MARA Blog: Around the Web
AI Tags History: Smarter Archives at Work
AI is already being implemented to streamline archiving processes, enhancing the efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility of archival materials.
Published by: Andrew Wiegert, June 13th, 2025
The blog “How AI Is Changing Digital Archives…” reveals how machine‑learning tools—like Google’s Cloud Vision and NLP systems—are automating metadata creation, enriching searchability, and bringing semantic intelligence to collections like Archives Portal Europe
https://www.historica.org/blog/ais-role-in-preserving-digital-archives
Retro Revival: GOG Joins Europe’s Largest Game Preservation Effort
Saving Pixels and Play: GOG Levels Up Game Preservation
Published by: Andrew Wiegert, June 6th, 2025
Gamers and preservationists, rejoice!
GOG (Good Old Games) has officially joined the European Federation of Video Game Archives, Museums, and Preservation (EFGAMP)—a powerhouse alliance of cultural institutions and memory champions.
Charleston Cemetery Goes Digital to Preserve Black History
Restoring Stories, Not Just Stones: Charleston’s Past Goes Digital
Published by: Andrew Wiegert, May 30th, 2025
Charleston cemetery gets digital preservation to honor and preserve black history
Tucked away in the heart of Charleston, a quiet but powerful preservation effort is unfolding. The Charleston Humane and Friendly Society Cemetery, founded in 1856, is one of the city’s oldest historically Black cemeteries—and it’s now being digitally preserved for generations to come.
VDA to engage INTACH to preserve its documents and maps
Preserving the Past to Guide Varanasi’s Future
Published by: Andrew Wiegert, May 23rd, 2025
Varanasi’s Hidden Histories Get a Second Life Through Preservation Partnership
In the ancient city of Varanasi, history is etched into every street, structure, and—soon—every document. The Varanasi Development Authority (VDA) has announced a new collaboration with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) to conserve over seven decades’ worth of archival materials, including documents and maps dating back to 1950.
International Archives Week 2025 is coming up!
Empowering Access, Elevating Voices, Preserving the Future.
Published by: Andrew Wiegert, May 16th, 2025
Mark your calendars— International Archives Week 2025 is just around the corner, and this year’s theme promises to inspire! From June 2–8, archivists and information professionals around the globe will come together under the banner of “Stronger Archives Through Collaboration”, celebrating the powerful role of archives in shaping inclusive, connected communities.
Preserving AI
Future scholars will need an enduring digital record of AI technology
Published by: Andrew Wiegert, April 25th, 2025
Call for Proposals: 2025 Society of Georgia Archivists Annual Meeting
Deadline for proposal submissions is May 30, 2025.
Published by: Andrew Wiegert, April 19th, 2025
Meeting held at Middle Georgia State University in Macon, Georgia on Thursday, October 2, 2025
February is Information Governance Month!!!
Let's celebrate and raise awareness!
Published: January 29, 2025 by Andy Wiegert
February is considered “Information Governance Month” because the third Thursday of February is designated as “Global Information Governance Day” (GIGD), which aims to raise awareness about the importance of information governance practices across organizations.
Nominations Open for SAA 2025 Awards and Scholarships
The deadline for submitting a nomination or application is February 28, 2025
Published: January 29, 2025 by Andy Wiegert
Are you excellent? Do you know someone who is? Do you know someone who would nominate either you or that someone for the aforementioned excellence?
Welp, now’s your chance!
The Society of American Archivists annually recognizes leaders and achievers in the field of archives. SAA offers a variety of professional recognitions and financial assistance through an awards competition, student scholarships, and the naming of Fellows.
Summer 2024 Newsletter available!
Summer 2024, Number 34, Volume 01
Published: August 27, 2024 by Andy Wiegert
https://www2.archivists.org/groups/museum-archives-section/summer-2024-newsletter-available
The 2024 Summer Newsletter includes:
A letter from the outgoing MAS Chair, Tara Laver
A letter from the incoming MAS Chair, Laura Uglean Jackson
News from the MAS section about the recent business meeting
Introducing the National Postal Museum Archives by Mitch Toda
2024-2025 IAAS Election Results
Steering Committee Roster
Published: August 27, 2024 by Andy Wiegert
Dear IAAS members:
We are pleased to announce the International Archival Affairs Section Steering Committee leadership for 2024-2025. Congratulations to our incoming committee members: Jennifer Dantchev (Junior Co-Chair) and Rachel Poppen (the new Steering Committee Member at-Large). Karen Trivette has officially rotated into the Senior Co-Chair role!
National Archives Building Gets Historic Landmark Designation and Plaque
National Archives News WASHINGTON, August 22, 2024
Published: August 27, 2024 by Andy Wiegert
https://www.archives.gov/news/articles/national-archives-building-national-historic-landmark-plaque
The National Archives Building has joined the distinguished ranks of National Park Service-designated National Historic Landmarks. This milestone—held by only 2,600 structures across the country—was achieved in December 2023, and the official plaque was unveiled with a ceremony today, August 22, 2024.
SAA Council Approves Standards Alignment Statement, Pauses Integration with RIC
The next Council meeting will be a hybrid meeting on May 1 and 2
Published: February 29, 2024 by Andy Wiegert
At its February 5–6, 2024, virtual meeting, the SAA Council:
Approved minutes for the October 31–November 1, 2023, Council meeting. Those minutes are now available on the SAA website. (https://www2.archivists.org/sites/all/files/1123-Council-Minutes_Approved.pdf)
Approved the recommendation from the Standards Committee to delay integration with RiC until its application guidelines were fully considered and released. (0224-IV-A-Stands)
It’s National Archives Month!
Published: October 14, 2019 by Kenna Wulker
October is American Archives Month! This month is all about raising awareness for the archiving profession and remembering why archives are important to our society and history.
An Upgrade for the Wilcox Archives
Published: August 19, 2019 by Kenna Wulker
Thanks to a $300,000 grant, archives at the William Way Community Center in Philadelphia, PA are finally getting the treatment they deserve. In this collection are thousands of various items detailing the history of LGBTQ+ life.
JSTOR Helps Expose History
How a New Database is Preserving History by Making Full Interviews Available for Viewing
Published: August 8, 2019 by Kenna Wulker
JSTOR, commonly used by the academic community, is a database storing academic papers and primary sources. They have recently introduced a new prototype database, Interview Archive, which posts full length, uncut interviews from some of the world’s most influential people.
Photo Archive Sold to the Highest Bidder
Where a 4 Million Item Archive Collection Will End Up
Published: July 29, 2019 by Kenna Wulker
National Treasure at the National Archives?
Published: July 12, 2019 by Kenna Wulker
We’ve all seen it: Nicholas Cage slyly stealing the Declaration of Independence to find hidden treasure map clues while in a twisted Robin Hood-type act, protecting the Declaration from falling into the hands of the rebel treasure hunters. While National Treasure presents a dramatic and over-exaggerated representation of a theft of great proportions, thefts similar can and have occurred, even with some of America’s most precious and prized documents.
Google’s Coldest Storage Service
Published: July 26, 2019 by Katie Kuryla
Among a flurry of storage-related announcements at this year’s Google Cloud Next conference is what Google calls “ice cold storage.”
Australia National Archives is at Risk
Published: July 19, 2019 by Katie Kuryla
Nearly 200,000 hours of recordings containing Australia’s memory are at risk under a looming six-year deadline to save the National Archives’ vulnerable files, its director-general says.