NALF - Archivist's Report

Archivist's Report

Archivist's Report

Mission Statement

President's Message

Genealogist's Report

Scholarship Essays

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From the Archivist's Notebook

Dear Family,

In July, I made my second trip to the NALF archives at the Exeter Historical Society, but it was my first as NALF archivist – and what an adventure it was (more on that later)! I spent a few minutes getting re-acquainted with the Society’s president, Peter Smith (you’ll remember he was the guest speaker at this year’s reunion), then descended into the basement to get re-acquainted with the material in the archives. My predecessor, John Dow (now NALF historian) had done an amazing job of corralling the existing documents into a working order, but we have generated so many more documents just in the last year, that there is plenty to keep me busy.

While the Board is still discussing the future of the NALF archives and which direction we want to take it (keep it strictly NALF business records or widen our embrace to include other historically-relevant Leavitt documents that would be made available to researchers), we would love to hear what YOU, our membership, think. What are your plans for any historically-relevant Leavitt documents that you have? Will they stay in your family, or would it give you peace of mind to know that there is a place you could donate them to, where future researchers would benefit from the work you’ve already done? I urge you to participate in this conversation by writing to me via snail mail or email (see contact info on Board page) and letting me know what you think. We will add your comments and suggestions to ours at the next Board meeting in October and then begin working on a mission statement for the archives.

When I was down in the NALF archives, I tested the file folders that our documents are currently housed in and found only one of them to be acid-free, so I will be replacing those on my next trip. I took some newspaper clippings home with me to be photocopied, because even under the best of preservation circumstances, newsprint is a poor way to retain information. I also found a videotape of the 1991 Hampton reunion that we may want to transfer to DVD, given that a VCR may be hard to find in the very near future. In the same drawer as the videotape were some photos, most of which were unlabeled. Perhaps we will post them in future newsletters or on our website and ask you all to help us identify these cousins.

As my first official trip drew to a close, I packed my notebook and made my way upstairs, looking forward to lunch in one of the restaurants within walking distance of the Historical Society. When I got to the first floor, I realized that the building was very quiet. And all of the lights were off. And the doors were locked. H-E-L-P-!!!!! I panicked for a minute but then thought, “There really are worse places for an eager archivist to be stuck . . .” So how long was I there? Did I set off any alarms? And did my rescuer arrive to discover me prancing about in one of the Society’s 19th century dresses? Well, you can wait for my report in the next newsletter, or you can write to me and it will be our little secret!

Cheers,

Sara Leavitt Goldberg

Thomas (13)