I arrived at my conference for the Society of American Archivists on Tuesday evening, a weary and frustrated traveler. The airline had cancelled my Dallas to New Orleans flight then lost my luggage. I am complaining about it first, but it did all turn out ok, just made for a long day. The up-sides of the day included the fact that I realized my 5:15 pm flight was cancelled, but noticed an earlier flight was still available, since too was it was delayed from the weather. Since I was in the terminal 3 hours early, I was able to get a seat on the earlier flight before all the other people on my cancelled flight realized (or were even in the airport) what was happening. I even got into N.O. before my scheduled flight, even with the delay. The next good thing was my luggage did arrive safe and sound the next morning, but I had a fitful night waking almost ever hour to see if the light on my phone was lit, signaling my luggage was at the bell desk.
After a shaky start, I had most of Wednesday to acclimate and get my poster ready for the conference. I actually had quite a lovely day. I used the hotel gym for an hour, walked around the mall attached to the hotel, put my poster together, and then the highlight of the day….a massage and facial at the Ritz-Carlton spa! It was a wonderful relaxing treat to take the stress off from the earlier day. I was lucky to get in on 24 hours notice, so I think my travel-karma was still in tact.
Thursday started early with the opening session at 8 AM. The speaker was the dynamic Andrew Young, former UN Ambassador under the Carter administration. He gave a very compelling talk (for 60 minutes, without notes!) about the value of archives and how they have increased America’s collective knowledge through research and access. Additionally, how we, as a professional group, should strive to maintain said free access to all researchers and public alike while emphasizing the collection and accession of marginalized groups whose communal knowledge is under threat of loss. He gave examples throughout history of marginalized individuals and groups whose knowledge has cured illnesses, averted wars, and changed the social and political direction of American policy. He also believes it is thought the rediscovery of forgotten or misplaced knowledge and records we will find a cure for AIDS – via archives and their preservation of traditional customs and medicinal practices.
The rest of the day was filled with conference sessions including:
- Three working Models of Digital Archives
- Developing Standardized Metrics for Accessing Use and User Services for Primary Sources
- Communities of Records: Re-Setting the Boundaries of Context
In the evening I did another hour in the gym, did some room services while I took care of e-mail, ordering books for my fall classes and send some physical mail. I was then feeling some cabin fever so I took about an hour walk down to the French Quarter – I could only stand it outside that long because it was so humid, you could see the air – I have been in gym/spa steam rooms that were not as steamy as it was outside!!