October is Archives Month. It is a time to celebrate the incredible role archives play in preserving our cultural heritage and shaping our understanding of history. Archives are more than just dusty old papers and forgotten relics; they are the living, breathing chronicles of our past that continue to inform our present and future.
Archives Month started as a week-long observance that began in 1989. The Society of American Archivists (SAA) initiated "Archives Week" to increase public awareness of the importance of archives and to promote the work of archivists. Over time, this celebration expanded from a week to a month-long event. In 2006, the Council of State Archivists (CoSA) officially declared October as American Archives Month.
What are archives, you may ask. They are documents and records that provide information about a place, institution, or group of people at a certain time or place in history. Archives can contain documents or records such as letters and correspondence, even emails, photographs, business and governmental records, personal diaries and journals, artifacts, audio-visual material, maps, and websites.
The Donald & Beverly Gerth Special Collections & University Archives at Sac State University Library preserves and provides access to our collections for use by our students, faculty/staff, alumni, and our local and distant-off campus communities. The Archives is home to the Japanese American Archival Collection, the Tsakopoulos Hellenic Collection, the Southeast Asian Community Resource Center Collection, the Royal Chicano Air Force Poster Collection, the Sacramento Rock and Radio Collection, and Sac State University history.
Image: Herky the Hornet, date unknown, Gerth Special Collections & University Archives