GRAND OPENING of THE UNIVERSITY of MANITOBA ARCHIVES & SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
Shelley Sweeney pictured, head of the University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections.
Today I had the privilege of accompanying Dr. Hlynka to the official grand opening of the University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections on the third floor of the Elizabeth Dafoe Library. The crowd was large, notably outnumbering the chairs, and making the tours proposed in the invitation impossible due to the turnout.
The event was marked by a keynote address by Dr. John English of the University of Waterloo, who lectured on the importance of archives and libraries, of archivists and librarians, and Canada's unique approach to preserving the past in a way that is notably rich and complex in comparison to many of the other archives he has visited (namely in the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, Israel, and France). English has contributed to Canada as both an academic and as a former MP.
What stood out to me in English's talk were the facts he provided about the nature of Canadian archives and the benefit of online access in assisting their availability. English said that approximately 60% of archives users were genealogists, and that the highest category after that was probably senior high school students. Interesting. Also, as a contributor to the Dictionary of Canadian Biography, English said that before going online with the dictionary, a typical sale would be around 11,000 copies. Now that the resource is online the website gets 90,000 hits per month. This is a serious leap in the amount of Canadians accessing this information, and it proves to me the importance of online access to cultural bodies of knowledge.
After messages from the library, the university president, and representatives of government; the planting of the University of Manitoba flag, and the closing remarks, the guests were invited to explore the various exhibits set up for the purpose of the function. I fled to the "Ukrainian/Canadian Experience" exhibit displayed in the Archives Media Room. I had to stop for a moment in the doorway and remember an incredible person I had the opportunity to meet last year when I saw the dedication plaque upon the wall. The room was dedicated to Dr. Anne Smigel, someone who has been a patron to me, and many others, and who is no longer with us. As the first female principal of Ukrainian ancestry in Canada Smigel has inspired many, and I felt it was fitting that she be remembered in that room, where generations of Canadians will learn and grow.
This event taught me a lot about the importance of organization, inclusion, and communication in planning an event for a community. The audience was full of unfamiliar faces, with a few history professors and archivists I recognized here and there. The refreshments were exceptional and based on an archived cook book from the turn of the century. There was light jazz, and many places to have a good conversation. I would say that this event was a fantastic success, that it recognized the contribution the Archives & Special Collections makes and its potential now that it has appropriate space for staff and researchers.
Tomorrow Dr. Hlynka and I will meet at 10AM, to prepare for our presentation for the sixth-graders at St. Andrew's College about the Mazeppa Legend.
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