Join SAA's Preservation Section at 2 PM ET on May 1, 2025 for a special May Day Coffee Chat about disaster and emergency preparedness. We will be joined by Hillary Ellis, Rachel Onuf, and Trish Smith to hear about disaster preparedness projects and initiatives in their areas. After their brief presentations, there will be time for questions and discussion.
We will also be highlighting SAA's National Disaster Recover Fund for Archives, which provides grants that support the recovery of archival collections from major disasters, regardless of region or repository type.
Please share widely. All are welcome!
As always, the event will not be recorded so we encourage you to put this event on your calendar and join if you have time!
Zoom link and more information about our presenters below.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88642651746?pwd=wbMKYXAZIISEKYbWcf7evB8hs0IU8j.1
Hillary Ellis leads the "Ready-or Not" Cultural Heritage Disaster Preparedness Project, an initiative to assess emergency preparedness at California organizations that care for cultural and historic resources. In this role, Hillary supervises a state-wide team of consultants and conducts on-site emergency preparedness assessments. She has conducted 42 emergency preparedness assessments at libraries, archives, museums, historical societies, state parks, and Native American organizations. The project is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.
Hillary holds an MA of Art Conservation, Paintings, from Queen's University. Prior to her tenure at NEDCC, she worked as a conservator in private practice. Most recently Hillary served as Director of Conservation at the Strong National Museum of Play, where she assisted with updating the disaster plan, developed a digital preservation policy, and worked to improve collections environmental monitoring and storage conditions. Hillary is a Professional Associate of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC).
Rachel Onuf is the Director of the Vermont Historical Records Program, based at the Vermont State Archives & Records Administration. She serves as a Director of the Collections Care & Conservation Alliance and a co-lead of the Vermont Arts & Culture Disaster and Resilience Network (VACDaRN). As Chair of the NEDCC Advisory Committee, she is a member of the NEDCC Board of Directors; she is also Board Secretary for the Old Stone House Museum and Historic Village. Rachel received her BA from Swarthmore College, an MA in Library & Information Science from the University of Michigan and an MA in American History from the University of Virginia. Past jobs include serving as Roving Archivist for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Director of Archives at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. She taught as an adjunct for Simmons College School of Library and Information Science and worked as a consultant for many years.
The Vermont Arts & Culture Disaster and Resilience Network (VACDaRN) works to build the strength and resilience of Vermont's cultural sector. Through the network, collecting repositories, artists, and cultural organizations work together to share expertise and resources, mobilize response for mutual assistance during emergencies, and engage collectively with first responders and government emergency management agencies. VACDaRN was formed in 2019 as a partnership of the Vermont Arts Council and the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration.
Trish Smith, MSHP, is the Director of Preservation & Archives at Drayton Hall in Charleston, SC. Her major areas of focus are architectural research and conservation, collections care, exhibit design and fabrication, and disaster preparedness and recovery. She was an organizer and speaker for the American Institute for Conservation's first Lowcountry Alliance for Response Forum, is a task lead for the Association of Preservation Technology's Disaster Response Initiative, and co-chairs APT's Southeast Regional Chapter. Now in her 15th year at Drayton Hall, Trish has seen the site through floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and a few safety & security threats as well.
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Jesse Keel
SAA Preservation Section Steering Committee
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