Temporary Closing

The Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Chicago Archives, located at 10024 S. Central Park in Chicago will be closed to all archival requests – starting Wednesday, September 30 until ….. ??

The estimated time is 2 months. The Chicago Meeting Place needs extensive repairs and remodeling. Example: replacement of hot water pipes, removal of 20 year old carpeting which may involve asbestos abatement and other maintenance issues. Everything must be removed from the work areas.

Sr. Joella Cunnane, RSM, archivist, will be working from home and can be reached via email jec@mercychicago.com or phone (773) 779-6011 x28. She will check messages often.

Fall 2009 Meeting

The Fall 2009 CARA meeting was held at The Wheaton College Archives and Special Collections on Tuesday September 22, 2009 from 1:30 - 4:00 pm. In attendance were Merle Branner, North Shore Congregation Israel, Joella Cunnane, Sister of Mercy Archives, M. Alison Eisendrath, Chicago History Museum, Anthony Elia, Lutheran School of Theology, Karen Fulte, Bishop Fulton Sheen Museum, Nahoko Green, Chicago History Museum, Peter Gunther, Robert M. Myers Archives, Society of the Divine Word, Anita Marie Guttierrez, Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters Archives, Mary Hennessey, Cenacle Archives, Malachy McCarthy, Claretian Missionaries Archives, Marcia Stein, Robert M. Myers Archives, Society of Divine Word, Joan Sweeney, Viatorian Community Archives and Dominque Tremblay, Chicago History Museum. A great turnout!

David Malone discusses Archon

David Malone, Head of Wheaton College Special Collections, gave an excellent and informative presentation on Archon, the Archival Content Management System developed at the University of IL. He explained why his archives chose Archon - the advantages and disadvantages and gave comparisons to other open source and commercial systems. The discussion of interest was the merger of Archon and Archivists' Toolkit. David shared his thoughts on the short and long term implications.

For more information on Archon check the website: http://www.archon.org/

Following the presentation, Bob Schuster, archivist of the Billy Graham Center Archives, gave the group a tour of the Billy Graham Archives and David Malone gave us a tour of the Wheaton College Archives and Special Collections.

CARA members look at materials in the Billy Graham Archives processing area

The Board will be discussing the next steps to implement an archive content management system for CARA and establishing a users group. Give your input and suggestions to Malachy McCarthy. MCCARTHYM@claretians.org

Thanks to Marcia Stein, Joan Sweeney and Malachy McCarthy for bringing goodies and drinks! The afternoon was enjoyed by all and blessed with a rainbow.

A rainbow over the parking lot at Wheaton College

Show Your Archives

CARA member Merle Branner, archivist at the Ruthie and Bill Katz Archives for North Shore Congregation Israel, has a special request. The Dominican University Student Chapter of the Society of American Archivists is looking for repositories to visit during the fall 2009 - spring 2010 school year. If you are willing to speak to the group and show them your facility, please contact: Merle A. Branner at merleab@dom.edu or call 847-361-1170.

Meeting Registration Closed

Registration for the upcoming Fall 2009 CARA meeting is now closed. The maximum number of people have signed up to attend the presentation and tour at Wheaton College.

We will meet on Tuesday September 22, 2009 from 1:30 - 3:30 pm at the Billy Graham Center followed by a tour of the College Archives and Special Collections.

The Billy Graham Center is located on College Ave. on the southwest end of the Wheaton College campus. Visitor parking is available on the east side of the Billy Graham Center. Enter the building at the Barrows Auditorium entrance (east end of building) and take the elevator to 3rd floor.

Maps and directions are available: http://www.wheaton.edu/visit/maps.html

The cost of the program is $10, payable at the door.

Fall 2009 Meeting Details

TUESDAY, September 22, 2009

1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College

David Malone, the Head of Wheaton College Special Collections, will discuss the functions of using an archival content management system, what it can do for you, outlining the choice of Archon and finally showing how the Archon system has been applied at Wheaton. A tour of the archives will follow the presentation.

The $10 cost for the program will be collected at the meeting. Reserve your space now with Malachy McCarthy.

Click here to get directions and to download a campus map: http://www.wheaton.edu/visit/maps.html

Baby News - It's a boy!

Congratulations to CARA member Diane Pugh and her husband Ralph on the birth of their first baby! Daniel Orrin Pugh was born at Advocate South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest, Illinois at 9:17 a.m. on Wednesday, August 26. He weighed in at 9 lbs. 11 oz. and is healthy in all respects!

CARA Fall 2009 Meeting Announcement

As many of you have heard by now that Archivists’ Toolkit and Archon have received a grant from the Mellon Foundation to work together to create a single content management program for archives. Due to this decision, the CARA Board decided to cancel the format for the September 24th program.

After consultation with interested parties, CARA will host an information meeting on Archival Content Management Systems at Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL either on

TUESDAY – September 22nd - 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Or
THURSDAY – September 24th - 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

David Malone, the Head of Wheaton College Special Collections will discuss the functions of using a archival content management program, what it can do for you, outlining the choice of Archon and finally showing how the Archon system has been applied at Wheaton. David comes with a lot of experience in this area and I am sure many would find his program beneficial.

The cost of the program would be $10 a person to cover our expenses. The fee could be paid at the door.

We need to know ASAP if you would like to attend on Tuesday or Thursday session and a formal program will be announced Tuesday, after Labor Day.

Taken from e-mail from Malachy McCarthy, 9/02/2009