Tales from the Archives –The 25th Anniversary of the NSDAR Archives Fund

Tracy Robinson, DAR Director of Archives and History

March 13, 2020

The NSDAR Archives Fund, which provides for the purchase of appropriate documents and objects for our Archives, conservation of the collection and the acquisition of items necessary to maintain the archival facility, is celebrating a quarter century in 2020.

The NSDAR Archives is an institutional archives, which houses records created in the course of business by the parent institution. Examples include corporations, governments, universities, churches or non-profits such as NSDAR. Our records were created by executive officers, members and staff while they carried out their various duties for NSDAR throughout its history. The materials we house range from paper records and photographs to audio-visual materials and objects. These records have been collected over time through a process that is referred to as “selection,” whereby archivists determine whether or not a record has long-term value and, therefore, whether or not resources should be expended in the cause of maintaining that record.

Since 1995, the NSDAR Archives has seen many changes and improvements. Through the years, moveable shelving has been installed in the NSDAR Archives; a computer database used to catalogue the collections and finding aids of the Archives was purchased and populated; and the architectural drawings collection was scanned and digitized. Additionally, the audio/visual collection was digitized, and inventories of the Objects Collection and Photographs Collection were completed and catalogued. We’ve also experienced a notable increase in the number of scholars who travel to NSDAR to access the collections for research purposes. As these improvements were taking place, the collection continued to grow as materials were consistently deposited with the Archives through office transfers and donations.

We expect our next 25 years to be just as successful.

Our ability to not only acquire new items for the Archives but to also protect them with adequate care—for storage, research use, and exhibits—is due to the generosity that our members have shown through financial contributions to the NSDAR Archives Fund. Monies contributed to the NSDAR Archives Fund are used to purchase appropriate documents, imprints, or objects for the NSDAR archival collections; conserve NSDAR Archives accessions; or acquire items necessary for the maintenance of the archival facility. A contribution of $100 or more entitles the donor to purchase a NSDAR Archives pin. We are grateful to those who help us to acquire, maintain and share these important NSDAR records.

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