With the start of the new 2024-2025 school year, I would like to provide an introduction to Special Collections & Archives operations so that ZSR will be better informed about our Team and know who to contact for specific requests.

First, we frequently hear: “So, I have a question for Special Collections & Archives, who should I contact first?” The best place to start is archives@wfu.edu, your go-to for reference questions, requesting instruction for classes, or donations. Messages sent to this email go to Emily, Megan, Rebecca, and Tanya, so we can make sure something is handled even if one of us is out of the office. We are open to walk-in traffic from 10-4 for the SCA Research Room (625 ZSR Library), but we do encourage researchers and visitors to schedule an appointment. As more of our collections reside off-site or elsewhere in ZSR, it can take time for us to ensure we are completely prepared for visits.

Each SCA Team member has responsibilities where they focus their attention and here is a general description for what each Team member does as well as their title. We recently underwent a reorganization, so a revised org chart will be available shortly.

• Stephanie Bennett (Collections Archivist) accessions and processes collections, supervises students working with collections, and oversees the creation of collection finding aids, which are then made available online.
• Parker Beverly (Documentary Film Graduate Student, Oral History Coordinator, PT) oversees the collecting of oral history interviews (by herself, the SCA Team, and participating classes)
• Craig Fansler (Preservation Librarian) continues to create boxes for rare books and completes minor repairs on both SCA and General Collection materials.
• Ashelee Gerald Hill (Access & Outreach Archivist) is responsible for processing selected collections (Athletics, Penny Niven), answering reference questions, and assisting with instruction
• Emily Houlditch (Processing & Reference Specialist, PT) helps research many of our reference questions and compiles research resources. She also assists with collection filing and oversees the use of our transcription platform, From the Page.
• Rebecca Petersen May (Public Services Archivist) coordinates our introductory instruction efforts (including Lib100), answers reference questions, schedules the reference/chat desk, and coordinates many of our outreach programs.
• Megan Mulder (Special Collections Librarian and Rare Books Curator) does in-depth instruction and works closely with faculty to integrate our rare books into their curriculum. She also creates original catalog records for SCA materials.
• Marcia Phillips (Metadata Specialist, PT) continues to review descriptions for our Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR)-funded digitized audiotapes for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.
• Melde Rutledge (Digital Collections Librarian) oversees reproduction requests from our patrons, coordinates our many SCA digitization projects, and supervises students assisting with these projects. He is also overseeing UNCG graduate student Ethan in his Capstone Project.
• Beth Tedford (Copy Cataloging and Database Maintenance Specialist) continues to review catalog records in Alma, creates copy catalog records for SCA materials, and researches donated rare books
• Kate Trathen (Visiting Librarian/Senator Richard Burr Project Archivist) is busily completing the processing of Senator Burr’s materials, her latest update is available here.
• Alayna Veasey (Collections Specialist), is moving, shifting, and reshelving our collections and coordinates collection movement back and forth to the ZSR Off-site Facility (where she also assists the Public Services Team).
• In addition to managing and supervising the department, Tanya Zanish-Belcher (Director) appraises collections, interacts with on-campus and external donors about collection donations or transfers, and develops outreach events and projects with campus and external partners.

We also host three volunteers whose projects include conducting research on special projects, drafting timeline entries, researching Baptist records, and writing blog posts. We could also not do everything we do without our many student assistants who scan materials, assist with reference, or do collection processing and research projects.

Anyone with questions can go to the SCA website or send requests to archives@wfu.edu. We will have a number of regular fall events coming up (Family Weekend and Halloween), so, please join us.