Creepy Crawlies in the Collections: Tales from the Dark Side of Archives

Society of Rocky Mountain Archivists Fall 2025 Continuing Education Seminar

Every archivist knows that behind the orderly facade of finding aids and climate-controlled storage lurks a darker reality filled with both literal and figurative threats to our collections and peace of mind. This fall's continuing education seminar ventures into the shadowy corners of archival work through three chilling sessions: battling the microscopic armies of paper-eating insects that silently destroy historical documents, developing strategies for handling emotionally devastating materials that test professional resolve, and solving historical mysteries buried in forgotten boxes and misfiled folders. Our expert presenters will provide practical survival skills for navigating these treacherous aspects of archival work, transforming professional nightmares into manageable challenges through scientific expertise, psychological strategies, and innovative detective techniques. Perfect for archivists, librarians, and museum professionals, this seminar acknowledges that sometimes our work ventures into genuinely unsettling territory while equipping attendees with the tools needed to preserve history's complete story. 

Presentations & Workshops:

Manuscript Munchers: An Entomologist's Field Guide to the Paper-Eating Predators Lurking in Your Collections

Scott Schell, Entomology Specialist, University of Wyoming Extension (WY)

From the shadowy corners of storage rooms to the forgotten spaces behind collection shelves, tiny invaders wage silent war against our most precious historical documents. Entomologist Scott Schell will reveal the sinister world of museum pests that lurk in archives, focusing on the most notorious paper predators: the stealthy silverfish that devour centuries-old manuscripts, the microscopic booklice armies that multiply in darkness, and the voracious carpet beetle larvae that leave behind telltale trails of destruction. This spine-tingling journey into the entomological underworld will expose how these seemingly innocent creatures can transform priceless collections into their personal buffets, while arming attendees with the scientific knowledge needed to defend against these creepy crawly threats.

It came from the archives: Dealing with emotional collections that make you want to scream

Shaun Boyd, Curator of Politics and Government, Curator of Archives, History Colorado (CO)

Even seasoned archivists can feel their skin crawl when opening boxes filled with offensive historical content, graphic materials, or disturbing documents that challenge both professional objectivity and personal comfort levels. Shaun Boyd will share strategies for maintaining professional standards while processing collections that trigger visceral "ick factor" reactions or emotional gut punches, drawing from experiences with challenging materials like History Colorado's collections. This session addresses the psychological challenges archivists face when preserving difficult content, offering practical techniques for protecting staff wellbeing while ensuring these uncomfortable but historically significant materials remain accessible for legitimate research and education.

Hunting Down History's Secrets: Detective Work in the Dusty Corners of Collections

Hanz Olson, Librarian & Archivist, Goodstein Foundation Library, Casper College (WY)

Hidden in the forgotten boxes and misfiled folders of archives lurk historical mysteries waiting to be solved—unidentified photographs, cryptic documents, and bizarre artifacts that have puzzled researchers for decades. Hanz Olson will demonstrate how modern research tools and strategic community engagement can illuminate these archival enigmas, turning mysterious materials from collection curiosities into meaningful historical resources. Drawing from curatorial forward strategies and real-world case studies, this session explores how archivists can transform strange, unexpected, or puzzling items from the "weird pile" into valuable research assets by mobilizing crowdsourcing, digital detective work, and collaborative problem-solving approaches that bring communities into the investigative process.

Details

Date: Friday, October 10, 2025, 

Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (standard workshop) + 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (virtual networking lunch)

Location: Virtual via Zoom

The SRMA Fall 2025 Continuing Education Seminar is free to attend. We are accepting donations to support future programming and initiatives. Suggested donation rates are:

Members: $25

Non-members: $35

Students: $15

Call for Creepy Photos!