Archivist Job Description
The Archivist schedules and chairs up to four Archive Quarterlies annually. Maintains and schedules a portable display of historical materials which is to be made available to AA service functions. Works closely with the Area Archives Steering Committee to collect, organize, store, maintain, and display historical files and materials pertinent to the Area and to AA in general. The Archivist relies upon the advice and counsel of the Steering Committee in carrying out the duties of the Archivist which include management of the Archives Repository.
Archives Steering Committee
The Archives Steering Committee consists of six members, each serving a four-year term. In each odd-numbered year, three members will be replaced. This insures continuity of experience on the Steering Committee. The seventh member of the Steering Committee is the Area Archivist, who acts as chairperson of the committee.
Area Archives Committee
The committee consists of the Area Archivist, the Archives Steering Committee, the District and other A.A. archivists. The Area Archivist and the Archives Steering Committee represent the interests of the local Archivists to the Area Committee and to the Assembly, although only the Archivist is a member of the Area Committee.
What We Do
Receive, classify and index material relevant to the Western Washington Area and items of general A.A. historical interest. These include, but are not limited to, administrative files and records, correspondence, and literary and artifactual works considered to have historical importance to Alcoholics Anonymous in our area. The Archives is the repository for all Area historical business and financial records.
Our job is to hold and preserve such material, making access possible, as determined by the present archivist in consultation with the Archives Steering Committee, to members of Alcoholics Anonymous. Such access is provided only during business hours and with a mindful view toward the anonymity of our members.
The Archives Repository is located at --
Western Mini Storage Building
402 Saint Helens Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98402
Specific Duties
For a copy of the complete listing of the Area Archivist and Area Archive Steering Committee duties, or any other information having to do with archives or the preservation of historical materials, you may contact the current Area Archivist at archivist@area72aa.org.
District Archivists and others can email documents and other records for retention in the Area Archives Repository by sending them to archivesrepository@area72aa.org.
Resources
A useful guide of basic archives information and preservation techniques, Archives Workbook, is available from the General Service Office.
Visit AA Guidelines on Archives published by General Service Office.
Archives Newsletter, "Markings," is published quarterly by General Service Office for Archivists and those interested in additional archive information.