AMIA: Hurricane Recovery

SSA-SAA Grant Fund

SSA-SAA Emergency Disaster Assistance Grant Fund Expanded to Include
Katrina- and Rita-Damaged Repositories; Four Grants Funded

The Society of Southwest Archivists and the Society of American Archivists have expanded a fund to provide grants to archival repositories affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. As of November
1, grants have been awarded to the Louisiana Museum Foundation, Newcomb College Center for Research on Women (Tulane University), the New Orleans Notarial Archives, and the Tyrrell Historical Library (Beaumont, Texas).  More than $21,800 has been contributed to the fund to date.

Any repository that holds archival records or special collections and that is located in Hurricane Katrina- or Rita-affected areas of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, or Texas is eligible to
apply for this grant. The repository need not be a member of SSA or SAA.  Grant monies may be used for the direct recovery of damaged or at-risk archival materials; such services as freeze drying, storage, transportation of materials, and rental facilities; supplies, including acid-free boxes and folders, storage cartons, cleaning materials, plastic milk crates, and protective gear; and to defray the costs for volunteers or other laborers who assist with the recovery.

LA Times on Archives & Recovery

After Katrina, salvaging pieces of history

Archivists along the Gulf Coast are taking stock after the hurricane washed away rare local documents and photographs.

By Caryn Rousseau, Associated Press

PASS CHRISTIAN, Miss. — As Hurricane Katrina approached, local historians were confident a vault filled with precious pre-Civil War pictures, maps and documents cataloging the history of this Gulf Coast community would be safe.

Hopes were high after the storm passed. The former bank building that served as the Pass Christian Historical Society headquarters washed away, but its vault still stood. Workers opened it to find wet, sopping papers — the ruined history of a seaside town. Most of the collection including town ledgers and old newspapers is lost.

"Apparently, the vault did not hold back water," said Lou Rizzardi, an alderman and historical society member in the town of 6,750. "So it penetrated. Things got damaged because of water."

All up and down the Mississippi Gulf Coast and into New Orleans, archivists and local historians are taking stock. They're worried about the future, but wondering also, what do they have left of their past after Katrina's 145 mph winds and a massive storm surge on Aug. 29 splintered many communities and left others waterlogged.

CNN Article on Hurricane Losses

Rare historic documents lost to Katrina

New Orleans archives dating back to 1892

PASS CHRISTIAN, Mississippi (AP) -- As Hurricane Katrina approached, local historians were confident a vault filled with precious pre-Civil War pictures, maps and documents cataloguing the history of this Gulf Coast community would be safe.

Hopes were high after the storm passed. The former bank building that served as the Pass Christian Historical Society headquarters washed away, but its vault still stood. Workers opened it to find wet, sopping papers -- the ruined history of a seaside town. Most of the collection including town ledgers and old newspapers is lost.

"Apparently, the vault did not hold back water," said Lou Rizzardi, an alderman and historical society member in the town of 6,750. "So it penetrated. Things got damaged because of water."

All up and down the Mississippi Gulf Coast and into New Orleans, archivists and local historians are taking stock. They're worried about the future, but wondering also, what do they have left of their past after Katrina's 145 mph winds and a massive storm surge on August 29 splintered many communities and left others waterlogged.

Many are considering whether it is wise to keep such valuable documents in disaster-prone areas.

“Reclaiming Existence” Project

Hooks Institute’s Katrina Task Force Announces “Reclaiming Existence” Project

The “Saddest Days” project of the Katrina Task Force (KTF) at The University of Memphis’ Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change announces its latest initiative, “Reclaiming Existence:  The New Orleans Document Preservation Project,” a collaborative effort headed by Dr. Clyde C. Robertson, Director of Africana and Multicultural Studies in the New Orleans Public School District, and Valerie Love, Hooks Institute Archivist. 

The tragedy of the collapsed levees in New Orleans has jeopardized one of the largest, most variegated, and best preserved array of primary source materials documenting the accomplishments, culture, history, and struggles of members of the African diaspora for over 300 years.  These artifacts range from rare photographs to Mardi Gras Indian costumes, from records of slavery to the Black Panther movement.  They were not only housed in official museums and libraries, but were also treasured as family heirlooms in private homes and garages throughout the city.  The “Reclaiming Existence” project will salvage and conserve historical materials located outside of established archives and manuscript repositories that are at risk of being lost forever, following the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.

From the SAA Listserv

Hurricane Katrina Preservation Assessments in Mississippi

Between September 14th and September 16th approximately two weeks following Hurricane Katrina, Ann Frellsen, collections conservator at Emory University, and Christine Wiseman, preservation services manager at The Georgia Archives, conducted assessments of archives and historical repositories in the three coastal counties of Mississippi damaged by Hurricane Katrina. We were among the first to look at the conditions of important records in the areas most devastated by the hurricane.

Under the auspices of the Mississippi Archives, a small team visited nineteen sites that included public libraries, city halls, court houses, historical societies, museums, and private collections. Because of time constraints, we focused on examining damaged permanent and vital records in government facilities, and on local history and genealogical collections held in public libraries. In nearly every instance, preventing or halting mold growth was a major concern, given the lack electrical power and the expectation that power would not be available for several more days or weeks.

Report from Mississippi

Prepared by SAA President Richard Pearce-Moses

September 21, 2005—Three weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, a small team was able to visit some of the archival repositories in the areas of Mississippi hit hardest by the storm.  The team sought to show the profession’s support for archivists and to ask the people on the front lines how the profession can respond in ways that will truly help given the current situation.

The team included David Carmicheal, President of the Council of State Archivists and State Archivist for Georgia; Richard Pearce-Moses, President of the Society of American Archivists and Director of Digital Government Information for the Arizona State Library and Archives; and Debra Hess Norris, Chair of Heritage Preservation and Chair of the Art Conservation Department at the University of Delaware.  Other partners who helped organize the trip included the National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators (NAGARA), the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the Council of State Library Administrators (COSLA), and the Society of Southwest Archivists (SSA).

On Sunday, September 18, Norris led an informal workshop on recovery of wet photographic materials.  That evening, the staff of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH), including Department Director Hank Holmes and State Archivist Julia Young, briefed the team on what they had seen on visits to hurricane-ravaged areas during the previous two weeks. 

On Monday, September 19, MDAH staff members Grady Howell and Jeff Rogers led the team on site visits to several repositories in Waveland, Gulfport, and Biloxi. 

From AASLH

Dear Friend of AASLH:

You probably already know that AASLH is mounting two mobile teams to go to Louisiana and Mississippi to help assess damage to historical resources, and rescue them. We are working in partnership with the American Institute for Conservation, the Southeast Museums Conference, the Louisiana Museums Association, and the Mississippi Museums Assocation. Once mobile teams make assessments, AASLH will send in followup teams to work with specific museums -- as long as funds last!

We have these things we need immediately if you can help:

1. If you wish to volunteer to travel on a team, please send your information to sawyer@aaslh.org. Please give all contact information and what it is you can contribute to the team.

California Assn of Archivists

As relief and recovery efforts continue along the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, work is concentrating on assessments of damage to museums, libraries, archives, historic structures, and sites of historic interest.

As reports continue to be logged in by the American Association of Museums (see http://www.aam-us.org/aamlatest/news/HurricaneFirstReports.cfm ) it appears that in spite of individual horror stories, historic sites in New Orleans, since they generally were constructed on higher land, have been incredibly lucky. 

American Institute for Conservation (AIC)

AIC response to Hurricane Katrina

Representing 3,135 conservators in the United States and abroad, the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) is responding to the needs of collections impacted by Hurricane Katrina.  The following is a brief summary of AIC initiatives.  More information, including key links to disaster recovery resources, is available from the AIC website http://aic-faic.org .

AIC's Emergency Preparedness, Response, & Recovery Committee immediately began collaborating with the American Association of Museums, the Southeastern Museums Conference and the Southeast Regional Conservation Association to bring together information regarding response and recovery needs.

Academy of Certified Archivists

Via the SAA list serv ...
ACA Responds to Certified Archivists’ plight in the wake of Hurricane Katrina

The Academy of Certified Archivists joins the Society of American Archivists (SAA) and the National Association for Government Archivists and Records Administrators (NAGARA) in recognizing the tragic losses of Hurricane Katrina by endorsing and signing a joint statement of support. Our colleagues and friends living on the Gulf coast have been devastated by Hurricane Katrina. In addition to the emotional support extended by the joint statement, the Academy has taken steps to provide tangible relief and support to our members by extending emergency member benefits to the Certified Archivists from the Katrina impacted part of the Gulf coast. The Executive Committee and the Board of Directors of the Academy recognize the obstacles facing our members working within the disaster affected area and want to make retaining their C.A. status easier and simpler.