Erin Stoddart was recently named Head of University Archives & Historical Collections (UAHC) at Michigan State University. The announcement was made by MSU Dean of Libraries Joseph Salem, who said Stoddart will lead the Libraries’ efforts to transform and invigorate archival services and build relationships to strengthen outreach, education, materials acquisition, access, and preservation.
“We are thrilled to welcome Erin Stoddart to MSU and into our Libraries,” Salem said. “We appreciate the fresh perspectives she’ll bring to our archival resources, which play an important role in the Libraries’ support of instruction and research at MSU. Her experience and her creativity will help us define the strategic direction of University Archives & Historical Collections and help us expand engagement with our campus community. I’m looking forward to her leadership, and I also share my thanks with Ed Busch, who served as Interim Head of UAHC as we planned for and participated in the search process that connected us with Stoddart.”
Stoddart cited her interest in increasing discovery and accessibility to unique materials and her enthusiasm for outreach and service opportunities as key factors in her interest in the position. “I’m looking forward to building relationships with partners across Michigan State University, and I’m looking forward to finding new ways of connecting University Archives with students, scholars, alumni, and the community,” Stoddart said. “I view UAHC as a student-centered space for learning that connects to the university’s teaching and learning mission, and I’m excited to expand formal, informal, and experimental research opportunities for students at Michigan State University.”
Stoddart comes to MSU from the University of Oregon, where she served as Interim Associate Vice Provost and University Librarian for Collection Services and, previously, as Strategic Projects and Grants Development Librarian. In other positions she served as Head of Special Collections and Archives at the University of Idaho and University Archivist and Digital Collections Librarian at Western Oregon University. She has a Master of Science in Information with a specialization in Archives and Records Management from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in history with honors and political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has published widely and presented at many professional conferences, and she has a strong history of securing grants for various projects and institutions.
University Archives & Historical Collections (UAHC) is part of MSU Libraries and cares for more than 160 years of Michigan State University's history. UAHC was established in 1969 to collect, preserve, and make accessible MSU's records of enduring historical and administrative value. Resources include original letters and diaries, photographs, and oral histories, as well as historical materials not related to MSU. Highlights include materials that document the physical campus and grounds, early student life, the lumber industry, and the Civil War. Collections include papers, audio, film, video, photographs, scrapbooks, and digital files.
The MSU Libraries are at the center of academic life at Michigan State University, providing expertise, collections, and infrastructure for discovery and creation. Faculty and staff at the Libraries are committed to providing equal access to Library collections, services, and facilities for all library users, and the core mission of the Libraries is to create an inclusive environment which encourages intellectual discovery.
