MARA Blog

Overview

MARA Blog

Students in the MARA program and those interested in archives and preservation, electronic records management, information governance, and related fields are highly encouraged to visit this blog often. Managed by MARA Program Coordinator Darra Hofman and written by a current MARA student, this blog will keep you current with the MARA community and what’s happening in the profession.

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MARA Blog

Disc-Free Gaming is a nightmare

Published: June 7, 2019 by Katie Kuryla

On May 7th, Microsoft is launching the new Xbox One S, which boasts “Disc-free gaming,” a feature that has already raised issues about ownership and access for players.

MARA Blog

Archives Awareness: Learning Game Initiative Research Archive

Published: May 31, 2019 by Katie Kuryla

The Learning Games Initiative was designed around the concept of “preservation through use” and makes the constantly expanding collection of computer games, systems, peripherals, memorabilia, scholarship, and a plethora of other game-related materials accessible to researchers all over the world and of all ages.

MARA Blog

End of Spring Semester

Published: May 24, 2019 by Katie Kuryla

Now that spring semester is over and summer is right around the corner, I’m here to let you know what you need to do to prepare for the end of the semester.

MARA Blog

Archives in Context Podcast

Published: May 9, 2019 by Katie Kuryla

Podcasts are having a moment. They have been having “a moment” for awhile now but due to a class I recently took, I’ve been looking at podcasts in a different light lately. I enjoy a plethora of podcasts from skincare to crime but now I’ve been interested in the new podcast Archives in Context.

MARA Blog

Archives Awareness: Digital Archive of the Shoshone Nation

Published: April 29, 2019 by Katie Kuryla

Digital archives are becoming popular in this instantaneous and constant communication world. Who wouldn’t want access to an archive digitally if you cannot make it to the physical location? The Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation has announced that Utah State University will help to convert and catalog the tribe’s historical documents into a public online archive.

MARA Blog

In the News: Notre-Dame

Published: April 19, 2019 by Katie Kuryla

It is a tragedy that was seen all around the world, flames leaping from the top of Notre-Dame Cathedral on the evening of Monday April 15. The Paris fire brigade chaplain, Jean-Marc Fournier, had one thing in mind as he tried to fight the fire - rescue the two most sacred relics.

MARA Blog

20th Century Fox Oral History

Published: April 5, 2019 by Katie Kuryla

I recently finished my oral history class and while I thought I was just taking this class for the credit, it ended up opening my eyes to the world of Oral History. And just in time too because as March 20, 2019, Walt Disney Co. acquired Twentieth Century Fox, FX, Fox Searchlight, and NatGeo. This marks the final drumbeat for the historic 20th Century Fox, which was one of Hollywood’s six major studios.

MARA Blog

Archives Awareness: Fashion Archivist

Published: March 22, 2019 by Katie Kuryla

Did you ever imagine that there could be a position for an archivist in the fashion industry? Between hanging a knit dress and storing shoes in plastic bins, there are many ways to accidentally ruin fashion pieces but Julie Ann Clauss is a fashion archivist who works to help people properly store their clothing.

MARA Blog

#BalanceforBetter: International Women’s Day

Logo from International Women's Day Site

Published: March 8, 2019 by Katie Kuryla

It is International Women’s Day on March 8th and to celebrate, cities around the world are showing examples of #BalanceforBetter, this years theme. If you are in Chicago, check out the event where an art therapist talks about her proposal for an art therapy archives.

MARA Blog

Around the Web: A Christmas Story House

Published: November 30, 2018 by Katie Kuryla 

Christmas time is personally one of my favorite times of year. The lights, the music, eggnog, and the smell of the trees! It’s the best time of year. One of my favorite activities is watching A Christmas Story.

MARA Blog

A Call for Papers – Archives and Popular Culture

Published: November 19, 2018 by Katie Kuryla 

One of the great things while we are working on our degrees, is the opportunities regarding writing papers for peer-reviewed journals, official publications, and even books. Recently, I saw a post for a #CallforPapers from View Journal looking for proposals for a special issue of Journal of Popular Culture. The Special Issue is Archives and Popular Culture.

MARA Blog

#Spotlight Series: Eric Bryan

Published: October 12, 2018 by Katie Kuryla 

This month’s spotlight series is Eric Bryan, CRM. He finished his CRM exam after he finished his degree and he is here to discuss the last leg of the exam and his time in the MARA program. Thank you so much Eric! – Katie

MARA Blog

#FacultyFriday Spotlight: Matt Veatch

Published: September 28, 2018 by Katie Kuryla 

The MARA Program Advisory Committee (PAC) welcomes a new member this semester. Matt Veatch, the State Archivist of the Kansas Historical Society in Tokepa, Kansas. He will be participating in the biannual meetings to advise on curricular issues.

MARA Blog

#Spotlight Series: Anna Belle Rosen and SAASC

Published: August 31, 2018 by Katie Kuryla 

Welcome back everyone! Our first blog post of the fall semester is one of our spotlight series on Anna Belle Rosen. Anna Belle is the secretary of our school’s chapter of the Society of American Archivists. It is great to see MARA students becoming more active in the school community and Anna Belle is here to tell you about the wonderful things that SAASC has to offer.