Wednesday, April 16, 2008

New Russell Staff Member!

Kat Shirley

Profile by Nora Lewis

Name
: Katherine Shirley

Job Title: Head, Arrangement and Description

Joined Russell staff: January 2008

Job Description:I am responsible for accessioning, handling preservation issues, and the arrangement and description of archival and manuscript collections.

Other work experience:
Associate Archivist, The History Factory, Chantilly, Virginia
Processing Intern, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian
Intern, Division of Fishes, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian

Education:
B.A. in History, Georgia State University, 2003
M.A. in Museum Studies, George Washington University, 2006

Professional Memberships:
Society of Georgia Archivists
Society of American Archivists
Academy of Certified Archivists

Most Enjoyable Aspect of Your Job:I enjoy processing collections and viewing pieces of the past that are rarely seen by others. Historic sales catalogs and personal correspondence are the types of items that I enjoy the most because they provide such a unique view into people’s daily lives.

Alternate Career Path if not in Archives: I would love to own a bookstore.

Favorite Pastimes: Reading, watching movies, and hiking

Comments on the profession today: The archival community is increasingly aware of the need to provide access to a larger portion of the public. I am excited about the inventive ways that repositories are using technology to share their collections with new and different audiences.