HARC Archivist Toolkit
Guide for Congregations
Introduction
The Value of Women Religious Archives
Women religious archives are primary sources for American women's and church history. They document education, healthcare, social justice work, leadership, and daily life. These collections preserve the legacy of Catholic sisters and provide essential material for scholarship, teaching, and community memory.
These collections preserve stories of:
- Educational pioneers and healthcare professionals
- Advocates for social justice and civil rights
- Service to marginalized communities
- Leadership within the Church and broader society
Archives in Transition
Irreplaceable collections need long-term stewardship. Congregations have legal, ethical, and spiritual responsibilities to safeguard their cultural heritage. Thoughtful transition planning ensures preservation and accessibility for future generations.
The HARC Solution
The Heritage and Research Center at Saint Mary's (HARC) provides a permanent professional home for women religious archives.
HARC offers:
- Climate-controlled, archival-standard storage
- Professional archival staff and long-term preservation
- Research access and online discovery tools
- Respect for donor restrictions and congregational intent
Mission
HARC at Saint Mary's preserves and shares congregational history through documents, artifacts, and materials. Partnering with Saint Mary's College, HARC supports research, exhibits, and outreach that highlight the contributions of sisters in education, health care, and social justice.
How to Use This Toolkit
Five-Part Structure:
📝 Part I: Assessing Your Archive
Helps you evaluate your current archival situation, what materials you have, their condition, and your congregation's story.
📐 Part II: Planning Your Transition to HARC
Guides the decision-making process regarding transferring your archives to HARC, including creating a timeline and reaching agreement terms.
📦 Part III: Executing the Transition
Offers practical guidance on preparing collections, documenting, and physically relocating your archives to HARC.
📑 Part IV: Resources and Templates
Provides worksheets, planning tools, agreement language, and matrices to support assessment and decision-making.
🚚 Part V: Packing and Moving Resources
Offers practical tools for box labels, moving checklists, and on-the-ground logistics for transfer day.
Every congregation is unique. Adapt this toolkit to your situation, timeline, and resources. Not every section will apply to every congregation.
Toolkit Resources & Templates (Part IV)
Questions? Contact HARC
HARC staff are available to answer questions about the transition process, guide assessment and planning, review draft agreements, and offer technical assistance.