National Black Theatre archives, 2020. Photo by Steven G. Fullwood
NAP Scholarship
2022 NAP SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES
The Nomadic Archivists Project is proud to announce its 2022 scholarship winners, Khahlia Sanders and Ashby Haywood!
Khahlia was accepted into Kent State’s Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) program in Archival Studies and Information Access and Discovery. Her interest in archives began at 16 when she was tasked to organize the family records. Khahlia has continued as the family historian and takes this role seriously as it ensures access and meaningful engagement with family records for future generations. In addition to her experiences with family archives, she is interested in learning about ethical approaches in archival studies. The scholarship will help support Khahlia during her first year as an MLIS student, as well as fund a Society of American Archivists (SAA) membership.
Ashby is currently working on her MLIS with a concentration in archives and critical pedagogy from the University of South Carolina. She is an assistant librarian and archivist at Highlander Research and Education Center. Ashby’s archival work intersects with oral history and intends to build a holistic grassroots archive. She is interested in how younger organizers and students can use archives and elders’ wisdom to create effective strategies and resolve conflicts between and within communities. Her project, the Georgia Dusk Oral History Project, focuses on Black women, transgender, and gender non-conforming organizers and activists in Atlanta. The scholarship will aid in purchasing equipment and supplies for this archival initiative.
SCHOLARSHIP BACKGROUND
The NAP Scholarship is an annual fund awarded to students, early career, and independent archivists of African descent who wish to attend the Society of American Archivists (SAA) conference or use the funds to support an archival project. The scholarship awardee(s) will receive funds to pay for registration, membership, classes/trainings, supplies, personal time, or other expenses.
As archivists, we understand that access means everything, from information to opportunities. One way we can be active, learn, and leverage skills early in our careers is to participate in professional organizations. We know that the Society of American Archivists (SAA) is an important platform for archivists to network, share work with peers, attend workshops, join leadership committees, and more.
SAA is the oldest and largest archivist association in North America, serving the educational and informational needs of more than 5,000 individual archivists and institutional members. Established in 1936, the organization serves upwards of 6,200 individual and member institutions.
NAP acknowledges that there can be barriers for new and independent archivists to enter these spaces. We also believe that organizations like SAA benefit from our insights and talents. NAP feels it is essential to facilitate these kinds of relationships. When we first conceived of this scholarship, we had no idea how the global pandemic would change our work. However, although we have had to pivot during the last two years, we are still committed to our original vision for this scholarship and hope that we will all be able to meet in person at an annual conference very soon!
SPONSORSHIP
We appreciate the community's effort to assist visionary new archivists like Khahlia and Ashby on their archival journey. We would like to acknowledge scholarship donors Minda Harts, Dr. Ida Jones, Diana Lachatanere, Damien Laudier, Rodney Nelson, Novella Ford, and Azure Thompson. Thank you for your support of library science students and archivists of African descent globally!
Interested in becoming a sponsor? NAP is currently accepting all levels of support for the scholarship. Sponsors will be publicly acknowledged on our website.
Please contact Miranda Mims: miranda@nomadicarchivistsproject.com if you are interested in becoming a sponsor.
