Presentation

You Can't Always Get What You Want, But What Happens When You Do?

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Abstract

Archivists have been asked to do more with less for decades, while also being encouraged to advocate for additional resources. But what do you do when you find yourself as the proverbial dog who has finally caught the car? How do you ensure that you don't under deliver? The Eastern Michigan University Archives (EMUA) Team has systematically grown their archives program (both staffing and space) over the past 12 years, but it has come with numerous wins and countless complications. University Archivist Alexis Braun Marks will talk about the advocacy efforts she has undertaken to get additional staff and a major gift to renovate space in the University Library, but also the politics that have surrounded the expansion of the archives. Amber Davis and Brooke Boyst will share how the newly constructed archives has provided long-dreamt-of geographic unity, but how this also threatens the familial culture that has defined the effectiveness of EMUA. They will talk about how they are creating systems and workflows that make sense and do not rely on the ‘way things have always been done.’ Finally, Matt Jones will talk about how the shift from being a EMU Oral History Program (OHP) to a Center has been influenced by local and university politics, handshake agreements, and debates over who tells whose story. But also how we are working to maintain our vision for the OHP, and, by proxy, the University Archives as a whole. The session will provide time for an open dialog between panelists and attendees to understand the ups and downs of getting what you want, as well as inspiration to create a collaborative and effective team that can overcome potential ego pitfalls in order to create a cohesive work environment.

Keywords: college and university archives, solo archivists, oral history, oral history programs, management

How to Cite:

Braun Marks, A., Boyst, B., Jones, M. & Davis, A., (2025) “You Can't Always Get What You Want, But What Happens When You Do?”, MAC Annual Meeting Presentations 2025(1).