The Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York (ART) welcomes contributions for the winter 2024 issue of the Metropolitan Archivist, ART’s online digital publication featuring short- and long-form articles, reviews and interviews, and collection spotlights.

The forthcoming issue of the Metropolitan Archivist is organized around the theme of It’s So Over/We’re So Back - celebrating a return to “normalcy” following the massive disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic, while also assessing the impact the pandemic has had on our work as archivists and asking what a post-Covid world looks like for our profession. 

We want to hear about the creative ways you’ve managed to keep projects moving forward and collaborated within and across institutions; meditations on the role of archives and archivists in moments of upheaval; things that have decidedly not gone back to normal, for better or worse; and examples from the past, as documented in your institution’s collections, of how individuals and communities have responded to abrupt shifts in daily life and have demonstrated resilience in the face of obstacles.

Other questions to ponder include:

• How can archives and archival work serve as a source of joy and excitement for the future?
• How can we harness technology to make our jobs easier and our collections more accessible, while continuing to critically engage with the ethical conundrums these developments often present?
• How have you found new ways to connect with researchers and the public, or championed the value of archives within your institution? 

We also seek reviewers for exhibitions and books, as listed on the submission form. Additional suggestions welcome, particularly those which relate to this issue’s theme.

Please send a brief pitch (maximum 500 words) or select an exhibition/publication to review via this form by Friday, September 1st for consideration. Selected authors will be notified by Friday, September 8th, and final drafts with cleared images permissions are due by Monday, October 2nd.