MAC SOA 2026

Find it Here!

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The Midwest Archives Conference and the Society of Ohio Archivists will hold a joint meeting on May 14-16, 2026 on the campus of The Ohio State University. Conference workshops, sessions, and meetings will be held in the Ohio Union. Hotel accommodations and the reception will be held at the University’s hotel, the Blackwell Inn. The Blackwell is a 10 to 15 minute walk from the Union, and we will provide transportation for anyone who would like to use the service.

From 2015 until 2023, Ohio’s tourism slogan was “Find it Here.” As a slogan, it raised the obvious question “find what here?”; but as an archives motto…well, to “Find it Here” is an archivist’s greatest hope for anyone exploring their collections. Come to Columbus to find information and insights on a wide range of topics central to all archivists. The Education Committee is identifying outstanding workshops, and the Program Committee looks forward to receiving fantastic proposals from members of both MAC and SOA.

MAC Scholarships:

Archie Motley Memorial Scholarship for Students of Color

MAC is soliciting applications for the 2026 Archie Motley Memorial Scholarship for Students of Color (http://www.midwestarchives.org/motley). The scholarship is designed to provide financial assistance to students of color pursuing graduate education in archival administration and to encourage ethnic diversification of the MAC membership and of the archival profession. Two $1,500 scholarships, accompanied by one-year memberships to MAC, will be awarded. 

To be eligible for a scholarship, the applicant must be of African, Arabic, Asian, Indigenous, Pacific Islander, or Latinx descent; must be a student currently enrolled in or accepted in a graduate, multicourse program in archival administration; and must have a grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in their academic program. If the program is not listed in the SAA Directory of Archival Education, http://www2.archivists.org/dae, the applicant must provide proof of the multicourse standard by submitting copies of course descriptions from the institution’s current departmental catalog. Candidates will be evaluated on their scholastic potential, their commitment to working in and creating access to archives and archival material, and commitment to representing and serving underrepresented communities in their work.

Applications are due March 1, 2026 and must include the following documents:

  • Completed application form, available at http://www.midwestarchives.org/motley
  • Current resume that includes education, work history, involvement in campus or community organizations, membership in professional organizations, and any honors or awards received
  • Transcript from the applicant’s most recent academic program (unofficial transcript is acceptable)
  • Essay describing how the applicant’s experiences and perspectives align with their interest in archiving. What are their future goals and plans for contributing to the archival field? (500 words maximum)
  • One letter of recommendation (may be submitted separately by recommender).

Please send all materials (application form, transcript, and essay) as one single file. Completed applications should be sent to:

Megan Keller Young

Senior Instructor and Special Collections Librarian

University of Illinois Chicago

megank@uic.edu

Applications must be emailed by March 1, 2026. 

Awards will be announced no later than May 15, 2026.

Mark A. Greene Award for First-Time Meeting Attendees

To provide financial assistance for travel and conference expenses to individuals who have not previously attended a MAC meeting.

The award is named for Mark A. Greene (1958-2017), past president of the Society of American Archivists and the Midwest Archives Conference, and a mentor to many. He was the director of the American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming from 2002 until 2015. Prior, he was archivist at Carleton College, curator of manuscripts at the Minnesota Historical Society, and head of Research Center Programs at the Henry Ford. His contributions to the archival profession, including influential literature, are significant and enduring.

Award

One scholarship of up to $500 or two scholarships of up to $250.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the scholarship, an applicant must be attending their first MAC meeting. It is not necessary to be a MAC member, or to reside in the thirteen-state MAC region.

Application

Applications are due by Monday, March 16, 2026, and must include the following documents:

  • Completed Application Form
  • Statement of intent, an essay of no more than 500 words, briefly describing the importance of this opportunity for your professional development, and summarizing the financial requirements of your attendance
  • One letter of support

Award Requirement

Award winner will write a brief article for the MAC Newsletter about their experiences at the meeting and its importance to their professional development or education.

Return completed application and related materials (electronic submission strongly encouraged) to:

Colleen McFarland Rademaker
Senior Archivist, Disciples of Christ Historical Society
P.O. Box D
Bethany, WV 26032
304-975-2999
colleen@discipleshistory.org