KENNESAW, Ga.
(Apr 27, 2022) — JoyEllen Williams, special collections curator for Kennesaw State University’s Department of Museums, Archives and Rare Books, has been chosen as a Rare Book School-Andrew Mellon Cultural Heritage Fellow for
2022-2024.
The Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship for Diversity, Inclusion and Cultural Heritage is a partnership between the Rare Book School and the Andrew Mellon Foundation. Its
stated mission is to advance multicultural collections through innovative and inclusive
curatorial practice and leadership.
Williams has been selected for a cohort of 15 fellows who come from diverse backgrounds
and work in special collections of historical materials. Each participant has identified
with diverse racial or ethnic communities or works primarily with collections that
document minority, immigrant and non-Western cultural traditions.
The competitive, three-year fellowship provides several opportunities for professional
growth and leadership development. The RBS-Mellon CH fellows will attend Rare Book
School’s seminar-style courses, host a special collections/rare book symposium at
their home institution, engage in project-based working groups, receive funding to
attend the annual Rare Books and Manuscripts Section conference and other conferences,
and participate in a cultural heritage field school to meet prominent leaders in the
field of special collections.
“This fellowship is providing us with tools we need to advance ourselves and the multicultural
collections that we care for,” Williams said. “I look forward to collaborating with
colleagues and recognizing the work that needs to be done to connect communities with
special collections and ensure the preservation of this material.”
Williams hopes to bring these special collections to the public in various ways, both
virtually and in person. By focusing on collection development, collection management
and outreach initiatives, she seeks to amplify the voices of diverse communities,
organizations and people who created the rich historical resources we rely on today.
“Many people feel that there are barriers to interacting with historic material. My
role is to help people see themselves in these collections to know that they are worthy
and deserving of encounters with these materials,” Williams said. “It’s up to us as
archivists and memory workers to make sure we cultivate these collections so that
as many voices are captured as possible.”
– Ana Johnson
Photos submitted
Related Stories
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its nearly 43,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
