Spread Your Words in the American Archivist

A message from Mary Jo Pugh, Editor of American Archivist to session speakers:

In the last week of August, you’ll make a presentation to a room full of eager listeners at ARCHIVES 2008 in San Francisco—the 72nd annual meeting of the Society of American Archivists. As a speaker in one of the 70 sessions selected from more than 120 proposals, you know that you have something to say and that your colleagues will recognize the importance of it. As Editor of the American Archivist, I invite you to consider sharing your presentation with an even broader and more diverse audience by also submitting it for publication in the journal. Circulation now exceeds 5,700. Plus, the journal is published both in print and online.

Although an oral presentation is different from a written article, if you think of both as you prepare, transforming your San Francisco presentation into a journal piece follows naturally, with the additional benefit of feedback from the session chair, fellow speakers, and questions from the audience.

A colleague once said that, “If it weren’t for the last minute, nothing would get done.” You will speak in San Francisco—promise yourself that you’ll send your written presentation to the American Archivist before the end of the year!

Expand and enrich your oral presentation through the American Archivist. When speaking for 20 minutes, your message is typically limited to some 2,500 words. Articles in American Archivist reach 8,000 words for research articles and surveys, and 3,000 words for case studies and perspectives. Photographs and other illustrations may also be included. The journal also welcomes papers that blend the shorter presentations from a panel into a longer paper with citations and additional commentary. An example of this approach is "Applying DACS to Finding Aids: Case Studies from Three Diverse Repositories," American Archivist 71:1 (Spring/Summer 2008).

I will be at the San Francisco 2008 Annual Meeting, as will members of the journal’s Editorial Board, and we hope to speak individually with you. Join us at the “Opportunities for Authors” breakfast on Friday (Aug. 29) from 7a.m. to 8a.m. ( Franciscan C-D room in the Hilton San Francisco) for an informal discussion about publishing with SAA. A light continental breakfast will be served.

Feel free to contact me as you prepare your paper or after the meeting. Learn more about the American Archivist editorial policy.

I look forward to hearing your presentation and to receiving your paper!

MARY JO PUGH Editor, American Archivist 925/938-1419