I have had such a lovely experience working at the Library. I have not only learned a great deal about Congregationalism from the materials I've worked, but also about the archival profession from the staff I've had the pleasure of spending time with.
Before this summer, my knowledge of Congregationalism was fairly limited. I knew that it was considered the "Pilgrim" church, and that individual churches were self-governing. Beyond this basic information, I knew hardly anything about the history or philosophy of Congregationalism. After 130 hours wading through archival material, researching and writing historical descriptions, I cannot claim such ignorance any longer! I have learned about the activities of prominent missionary organizations, such as the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, the lives of prominent theologians (I had no idea that Jonathan Edwards had a sweet tooth!), as well as the impact of Congregationalism on New England society and politics.
Over the past six weeks, I have steadily worked on creating a digital exhibit of collections from the Small Collections (an artificial collection that consists of collections consisting of just one or two folders). Many steps went into the preparation of this exhibit, including appraising, researching, writing historical descriptions and, of course, digitizing collection materials. None of this would have been possible without the guidance and sage advice of Peggy and Jess, who kept me on the right track throughout the duration of this project.
Through completing this project, I have gained a tremendous amount of insight into the duties and responsibilities of an archivist and the evolving services offered by archives. I have learned about the challenges associated with creating and sustaining digital content and the significance of providing various avenues to facilitate discovery.
For me, this project truly embodied the merging of archival theory and practice. It allowed me to deepen the knowledge I've gained from graduate coursework and understand how the actual day-to-day workings of an archive contribute to evolving scholarly discussions and professional practices.
I had such a wonderful time at the Library; I don't think I could have asked for a more enjoyable or educational experience!
-Katherine



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