Skip to content

The University of Iowa Libraries

Skip to content
Go to
InfoHawk+
University of Iowa Libraries University of Iowa Libraries The University of Iowa The University of Iowa Libraries

News & Announcements

special

Tag: SOAR

Mar 17 2022

Introducing SOAR: A Project for Preserving the Legacy of Student Organizations on Campus

Posted on March 17, 2022 by Elizabeth Riordan

The following is written by Community and Student Life Archivist Aiden Bettine

The University Archives is embarking on a new, hands-on project to collect the history of student organizations on our campus, Student Organizations Archiving their Records or SOAR. The Purpose of SOAR is to ensure that the legacy of each student organization on the University of Iowa campus is being actively preserved. This project provides student organizations with archiving kits for their materials so they can engage in the archival process. Involving students in the organization, description, and care for their organization’s archival collection is an integral part of making the history of student organizations visible on our campus. Organization leaders will work closely with our Community & Student Life Archivist, Aiden Bettine, to ensure their collections move into the University Archives.

Students are an integral part of our campus history. One of the primary ways that students make an impact on our campus is through student organizations whether as founders, members, or leaders. Yet a challenge with collecting this history is the reality that leadership and organizational records change hands every couple of years. Through SOAR, our goal is that when a student organization has a leadership change, the awareness of being able to work closely with the University Archives is passed down.

Although the organizational records will vary from group to group, there are some consistent types of materials we collect to capture the history of an organization:

  • Constitution/Bylaws
  • Meeting minutes/notes
  • Event flyers/posters
  • Marketing materials
  • Correspondence/email
  • Newsletters/publications
  • Annual financial budgets
  • Handbooks
  • Petitions
  • Photographs/videos
  • T-shirts, buttons, stickers, etc.
  • Website

Whether physical or digital versions of materials, the University Archives is ready to help preserve your organization’s history on our campus.

For student organizations that are affiliated with a center, office, or department on campus, SOAR offers the opportunity for archival storage outside of the University Archives in another campus space. This affords students the opportunity to keep their records close to where they gather regularly for ease of access and use. Storing materials on campus but outside of the Main Library also invites library patrons to learn more about an organization in context, to understand how institutional spaces for student organizations function on campus.

The University Archives is here to support the preservation and accessibility of each student organization’s history, regardless of where the materials are stored on our campus. We will work directly with each group to ensure the best decisions are made for the preservation and use of their collection. We want all our Hawkeyes to SOAR! To learn more about SOAR visit here. 

Are you part of a student org and want to get involved in preserving your org’s history? Fill out the SOAR participation survey to tell us more about the materials you have.

 

Posted in Collection Connection, News, University ArchivesTagged Aiden Bettine, SOAR, Student organizations, University archives1 Comment

Categories

  • Collection Connection
  • Dada
  • Educational
  • Event Announcements
  • Exhibitions
  • From the Classroom
  • New Acquisitions
  • News
  • Science Fiction and Popular Culture
  • Staff Award
  • Staff News
  • Top 10
  • Uncategorized
  • University Archives
  • Weekly Update
  • Year In Review

Archives

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: Zoia by Automattic.
University of Iowa Libraries University of Iowa Libraries The University of Iowa The University of Iowa Libraries
  • Contact the Libraries
  • Library locations & hours
  • News & Events
  • Help using the Libraries
  • Assistance for people with disabilities
  • Our diversity statement
  • Thank a Librarian
  • Web site/page feedback OR general suggestions
  • UI Libraries other links UI Libraries in the Internet Archive Use and reuse of UI Libraries web content - Creative Commons Staff SharePoint (authentication required)
  • UI Libraries on social media UI Libraries on Instagram UI Libraries on Facebook UI Libraries on Twitter UI Libraries on Pinterest UI Libraries on Tumblr UI Libraries on YouTube UI Libraries on Flickr UI Libraries blogs
  • 100 Main Library (LIB)
  • 125 West Washington St.
  • Iowa City, IA 52242-1420
  • 319-335-5299 (Service Desk)
  • ©2019 The University of Iowa
  • Give a gift to the Libraries!