The 30th annual Western Archives Institute will be held at Santa Clara University from July 10 – 22, 2016. The Western Archives Institute is an intensive, two-week program that provides integrated instruction in basic archival practices to individuals with a variety of backgrounds, including those whose jobs require a fundamental understanding of archival skills, but who have little or no previous archives education; those who have expanding responsibility for archival materials; those who are practicing archivists but have not received formal instruction; and those who demonstrate a commitment to an archival career.

The Institute also features site visits to historical records repositories and a diverse curriculum that includes history and development of the profession, theory and terminology, records management, appraisal, arrangement, description, manuscripts acquisition, archives and the law, photographs, preservation administration, reference and access, outreach programs, and managing archival programs and institutions.

Thomas Wilsted has agreed to serve as the 2016 Principal Faculty Member.  During his career, he has worked at the Illinois State Historical Library, the National Library of New Zealand, The Salvation Army Archives and Research Center, and the American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming and the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center at the University of Connecticut.  He is currently the principal at Wilsted Consulting.  He is the author of Managing Archival and Manuscript Repositories (SAA, 1991), Planning New and Remodeled Archival Facilities (SAA, 2007) and co-editor of Archival and Special Collections Facilities: Guidelines for Archivists, Librarians, Architects, and Engineers (SAA, 2010). 

Wilsted taught archives administration at the University of Wyoming and the University of Connecticut, as well as numerous workshops for the Society of American Archivists.  Most recently, he developed and taught workshops and webinars on fundraising and archival management for the California State Historical Records Advisory Board.  Mr. Wilsted is a member of the Academy of Certified Archivists and a Fellow of the Society of American Archivists.

Tuition for the Institute is $700 and includes a selection of archival publications. Other non-negotiable fees including program transportation, facility fees, opening dinner, and luncheon at the closing program will be available in early February.  Housing and meal plans are available at additional cost.

The application deadline for the 2015 Western Archives Institute is Friday, March 4, 2016. For additional program information, see http://www.calarchivists.org/WAI, or contact:

• Administrator
• Western Archives Institute
• 1020 O Street
• Sacramento, CA 95814
• Telephone: (916) 653–7715
• Fax: (916) 653–7134
• E-mail: ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov

The Western Archives Institute is co-sponsored by the Society of California Archivists and the California State Archives.

The application package is available on the California State Archives web site at http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/western-archives-institute, and on the Society of California Archivists web site at http://www.calarchivists.org/WAI.