I brought in someone with archival skills to help me start one at a
retail company where I worked, but neither one of us had ever started
from scratch.  I started with public relations and marketing materials,
company newsletters, catalogs, advertising, news reels, photographs, and
logos.  We branched out to product samples representative of their
product series, logo marked items, awards, scrapbooks, stock
certificates, and interesting items.  It was huge, but the company had
been in business since 1921 and had acquired and spun offer several
subsidiaries.

My employee and I toured some cororate archives in our areas to gather
ideas and, after my employee left, I continued to solicit help from
other companies.  For example, Ann Lewis from MGM Studios gave me advice
on preservation of reel film, textiles, advertising posters, etc.
Mattel advised me on the preservation of toys and electronics.  I
collected advice on everything from the preservation of leather to
delicate, heat sensitive thermopaper.  Very interesting!  National
Cowgirl Hall of Fame, Dr. Pepper, Leonard's Department Stores, and the
City of Fort Worth Genealogy Department, Texas Christian University, SW
Catholic Diocese, and the Fort Worth Museum of Natural Science and
History were just some of the archives I visited to gather advice on
selection, sorting, cataloging, and preserving.

The Society of American Archivists has tons of great publications on
corporate archives plus great connections for national and international
archiving groups.  There are state and regional groups as well (my
favorite is the Southwest Society of Archivists) and they often have
training at their annual conferences for "newbies" and I benefited from
having learned from experienced professionals who walked me through the
steps one by one and then held my hands for years afterwards or directed
me to repair and preservation classes.  It was an awesome experience!  

Now I am working for a bank and will start a Corporate Archives if there
is time and support.  Same basic strategy, but I don't have to deal with
"toys" as much.

Call me if you want.  My phone number is 817.367.4928.

-----Original Message-----
From: Records Management Program [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Hilliard, Mary
Sent: Friday, June 04, 2010 8:59 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Corporate Archives questions

Cross posted on ERECS

I have been asked to research what is involved in starting a corporate
archival program - I have been lobbying about the need for such an
effort for some time and must follow up with some details.

Specifically, if your company has a corporate archive, I would
appreciate getting your experience/ideas/etc. on the following but would
also be grateful if you will allow me to schedule a call for a
conversation on the topic.

Here are the general areas I want to get feedback on:
Storage space requirements (on site/offsite?)
Skills and salary level of person required to start a program
Reporting structure (to RM or other?)
Job descriptions
Program scope
Creative ideas for getting started on a small scale, if necessary 

Since I am a novice here, I would also be grateful for guidance about
what should be added to the above list.  

I hope to have enough information when I am finished to make a concrete
proposal.

Thanks to all,

Mary Denker Hilliard, CRM
Corporate Records Manager
Advanced Micro Devices
[log in to unmask]
512-602-4702

List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html
Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance
To unsubscribe from this list, click the below link. If not already
present, place UNSUBSCRIBE RECMGMT-L or UNSUB RECMGMT-L in the body of
the message.
mailto:[log in to unmask]



CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This message may contain confidential information and is 
intended only for the named recipient(s). Please notify the sender immediately 
if you have received this e-mail by mistake, and delete it from your system. 
Absent specific permission from the sender, you should not disseminate, 
distribute, or copy this e-mail. E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be 
secure or error-free as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, 
destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The sender therefore 
does not accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of this 
message. If verification is required, please request a hard-copy version. 
Defamatory statements and copyright infringement by employees is prohibited by 
OmniAmerican Bank, and the Bank disclaims any liability arising from such 
communications.

List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html
Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance
To unsubscribe from this list, click the below link. If not already present, place UNSUBSCRIBE RECMGMT-L or UNSUB RECMGMT-L in the body of the message.
mailto:[log in to unmask]