StarWrite
information management
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meet Katy: archivist | editor | writer
About
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Katy is an archivist, editor, and writer. She found herself “lost in the stacks” after following her passion for words and stars. While still in high school, she presented a historical paper on Henrietta Swan Leavitt at an international astronomy conference and was then invited to visit the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. There, she viewed cabinets filled with thousands of starry photographic plates from the late nineteenth century. A powerful scanner has digitized the plates in order to make them available to astronomers around the world. It was then that she discovered the intriguing possibilities of archives in making information available for research.
Today, Katy is a Certified Archivist and holds a Digital Archives Specialist certificate from the Society of American Archivists. She earned her master’s degree in archives management from Simmons College and her bachelor’s degree in English/journalism from the University of New Hampshire. She is available as an information management consultant under the company she founded in 2007, StarWrite.
The mission of StarWrite is to create and manage well-researched, accurate, and accessible information to fulfill the needs of targeted audiences.
Archiving
Katy earned her archival certification from the Academy of Certified Archivists, demonstrating her knowledge of the scope of professional practice. She is also a Digital Archives Specialist with a certificate from the Society of American Archivists. As such, she develops and implements policies and strategies to ensure the long-term preservation and availability of valuable information. She has expertise in access tools, such as finding aids, which enable researchers to locate relevant materials. Information is not usable if it is not discoverable and accessible.
Research interests:
- preservation
- reference services and access
- digital stewardship
- metadata management
- advocacy and outreach
- copyright management
- information security
Services offered:
- arranging and describing collections using current standards
- preserving analog and digital resources
- properly storing archival materials
- creating access tools, including finding aids
- establishing and implementing archival policies and procedures
- conducting research using historical materials
- publicizing archival institutions
Editing
Katy is a self-driven, perceptive editor who is known for her eye for detail. She skillfully organizes and refines information into its most essential parts. While editing, she enjoys constantly learning something new and knows how to translate abstract, technical information into useful material for targeted audiences. She is ardent about consistent, grammatically correct, factually accurate, and engaging information. She is also proficient in paleography of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century manuscripts.
Recent projects:
- Dictionary of Archives Terminology. Published by the Society of American Archivists. | Edited the award-winning online dictionary by defining terms based on archival literature, locating citations, and citing sources.
- SOLO newsletter. Published by the Lone Arrangers Section, Society of American Archivists. | Served as the first elected editor. Solicited articles and photos from section membership. Designed, produced, and promoted biannual newsletter.
- NEA Newsletter. Published by the New England Archivists. | Coordinated production of the regional newsletter. Assembled news updates from New England–area archival repositories.
- Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies. Published by the New England Archivists and Yale University Library. | Initiated and coordinated a book review column. Proofread articles and the website. Served as a peer reviewer.
Services offered:
- copyediting
- proofreading
- substantive editing
- fact-checking and researching
- peer reviewing
- transcribing manuscripts
Writing
Katy's instince has always been to write. With an emphasis on word choice, she carefully crafts content that will educate and enlighten readers. In particular, she combines her language skills with her archival expertise to share knowledge and convey the value of history. She is also an adept interviewer and photographer.
Recent projects:
- Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies. Published by the New England Archivists and Yale University Library. | Managed the journal’s marketing and communications. Developed and implemented social media strategies.
- Various libraries and archives. | Produced print and digital marketing materials for internal and external distribution channels. Example documents include brochures, press releases, and annual reports.
Services offered:
- producing marketing materials
- reviewing books and resources
- writing newsletter, magazine, and journal articles
Portfolio
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“Genealogical Data in a 1782 Smallpox Inoculation Ledger from Portsmouth, New Hampshire.” New Hampshire Genealogical Record 35, no. 2 (Spring 2023): 25–40.
“On Deposit: Description and Access of the Grimké Letters.” Descriptive Notes (blog). Description Section, Society of American Archivists, 21 January 2022.
“Research by the Numbers: Strategies for Tracking Reference Statistics.” Archival Outlook (May/June 2020): 9, 19.
“Migration and Metadata: Facilitating Discovery of and Access to the Marine Biological Laboratory Archives.” Archival Elements, newsletter of the Science, Technology, and Health Care Section, Society of American Archivists (Summer 2017): 13.
Review of Disaster Planning for Special Libraries, by Guy Robertson, and The Disaster Planning Handbook for Libraries, by Mary Grace Flaherty. American Archivist Reviews Portal, 25 April 2024.
Review of Putting Descriptive Standards to Work, edited by Kris Kiesling and Christopher J. Prom. Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies 6, no. 1 (2019): article 14.
Review of Becoming a Trusted Digital Repository, by Steve Marks. Provenance, Journal of the Society of Georgia Archivists 34, no. 2 (2016): 58–60.
Review of Perspectives on Women’s Archives, edited by Tanya Zanish-Belcher. Provenance, Journal of the Society of Georgia Archivists 34, no. 2 (2016): 78–80.
“From the Ground Up: Strategies for Building an Archival Program—Archivist as Architect.” Paper presented at the New England Archivists Spring 2023 Meeting, Portsmouth, NH, 31 March 2023.
“How to Create an Archival First-Aid Kit.” Poster presented at the Society of American Archivists 2021 Research Forum, virtual, 21 July 2021.
“Make an Impact: Marketing and Communications for Archives.” Discussion facilitator at the New England Archivists Fall 2017 Meeting, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 23 September 2017.
“Illuminated by Archival Research: The Role of Books in Religious Reformation and Early English Drama.” Paper presented at the Twelfth International Conference on Books, Publishing, and Libraries, Simmons College, Boston, MA, 8 November 2014.
