October is American Archives Month!

The stacks in the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections. Photograph by Stephanie Smith.

Blogs across the Smithsonian will give an inside look at the Institution’s archival collections and practices during a month long blogathon in celebration of October’s American Archives Month. See additional posts from our other participating blogs, as well as related events and resources, on the Smithsonian’s Archives Month website.

Happy American Archives Month, dear readers, and welcome to the Smithsonian Collections Blog third annual blogathon! You can look forward to posts every day in October by archivists, librarians, interns, and researchers from all across the Smithsonian.

This year's theme is Revealing Hidden Treasures, so you can look forward to posts about weird and wonderful finds from our collections, how we as archivists, librarians, interns and volunteers make these finds accessible to our researchers, and how our researchers make these treasures come alive.

Want to celebrate American Archives Month with us? Start a conversation in the comments, ask a question during the online Q & A on the Smithsonian's Facebook page on Wednesday, October 17th from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, or come see us in person! The 2012 Archives Fair will take place on Friday, October 19th, at the S. Dillon Ripley Center right off the National Mall. Check out a lecture or film, or make an appointment to participate in our Ask-the-Smithsonian event, where you can consult with experts including archivists, conservators and librarians on how to better care for your own archives-worthy items.

See you tomorrow!

-Cecilia Peterson, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections