Tipton County Museum Archivist Sherri Onorati recently became the only Tipton Countian to be a state-certified archives manager.
“It is a three-year program and it is difficult to be accepted into it,” said museum director Barrie Foster. “Sherri worked hard for this designation and it is well deserved.”
The state’s archives development program annually hosts a two-and-a-half day series of workshops on the principles and practices of archival management and records preservation.
The institute provides participants with opportunities to interact and exchange ideas with other archivists and records keepers from across the state.
A retired Navy chief who lives and breathes genealogy, Onorati began the program before her employment at the museum.
Other 2017 program graduates include:
- Hobart Akin – Tennessee State Parks
- Martha Clark – Hawkins County Archives
- Jacob Ellis – Rhea County Archives
- Kassie Hassler – Trousdale County Archives
- Vernon Holmes – Dyer County Archives
- Evelyn Keele – Jackson-Madison County Library
- Connie Lewis – Hardin County Public Library
- Jillian Rael – Stones River Regional Library
- Samuel Richardson – Paul Meek Library—UT Martin
- Patricia Wright – Jefferson County Archives
“The Tennessee Archives Institute offers excellent resources and training for archivists across the state,” Secretary of State Tre Hargett said. “I congratulate this year’s graduates for completing this three-year program and their dedication to preserving history.”
This year, the program welcomed 28 participants from institutions from around the state.
It included sessions on digitization, databases, the Library and Archives map collection, basic care and conservation of historic photographs, and collection access and security.
The archivists learned about document care and preservation from Library and Archive conservators, and put their instruction to use in hands-on document cleaning. Participants also benefited from behind-the-scenes tours of the Tennessee State Library and Archives, the McKendree Methodist Archives or the Metro Davidson Courthouse.
“Not only do participants in the Archives Institute learn valuable tricks of the trade, but they also get opportunities to network with colleagues during their training. This program is very helpful for archivists to communicate with each other and study best practices,” said Assistant State Archivist Wayne Moore.
For more information about the archives development program, please visit sos.tn.gov/products/tsla/archives-development-program. For information about the institute, click the Archival Training link at sos.tn.gov/products/tsla/archival-training
