VOLUNTEER-DRIVEN PRESERVATION PROJECT AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS
Title of Project: STATION’S ARCHIVED MEMORIES (SAM)
Date: Since 2000
Purpose of Project: Archive the history of Rocky Mountain PBS.
Key Highlights of the completed (or ongoing) project:
"SAM" is an ongoing, volunteer-driven project since 2000.
The archives are used regularly by staff and community.
SAM volunteer leaders are the go-to archivists of Rocky Mountain PBS.
Article content updated, 1-25-2015
Date: Since 2000
Purpose of Project: Archive the history of Rocky Mountain PBS.
Key Highlights of the completed (or ongoing) project:
"SAM" is an ongoing, volunteer-driven project since 2000.
The archives are used regularly by staff and community.
SAM volunteer leaders are the go-to archivists of Rocky Mountain PBS.
Article content updated, 1-25-2015
Power Point Slideshow about Station's Archived Memories, created Fall 2014:
The volunteer leaders of Station's Archived Memories (SAM) at Rocky Mountain PBS, Denver.
The group stands by the mural created by the volunteers in 2006 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Rocky Mountain PBS. The volunteers are now preparing for the station's 60th year of broadcasting that will begin January 30, 2016.
Photo date: January 26, 2015
Station's Archived Memories (SAM), was founded in 2000. The project was originally funded by grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) in 2001. SAM remains the only volunteer-created and volunteer-driven archive project in the public broadcasting system. Its ongoing mission is to identify, document and digitally preserve the history of Rocky Mountain PBS.
The SAM project could be easily replicated by other stations by beginning on a smaller scale and later developing it into a full scale archive project. SAM volunteers welcome inquiries from other public broadcasting stations on how to start and grow a preservation effort.
As of January 2015, the Rocky Mountain PBS archives have grown to contain:
Station's Archived Memories (SAM) Volunteer Committees work year round. Annually, 30-35 volunteers give their time to preserve the station's history. Every item in the archives is assigned a unique "Accession Number" to allow proper storage and digitization of each item. A cross-platform database program, Filemaker Pro, is used to digitize the entire contents of the archives. New materials and information are entered into the databases daily.
SAM Committees Include:
- STATION RESEARCH: Written documents are archived by scanning and entering article contents into the database. The documents include historic and current newspapers, press releases, PROMO magazines, annual reports, minutes, electronic documents and any other station-related documentation.
- PHOTOS: Photographs (hard copy and digital), slides and negatives are archived by scanning, identifying, digitizing and entering into the photo database.
- ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS: – Former and current staff, volunteers and local community leaders are interviewed by volunteers. Interviews are audio and/or video taped, transcribed, entered into the database and preserved on CDs or DVDs.
- MEMORABILIA: – Memorabilia items are numbered, photographed, scanned, identified and entered into a database for preservation. All items are carefully stored at the station and used regularly for displays at in-house and community events.
- LOCAL PRODUCTIONS: – Thousands of local productions by Rocky Mountain PBS have been inventoried and entered into a database. Many historic productions have been transferred to DVD.
- MARKETING - The work of SAM and the history of the station are publicized through monthly articles, websites, emails, Facebook, Twitter and more. Every department at Rocky Mountain PBS is encouraged to use the archived contents for promotions, publications, displays, research, events and more.
- COMPUTER - A volunteer oversees the use of the database program, Filemaker Pro. Additionally, the multiple layouts for each database used for SAM are maintained or updated as needed. The Computer volunteer is responsible for keeping all computers in working order.
- DISPLAY - A subcommittee of volunteers oversees the display of the archives (primarily Photos, Memorabilia and Research) ensuring that requested items are retrieved, displayed and properly returned to their storage areas. Staff members are encouraged to request items for display for in-house or community events.
Types of documentation which can be shared with others interested in starting a similar program:
A complete SAM Toolkit explaining how to create an archive project was written and published by the SAM volunteers in 2003 and distributed to all PBS stations. Copies remain available upon request. The SAM volunteers are open to presenting video training for stations interested in replicating all or part of the Rocky Mountain PBS archive project. Contact SAM: SAM@RMPBS.org or 303-620-5734.
Benefit to the station or community:
Station's Archived Memories is an integral part of Rocky Mountain PBS. Each department at Rocky Mountain PBS benefits from the archives. Through the efforts of the volunteers, the entire station is able to learn from its past as they relive great moments and events as well as "everyday life" in public television. The archives are used regularly for community presentations and displays, to provide information for productions about the history of Rocky Mountain PBS and publications. The archives provide thousands of photographs for the RMPBS.org website, brochures, presentations, community outreach, as well as materials for nominations, recognitions, retirements and award presentations. Station's Archived Memories is a great resource for answering questions from staff or community members and even providing comforting memories for families who've lost a loved one who worked or volunteered at Rocky Mountain PBS.
Station's Archived Memories continues to be a much-used and appreciated part of Rocky Mountain PBS. For the past fifteen years, dedicated volunteers continue to work tediously to grow and maintain the archives throughout each week of the year. To learn more about this remarkable and unique volunteer-driven project, go to rmpbs.org/sam.
For detailed information, contact:
Contact: The SAM Office
Station: Rocky Mountain PBS, Denver, Colorado
Phone: (303) 620 5734
E-mail: SAM@rmpbs.org
Website: Station's Archived Memories
Last update for this article: January 27, 2015
The SAM project could be easily replicated by other stations by beginning on a smaller scale and later developing it into a full scale archive project. SAM volunteers welcome inquiries from other public broadcasting stations on how to start and grow a preservation effort.
As of January 2015, the Rocky Mountain PBS archives have grown to contain:
- 49,700 digitally preserved and identified photographs
- 14,928 digitally preserved station-related documents
- 3,383 original and digitally preserved memorabilia items
- 193 Oral History Interviews of past and current staff & volunteers
- 11,871 inventoried local production tapes
- 681 local productions preserved to DVD.
Station's Archived Memories (SAM) Volunteer Committees work year round. Annually, 30-35 volunteers give their time to preserve the station's history. Every item in the archives is assigned a unique "Accession Number" to allow proper storage and digitization of each item. A cross-platform database program, Filemaker Pro, is used to digitize the entire contents of the archives. New materials and information are entered into the databases daily.
SAM Committees Include:
- STATION RESEARCH: Written documents are archived by scanning and entering article contents into the database. The documents include historic and current newspapers, press releases, PROMO magazines, annual reports, minutes, electronic documents and any other station-related documentation.
- PHOTOS: Photographs (hard copy and digital), slides and negatives are archived by scanning, identifying, digitizing and entering into the photo database.
- ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS: – Former and current staff, volunteers and local community leaders are interviewed by volunteers. Interviews are audio and/or video taped, transcribed, entered into the database and preserved on CDs or DVDs.
- MEMORABILIA: – Memorabilia items are numbered, photographed, scanned, identified and entered into a database for preservation. All items are carefully stored at the station and used regularly for displays at in-house and community events.
- LOCAL PRODUCTIONS: – Thousands of local productions by Rocky Mountain PBS have been inventoried and entered into a database. Many historic productions have been transferred to DVD.
- MARKETING - The work of SAM and the history of the station are publicized through monthly articles, websites, emails, Facebook, Twitter and more. Every department at Rocky Mountain PBS is encouraged to use the archived contents for promotions, publications, displays, research, events and more.
- COMPUTER - A volunteer oversees the use of the database program, Filemaker Pro. Additionally, the multiple layouts for each database used for SAM are maintained or updated as needed. The Computer volunteer is responsible for keeping all computers in working order.
- DISPLAY - A subcommittee of volunteers oversees the display of the archives (primarily Photos, Memorabilia and Research) ensuring that requested items are retrieved, displayed and properly returned to their storage areas. Staff members are encouraged to request items for display for in-house or community events.
Types of documentation which can be shared with others interested in starting a similar program:
A complete SAM Toolkit explaining how to create an archive project was written and published by the SAM volunteers in 2003 and distributed to all PBS stations. Copies remain available upon request. The SAM volunteers are open to presenting video training for stations interested in replicating all or part of the Rocky Mountain PBS archive project. Contact SAM: SAM@RMPBS.org or 303-620-5734.
Benefit to the station or community:
Station's Archived Memories is an integral part of Rocky Mountain PBS. Each department at Rocky Mountain PBS benefits from the archives. Through the efforts of the volunteers, the entire station is able to learn from its past as they relive great moments and events as well as "everyday life" in public television. The archives are used regularly for community presentations and displays, to provide information for productions about the history of Rocky Mountain PBS and publications. The archives provide thousands of photographs for the RMPBS.org website, brochures, presentations, community outreach, as well as materials for nominations, recognitions, retirements and award presentations. Station's Archived Memories is a great resource for answering questions from staff or community members and even providing comforting memories for families who've lost a loved one who worked or volunteered at Rocky Mountain PBS.
Station's Archived Memories continues to be a much-used and appreciated part of Rocky Mountain PBS. For the past fifteen years, dedicated volunteers continue to work tediously to grow and maintain the archives throughout each week of the year. To learn more about this remarkable and unique volunteer-driven project, go to rmpbs.org/sam.
For detailed information, contact:
Contact: The SAM Office
Station: Rocky Mountain PBS, Denver, Colorado
Phone: (303) 620 5734
E-mail: SAM@rmpbs.org
Website: Station's Archived Memories
Last update for this article: January 27, 2015