The Society of Southwest Archivists board voted to donate $5,000 towards the Archival Workers Emergency Fund (the AWE Fund) to financially support archival workers impacted by the COVID-19 global pandemic. We urge SSA members and archival workers in the region (including students) to apply for assistance if needed, spread the word to archival workers in their networks, and to donate to the fund or get involved with the AWE Fund Organizing Committee if interested. You do not need to be a member of SSA or SAA in order to apply for funding.

More information about the fund from the Organizing Committee:

The COVID-19 global pandemic has left many archival workers financially vulnerable as institutions shut their doors and contract work disappears. In response, an ad hoc group of concerned archivists, in partnership with the SAA Foundation, established the AWE Fund to provide immediate support to archival workers in the United States, particularly those in contingent positions, who are disproportionately affected by this crisis and its financial impact. By spreading the word through your network, on social media and through direct messaging, SSA can help us reach more archivists in need, and potential donors.

We have already raised over $80,000 thanks to a generous seed grant from the SAA Foundation and momentum from over 450 individual donors. This has allowed us to provide financial support to 77 archival workers with a concrete message that the archival community has one another’s backs. We want to ensure news about this fund reaches all corners of the profession. To learn more about the fund, please visit SAA, as well as on our informational brochure.