About
How I Got Started
As a history major in undergrad, I knew I wanted a job that allowed me to touch history every day. I interned at Oregon Historical Society for the summer and found myself in the archives working with history all day long. I was overjoyed to realize this was a job and committed myself to graduate school to become an archivist.
Why I Love History
The reason I love history is because it provides a chronicle of humanity’s stories. By working in an archives, I get to interact with artifacts that offer insight into people, places, and events from our past. Working with collections can offer an intimate perspective of those who have come before us. When I work with a historical collection I can see the day to day thoughts people have, feelings they experience, and decisions they make. As an archivist, my job is to preserve, protect, and present historical artifacts so that we may engage with history.
My Credentials
I have an MSLIS with a concentration in archives management, and more than 10 years of experience in history organizations — including the Smithsonian Institution and the Oregon Wine History Archive. Much of my work has been to develop and launch archival programs from scratch or help revitalize dormant archives. My specialty is teaching organizations how to care for, manage, and present their collections. My job is to empower them to meet their mission and help them share the stories at the heart of their collections.
I Can Help with Funding
Whether it’s creating a budget for staff, acquiring supplies and technology, or producing a display, the truth is we could all use more resources. Because most organizations have limited funding, I realized early on in my career that grant writing skills were instrumental to getting the job done. To conquer this challenge, I invested in mastering the grant writing process so I could ensure all history organizations I work with have access to the funding they need to get the job done.
Here are some of the places I’ve worked and projects I’ve done:
- Revived programs at the Smithsonian Institution
- Built and launched the Oregon Wine History Archive program at Linfield College
- Implemented collection management software for Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive
- Assisted Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church in grant acquisition for restoration of their historic church building and to highlight their civil rights history
- Conducted collection assessments for Willamette Falls Heritage Foundation and Astoria Public Library
Education:
MS in Library and Information Science, Simmons University
BA in History, minor in Anthropology, Pacific University
For More Information About Me:
Check out my website for more information about me and the services I offer. I also invite you to view my Linkedin and Testimonials page. For more information, please see my Linkedin. For
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I look forward to working with you!
Rachael Cristine
[email protected] | 503-922-3402