CHICAGO— Nacogdoches teacher Jacy King is one of eight finalists in the I Found It In The Archives! contest, which is part of a national campaign sponsored by the Society of American Archivists (SAA). SAA asked archives users to submit essays or videos detailing their “discoveries” in the archives. In King’s video, which was submitted to the contest by the East Texas Research Center, she reveals how a trip to the archives helped her uncover the truth behind a decades-old family mystery.
King’s entry, along with those of the seven other finalists in the contest, has been posted on SAA’s website at http://www2.archivists.org/initiatives/i-found-it-in-the-archives/i-found-it-in-the-archives-2012-national-competition. Voting is open to the public. Help spread the word about the contest—and King’s involvement—through social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter (Twitter users should use the hashtag #FoundArch). Voting is open through May 15.
The winner of the national contest will be announced in June and will receive complimentary airfare to SAA’s Annual Meeting in San Diego this August and two nights stay at the San Diego Hilton Bayfront.
The I Found It In The Archives! campaign is part of SAA’s efforts to raise awareness about the importance of archives. Members of SAA held local contests in the fall and winter to kick off the campaign, reaching out to individuals who have found their records, families, heritage, and treasures through their collections. Contestants shared their stories of discovery, and the winning essays and videos in the local competitions then moved on to the national competition.
For more details about SAA or to vote in the contest, visit www.archivists.org.
The Society of American Archivists is a Chicago-based national professional organization representing 6,000 individual and institutional members. Founded in 1936, its mission is to serve the education and information needs of its members and to provide leadership to ensure the identification, preservation, and use of the nation’s historical record.
