Archives Month is an annual opportunity each October to raise awareness about the value of historical records and archives. It also recognizes the work of archivists, paraprofessionals, and dedicated volunteers who assess, collect, organize, preserve, and provide access to historical information that protect rights and support cultural identities.

Since 2005, the Connecticut State Historical Records Advisory Board (CT SHRAB) has led the initiative on Connecticut Archives Month since 2005. Activities include an Archives Month poster highlighting images and documents from a variety of repositories. This theme for the 2024 poster is archives and the land we occupy. Governor Ned Lamont proclaimed October 2024 as Connecticut Archives Month.

Cultural heritage organizations planning to host an Archives Month event, workshop, conference, or exhibit, that they would like to include on the CT SHRAB event list should contact Assistant State Archivist Allen Ramsey at CT.Archives@ct.gov.

Electronic Records Day serves to raise awareness among government agencies, related information professionals, and other stakeholders including the public about the crucial role electronic records play in government, business and our personal lives.

The Council of State Archivists (CoSA) sponsors this annual event as part of its State Electronic Records Initiative (SERI). Please join CoSA and others on 10/10/24 in spreading the word about the challenges and opportunities related to electronic records.

Why do electronic records need special attention? Paper records stored under stable conditions are readable for hundreds of years. Typical electronic file formats, however, have a life span of decades at best. CoSA has several excellent publications on the care and management of electronic records. 10 Reasons for E-records, explains why everyone should be thinking more about electronic records overall. Managing Electronic Communications in Government provides guidance to public agencies on using and managing email, texts, instant messaging, social media, and other forms of electronic communications. Survival Strategies for Personal Digital Records provides tips to help individuals preserve their personal digital records including files and images.

For more information about celebrating Electronic Records Day go to the Council of State Archivists website, including the 2024 Poster on Digital Accessibility.

The State’s Filing Cabinet: A Limited Series in conjunction with Connecticut’s Old State House and the Connecticut State Library.

The State Library’s mission is to preserve and make accessible Connecticut’s history and heritage and to advance the development of library services statewide. This three-part series, presented on May 25, June 8 and June 22, 2023, dove deeply into the first part of that mission. Participants followed the government paper trail from the arrival of the earliest colonists to today. Sessions covered the history of recordkeeping in Connecticut from parchment to petabytes; why and how government should manage its records for efficiency and accessibility; what makes a record historical; and how to access in-person and on-line state and local government printed resources, archives, and manuscripts found at the Connecticut State Library.

Event presentation recordings on YouTube:

May 25: Recordkeeping in Connecticut, Then and Now:

June 8: Managing and Safeguarding What’s in the Cabinet:

June 22: A Researcher’s Treasure Trove: