History

The Georgia Archives Institute was founded in 1967 by Carroll Hart, former director of the Georgia Division of Archives and History. Lacking the funds to send staff to the National Archives Institute in Washington, D.C., Ms. Hart brought in prominent archivists to teach archival theory and the role of the modern archivist. She saw the need for basic instruction for beginners in the profession. At first the program served the Georgia Archives staff, but it was soon expanded to include participants from other institutions. The first official session was in August of 1967, with students traveling around the state visiting repositories, courthouses, and other institutions housing records.

Today, The Georgia Archives Institute is recognized throughout the archival community as one of the primary vehicles through which beginning archivists and students can learn theoretical and practical knowledge of modern archives. Many types and sizes of archival and educational institutions continue to be partners in the Georgia Archives Institute, ensuring that students are exposed to a broad range of perspectives and thus will be adaptable in the workforce.

Over the years, the Institute faculty has included some of the best archival practitioners and educators in the field. The 2012 Georgia Archives Institute Faculty features Kathleen Roe, Richard Pearce-Moses, Christine Wiseman, and Tina Seetoo. Previous faculty members include:

Dr. Timothy L. Ericson is the founder and long-time Director of the School of Information Archival Studies Program at The University of Wisconsin -- Milwaukee School. His Archival career has included positions at the Wisconsin Historical Society, Education Director at the Society of American Archivists, and various positions at the University of Wisconsin. He has always been very active professionally and was made a SAA Distinguished Fellow in 1991. In August 2004 he completed a term as President of the Society of American Archivists. In past years he has taught at the Western Archives Institute in California and the Special Institute for Tribal and Native American Archivists as well as the Georgia Archives Institute.

Dr. David B. Gracy II has been Governor Bill Daniel Professor in Archival Enterprise; Director, Center for the Cultural Record, University of Texas at Austin since 1986. He was named a Fellow of the Society of American Archivists in 1979 and served a term as President. He served as the principal instructor for the Georgia Archives Institute, the Western Archives Institute and given the opening introduction to archival enterprise for the Modern Archives Institute for many years

Dr. Gregory S. Hunter has been Professor at the Palmer School of Library and Information Science, Long Island University since January 1990, directing graduate-level certificate programs in archives and records management. Dr. Hunter previously served as Manager of Corporate Records for ITT Corporation and Director of Archival Programs for the United Negro College Fund. A certified archivist and records manager, he is the owner of Hunter Information Management Services, consulting in archives and records management. His research interests include archives, records management, corporate history, electronic records, and organizational change issues. In August 2004 he was named a Fellow of the Society of American Archivists and two of his books have received awards from SAA.

Dr. Randall Jimerson has been Director of Graduate Archives at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington since 1994. After he received a Ph.D. in history from the University of Michigan in 1977, he served for two years as archivist at the Yale University Library before becoming university archivist and director of Historical Manuscripts at the University of Connecticut. Over the next decade and one-half, he established the archival program, launched archival education at the university, led an innovative regional program to provide basic training for local curators, and planned the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center. He was named a Fellow of the Society of American Archivists in 2001 and served a term as President.

Hilary Kaplan is Senior Conservator at the National Archives and Records Administration in College Park, Maryland. From 1989 - 2002 she was the Conservator at the Georgia Department of Archives and History. Hilary has conducted workshops sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, the National Endowment for the Humanities, Southeastern Library Network (SOLINET), and the American Institute for Conservation.

Ann Pederson is currently a Visiting Fellow in Recordkeeping Studies in the School of Information Systems, Technology & Management (SISTM) at the University of New South Wales. During the 1990's, she has collaborated with the National Archives of Australia and Edith Cowan University in devising Internet-based content and distance education courses for recordkeeping professionals. She was named a Fellow of the Society of American Archivists in 1990.

Dr. Elizabeth Yakel is an associate professor in the School of Information. She is a member of the Archives and Records Management specialization within the Master of Science in Information program. Before joining the School of Information faculty, she was an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Information Sciences. Prior to that, she worked in a variety of archival and records management settings. She was named a Fellow of the Society of American Archivists in 1999.