Students learn how to archive their records with Special Collections and University Archives

On March 30, student life archivist Rebecca Wells hosted a library workshop for members of student organizations to learn how to collect and preserve their organizational records. Wells introduced students to Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA) and the ways the staff can support students in managing their records. Students who attended left feeling empowered to preserve their organizations’ legacies at Iowa State and found the information about why they should do so most useful. 

Attendees learned the basics of how to manage their organizations’ active records and archive those with enduring value. With students’ experiences and perspectives underrepresented in the archives, this workshop, along with other work being done by Wells, is laying the groundwork to build a more diverse and inclusive historical record in which every student at Iowa State can see themselves.   

SCUA welcomes donations of the records of student organizations and papers of students and alumni.  For more information about what we collect, please see our Donation and Transfer Guidelines.  If collecting and preserving your student organization’s records sounds like something you would be interested in learning more about, contact Wells at rwells@iastate.edu or at 515-294-6676 and keep a look out for more workshops like this in the future.