Ask an Archivist

Last week's post has events through Oct. 3. The full October program page is now available for those of you who like to plan ahead.

This week's post comes from PHMC's digital director, Sean Adkins.

Tyler Stump of the Pennsylvania State Archives examines a ledger during last year's Ask an Archivist (photo Don Giles)

On Wednesday, October 2, six archivists from the Pennsylvania State Archives will test their knowledge on Twitter by taking part in Ask an Archivist Day. Sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, Ask An Archivist offers the public the opportunity to connect directly to archivists in their communities. Archivists around the country will respond to questions tweeted with the hashtag #AskAnArchivist. Questions will vary widely, from the silly (What do archivists talk about over lunch?) to the practical (How do I preserve records that were damaged in a flood?) Ask an Archivist Day is open to everyone. To participate, tweet a question to @PHMC and include the hashtag #AskAnArchivist.

Here’s our schedule:

• 10:15 AM to 11:00 AM: Brett Reigh will guide a digital tour through some of The Pennsylvania State Archives’ most requested images. This will range from the iconic view of strikers marching to Lattimer to Pittsburgh’s Point just before the onset of the Great Depression.
• 11:15 AM to 12:00 PM: Join Kurt Bell for his discussion on the State Archives collection of train-related images, including those featuring Ferdinand Foch and Charles Lindbergh.
• 1:15 PM to 2:00 PM: Tyler Stump will offer his insight into the institutional records preserved by the State Archives.
• 2:15 PM to 3:00 PM: Angelica Yost and Chelsea Houck will introduce you to the manuscript records/diaries & journals from the State Archives.
• 3:15 PM to 4:00 PM: Aaron McWilliams will offer his tips on searching land records and genealogical records from The State Archives. Bring your Ancestry.com questions!