Loading...
Location
Cook 206Z/Room B
Presentation Type
Full Concurrent Session
Start Date
24-4-2026 9:30 AM
Description
The National Guard’s history spans more than three centuries and includes contributions from all 50 states, three territories, and the District of Columbia. Dating back to 1636, the National Guard holds the honor of the oldest organized units in U.S. military history. Yet the documentary record of the Guard is highly dispersed—spread across state archives, national archives, local institutions, armories, and personal collections—making preservation, discovery, and access challenging.
This presentation examines the development of a national digital repository for the Guard through the work of the Center for the Study of the National Guard at The University of Southern Mississippi. Designed to serve a geographically distributed community, the repository brings together materials from across all 54 states and territories while providing centralized access for researchers, service members, and the public.
Using this initiative as a case study, the presenters will explore the challenges and opportunities of building a digital repository on a national scale. Topics include coordinating distributed partners, establishing governance and contribution models, developing shared metadata and digitization practices, and building infrastructure that balances local stewardship with centralized discovery. Attendees will gain practical insights and lessons applicable to anyone working to expand the reach and impact of institutional repositories.
Guarding the Record: Building a National Digital Repository for the National Guard
Cook 206Z/Room B
The National Guard’s history spans more than three centuries and includes contributions from all 50 states, three territories, and the District of Columbia. Dating back to 1636, the National Guard holds the honor of the oldest organized units in U.S. military history. Yet the documentary record of the Guard is highly dispersed—spread across state archives, national archives, local institutions, armories, and personal collections—making preservation, discovery, and access challenging.
This presentation examines the development of a national digital repository for the Guard through the work of the Center for the Study of the National Guard at The University of Southern Mississippi. Designed to serve a geographically distributed community, the repository brings together materials from across all 54 states and territories while providing centralized access for researchers, service members, and the public.
Using this initiative as a case study, the presenters will explore the challenges and opportunities of building a digital repository on a national scale. Topics include coordinating distributed partners, establishing governance and contribution models, developing shared metadata and digitization practices, and building infrastructure that balances local stewardship with centralized discovery. Attendees will gain practical insights and lessons applicable to anyone working to expand the reach and impact of institutional repositories.