SAA Student Chapter Panel Session

University of Pittsburgh Alumni

April 4, 2003

Panel speakers (L to R): Dr. Bernadette Callery, Jennie Benford, Jim Gerencser, Holly Mengel.

SPEAKERS:

Jennie Benford, MLIS '99 - University / Heinz Archivist, Carnegie-Mellon University

Dr. Bernadette Callery, PhD '02 - Museum Librarian, Carnegie Museum of Natural History

Jim Gerencser, MLIS '95 - Archivist and Special Collections Librarian, Dickinson College

Holly Mengel, MLIS '02 - Project Assistant, Dick Thornburgh Papers, University of Pittsburgh

The University of Pittsburgh Student Chapter of the Society of American Archivists welcomed Pitt alumni specializing in archives/museum studies in sharing their experiences and viewpoints in pursuing archival careers.

Holly Mengel:

• Worked at the Archives Service Center while in pursuit of her MLIS degree at Pittsburgh
• Selective job search > focused on a specific geographic region/area
• Working on a grant project = excellent opportunity for gaining practical experience
• Gained on-the-job knowledge > working with a collection that contains many different formats = special media
• Future job search > broaden job possibilities, looking for a more permanent position, having a better sense of capabilities/qualifications

You can email Holly at hjm12@pitt.edu

Jim Gerencser:

• Current work environment = the “lone arranger”
• Library experience as an undergraduate student, history major; not thinking about an archival career
• Developed an interest in working with archives at a historical society
• Initial job hunt = unsuccessful > pursued an second (subject) Master’s degree (history)
• Acquiring experience through internships
• Willing to relocate for an archival position
• “Fell” into the position of archivist - "the accidental archivist"
• Work environment > librarians & historians = different viewpoints of archives

You can email Jim at gerencse@dickinson.edu

Jennie Benford:

• Acquired training/teaching experience as a docent at the Frick
• Volunteer at the Homewood Cemetery > led tours and wrote for the newsletter
• Volunteer at the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania
• Developed an interest in working with the primary records of history
• Using contacts from various job experiences
• Importance of volunteering
• Grant-writing = invaluable experience
• Finding archives while pursuing other interests
• Communication & presentation skills are essential

You can email Jennie at jbenford@andrew.cmu.edu

Dr. Bernadette Callery:

• Current work environment > performing many different and interrelated functions – librarian/archivist & collections manager
• Importance of volunteering
• Take advantage of opportunities
• Communication & presentation skills are essential
• Ability to function within a community
• Professional obligation > education…teaching & learning
• Acquire a broad experience through varied internships

You can email Bernadette at CalleryB@CarnegieMuseums.org