Allison McCormack, librarian and Hallie Oines, metadata specialist began working on a project to improve access to the archives of Utah women in the Marriott Library in November 2023. Funded by the National Historical Publication and Records Commission, the project involves researching Marriott Library archival collections and enhancing the corresponding records in the library catalog to make them easier for patrons to discover. 

While some readers may have heard of the Aileen H. Clyde 20^th Century Women’s Legacy Archive, many important women’s archives fall outside of this collection. For example, documents written prior to the establishment of Utah as a state are not part of the Clyde Archive. Says Oines, “The Marriott has a wide range of archival collections, so one day I will be working on government records from 2017, and the next will be a diary from the 1850s. It’s absolutely fascinating!” 

McCormack and Oines’ efforts have made immediate improvements to the discoverability of these important collections. Their enhancements have increased the number of subject headings in each record, which show what an archival collection is about, by 134%. Name headings, which point to the people or organizations who created the archival documents, have increased by 37%. “These headings not only help researchers search for relevant collections in the library catalog, but they show important links between collections by allowing library patrons to find disparate collections on the same topic, that contain similar types of documents, or that were created by the same people,” explains McCormack. “Of the 583 archival collections we’ve worked on so far, 131 were not previously represented in the library catalog at all.”

Archives are key ways that people can learn about the important accomplishments of Utah women. “These collections help all members of our community recognize themselves within Utah’s history,” notes Oines. “There were change-makers from a wide variety of backgrounds.” While many of the stories contained in the archives are not widely known, they all represent the strength, resilience and creativity of women in Utah throughout the ages. 

An exhibition curated by Oines showcasing a selection of these histories will open in the Special Collections Reading Room (Marriott Library 4^th floor) the first week of April. She and McCormack hope people will come view the letters, photographs and other items and leave inspired to create change in their own communities.