Archives & Historical Records

Purpose

The Archives and Historical Records Committee is responsible for the care of records, correspondence, and other manuscript material of the Yearly, quarterly, monthly and preparative meetings, Yearly Meeting committees, New England Friends institutions, and individual members of the Yearly Meeting.

This work is an aspect of our testimony of stewardship.

Recognizing that Friends’ faith is a non-creedal one, and that the expression of that faith is embodied in the records of our actions, the committee promotes the study of Quaker history to the end that Friends may find guidance in their past for their witness in the present. It encourages meetings to utilize the resources of the archives in answering their financial, property, biographical, or other questions historical in nature.

Procedures

• By agreement, the repository for the records is the Special Collections and University Archive (SCUA), W.E.B. DuBois Library at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, 154 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA.
• The committee advises meetings on the care of their records, encourages both meetings and committees to deed these records to the Yearly Meeting archives on a regular basis.
• The committee maintains a Collections Policy.
• The committee appoints and prioritizes the work of an outreach archivist.
• The committee works with SCUA to maintain an accurate Guide to which records have been deposited in various repositories, and in what format.
• The committee meets monthly by videoconference for one hour, as well as meeting in person annually at New England Yearly Meeting sessions.
• The committee annually reviews the working relationship with SCUA as outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding between NEYM and SCUA.

Committee Resources

• How to send materials to the Archives
• How to Use the Yearly Meeting Archives
• The Archives Policy
• Other Repositories with Yearly Meeting Records

Composition

• The Committee consists of six to eight Friends named by NEYM Nominating Committee and approved by the Yearly Meeting. Friends are named for skills and perspectives relevant to the work of the NEYM Archives, as well as the outreach archivist. These skills and interests include library and archival professions, records management, Quaker history, and genealogy. Friends are named to staggered 5-year terms.
• The committee is supported by the NEYM Office Manager.
• The clerk of the committee is appointed by the Nominating Committee in consultation with Archives Committee.
• The Yearly Meeting Secretary is responsible for overseeing the contract with the outreach archivist.