Though rarely discussed by archivists, many archives hold significant rare book collections. This session will illustrate some of the unexpected rare book collections in the Northwest and explore what archivists do with these collections. When do libraries become “archives”?
Session 2
A Bunch of Archivists Sittin’ around Talkin’ about Appraisal
Photo: 4th of July, 1913, Polson, Mont. Thiri's Aerial View Service. PAc 2000-40.16 Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives, Helena Montana
9:00-10:30
Appraisal: archivists do it all the time, but how often do we talk about it openly? This is your chance to take part in a facilitated discussion about appraisal. Come prepared to talk about your experiences and thoughts, and to learn from your colleagues.
Break 10:30-10:45
Friday, April 22 (continued)
Session 3
NWA and SAA
10:45-12:15
In his 2010 SAA presidential address, “Unifying the Archives Profession: A Proposal,” Peter Gottlieb claimed that “the crowded field of [over 80] separate archives associations stretches the resources for widely shared goals too thin.” To unify the profession, Gottlieb proposed the establishment of a new organizationundefineda federation of archives organizationsundefinedthat would create connections and relationships between existing associations to advance a national agenda.
In the context of this discussion, and in preparation for a panel at SAA’s 2011 meeting on SAA and the regionals at which NWA will be represented, this session will provide commentary on and provide an opportunity for discussion about the relationship between NWA and SAA. Panelists, including NWA President Tony Kurtz and Past Presidents Tiah Edmunson-Morton and Larry Landis, will share their insights about what a federation and more formal relationship with SAA might mean for NWA, how such changes might impact professional development and identify, and regional issues and experiences with collaboration.
All-attendee lunch 12:15-1:30
Guest speaker William Marcus, host of Backroads of Montana-- providing unique insights into the people an
d places that make Montana The Last Best Place.
Session 4
The Call to Service: What You Can Bring to the Profession
1:45-3:15
What does it mean to hold a leadership position within a professional organization? If you’ve thought of becoming involved in NWA, SAA or other professional organizations, but have been unsure about what the commitment means, how to fit it into your schedule, or if you have enough experience to offer, come hear what others who’ve taken the plunge have to say. There will be plenty of time to ask questions.
Friday, April 22 (continued)
1:45-3:15
Session 5
Innovative Collaboration: A New Grant for Old Stuff
1:45-3:15
This presentation will combine the online medium of Skype with a traditional in-person presentation to discuss an innovative grant project currently being carried out at Whitworth University. Janet Hauck, the University Archivist, will first provide an overview of the project, which is being funded by Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion. Then she and the audience will Skype with four Whitworth theology professors who are taking part in this grant-funded project.
Break 3:15-3:30
Ask an Archivist
3:15-5:30
Whether you're a student, new to the profession, mid-point in your career, or one of the seasoned archivists who have unanswered questions, here's your chance to ask archivists questions about theory, practice or professional development. A group of volunteer archivists will be available to field your questions, play devil's advocate, or just shoot the breeze. This is a great opportunity to chat one-on-one and work on your networking skills.
Session 6
Celebrating Archives Month: Reaching Outside the Box
3:30-5:00
Combining presentations and audience discussion, this session will look at local and national events celebrating Archives Month and seek to generate ideas that participants can take back with them to their own institutions. The discussion will be informal and will create space for imaginative and unconventional approaches to institutional outreach.
All-attendee BBQ dinner at the Klefner Ranch 6:30-9:00
BBQ at the Kleffner Ranch:
The Kleffner stone barn was built in 1887 by W.C. Child, in response to the devastating winter of 1886 during which staggering cattle loss rose to between 60 and 90 per cent in some areas. The devastation was depicted in Charlie Russell’s “The Last of five Thousand”. The enormous three-story, stone barn is 27,000 square feet, large enough to hold 500 head of cattle and their feed. The well appointed cattle ranch quickly became a special meeting place for the 19th century eli
te of Helena. The unique octagonal ranch house hosted regular social events and dances in its impressive ballroom. This landmark was added to the National Register of Historic Places in1977. Attendees will be treated to a mouth-watering BBQ feast of Beef Ribs and Chicken (with all the extras), a no-host bar, a local bluegrass band and ghost stories from Helena historian Ellen Baumler!
Saturday, April 23
All-attendee breakfast & NWA Business Meeting 8:00 – 10:00
Break 10:00-10:15
Photo: Driveway along the Yellowstone River, Hayden Valley. Jack Ellis Haynes, 1884-1962. H-16240. Montana Historical Society Photograph Archives, Helena, Montana
Session 7:
Sharing Ideas and Innovations: An Archival Pecha Kucha
10:15-11:45
In a Pecha Kucha each speaker shows 20 powerpoint images for 20 seconds each – resulting in a short but focused presentation. This session will consist of 6-8 speakers sharing ideas, innovations, collaborations, and information about projects and activities being led by and/or impacting archivists around our region.
Session 8
The Seminar in the Archives or Wrestling with Primary Sources and Omeka to Interpret the Columbia Plateau
10:15-11:45
Undergraduate and graduate students will present their research from a year-long hybrid seminar that explored the cultures and the environments of the Greater Columbia Plateau from multiple disciplinary points of view. In addition to course readings and presentations by guest speakers, the students delved into primary sources held in Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (and other regional repositories) to create online exhibits in Omeka. The presentations will include research on Hanford, the Washington Power Grid, Washington State University’s own nuclear reactor, worker’s lives during the construction of the Grand Coulee dam, debates over mining, and collectors.
Session 9
Protocols and Process: A Discussion of NWA’s Evaluation of the Native American Protocols
10:15–11:15
The Protocols for Native American Archival Materials has been around since 2006. NWA made a commitment in 2007 to provide education about what the Protocols entail and provide an avenue to discuss the ramifications. Four years have passed and it's time to review 1) the success of NWA's approach, and 2) what we've learned from several years’ discussion. Audience discussions will help form the basis for suggesting to the NWA Board how to formally proceed in relation to the Protocols.
All-attendee Lunch 11:45-1:00
Guest speaker Randy Silverman, Preservation Librarian from University of Utah, who will talk about the Western States and Territories Preservation Assistance Service (WESTPAS).
Special thanks to the conference vendors, sponsors, and 
advertisers!
Vendors:
ArcaSearch
Ancestry.com
COMSTOR Information Management Inc.
Gaylord Brothers
Hollinger Metal Edge, Inc.
Montana Historical Society Store
Sponsors:
ArcaSearch
Ancestry.com
Hollinger Metal Edge, Inc.
Mansfield Library, the University of Montana
Friends of the Butte-Silver Bow Archives
Montana History Foundation
Museums Association of Montana
Montana Historical Society Research Center
Friends of the Montana Historical Society
Montana State Historic Records Advisory Board
Advertisers:
Links to Conference Web Pages
Sponsor/Vendor Information Page
Session/Presentation Proposals