MAC 2016 in Milwaukee

MAC members gather in the Milwaukee Art Museum

The Midwest Archives Conference (MAC) was held April 27-30, 2016, in Milwaukee, WI. The conference featured workshops, panels, and site visits, including a behind-the-scenes tour of the Milwaukee Art Museum. Archivist and Librarian Heather Winter welcomed MAC members as they arrived at the museum, and Chief Conservator Jim DeYoung led the way to a massive freight elevator (large enough to fit an automobile) to take the group to the conservation lab.

Milwaukee Art Museum's Chief Conservator Jim DeYoung
leads a tour of the conservation lab

DeYoung spoke of the need for fundraising, grant writing, and advocacy when building and staffing the conservation lab. He also shared his professional background and training and had this advice for anyone wishing to pursue a career in the very competitive field of conservation: internships are key!

After the tour, MAC members were generously allowed free admission to the museum, which houses a world-class collection of art in a breathtakingly beautiful structure designed by Kahler and Calatrava.

MAC's opening reception was held at the Garage of the Harley-Davidson Museum, and attendees were given passes to the museum to view a spectacular collection of vintage motorcycles.

Harley-Davidson Archives

The Harley-Davidson Archives, although not open to the public, was visible through a viewing area and contained its own impressive collection of vehicles.

Beyond tours and receptions, MAC provides invaluable insight into the current trends in archives: the plenary session and the first day of panels emphasized the need for diversity in the profession, both in terms of hiring strategies and collections policies. The growth of popular culture collections, the discovery of women's history in traditionally male-dominated collections, the openness to unusual archival collaborations, all of these point to a growing interest in diversity in the historical record. Attending MAC is great way to keep archivists informed and inspired.