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We would like to take this time to thank our Provenance Level sponsor for the 2026 Annual Conference, TIND.

TIND is a modern and flexible platform to manage digital collections, scholarly material, and research data. Whether you're looking for a digital archive, institutional repository, research data management system, or all three on one platform, our products can be used individually or together. We've migrated customers from CONTENTdm, DSpace, Islandora, BePress/DigitalCommons, Fedora, and homegrown setups.

Carolina institutions using TIND include UNC Greensboro, which consolidated its Gateway Digital Collections and NC DOCKS institutional repository onto TIND in 2024. As David Gwynn, Digitization Coordinator noted: "We were seeking a sustainable long-term solution for our evolving IT environment, centered on an externally hosted platform, and TIND seemed far and away the best option for us." Elon University and UNC Charlotte have also implemented TIND solutions.

Andrew French, VP of Product, will be at SNCA/SCAA to discuss migrations from CONTENTdm, Quartex, Islandora, and other systems. Reach out at (978) 395-5317 or stop by the Halton Room during the Sponsor Meet and Greet at 4:25 pm on Thursday, May 28.

The following candidates will be on SNCA members' ballots this spring for open Executive Board positions. Voting will take place during the Business Meeting at this year's Annual Meeting at UNC Charlotte. President candidate (1 year position): Alston Cobourn I first became involved with SNCA as an MLIS student in 2008. Since then, I've served as Vice President (2025-2026), Membership Committee chair (2009-2012), Nominating Committee member (2020, 2023-2025), Archives Month Committee member (2020-2021), and  Conference Programming Committee member (2024). SNCA has helped me forge valuable relationships with other archivists across the state and grow in my career. I believe my previous service work in SNCA and professional connections will be an asset in this role.  Vice President candidate (1 year position): Anna Peitzman Anna Peitzman is the Digital Access Branch Head at the State Archives of North Carolina. Her team is responsible for the archive's digital collections and web and social media presence. Anna has worked for digital accessibility in government and academic archives since 2017 and looks forward to contributing to the continued success of the archival profession in North Carolina. Conference Planning Chair (2 year position): Greta Browning, Appalachian State University I have been a SNCA member for over twenty years, and I have served on the Programming Committee (2025-2026), Member-at-Large (2007-2008), Local Arrangements Committee chair when SNCA was held at Appalachian State University (2008), an editor for J-SNCA (2007-2009), Nominating Committee (2000) and editor of The North Carolina Archivist newsletter (1999-2001). I attended my first SNCA meeting as a North Carolina State University Public History graduate student in 1999, and since then, I have considered SNCA my professional home. Notably, it has been the conferences which have regularly enriched my professional knowledge, allowed me to build friendships and exchange practices with colleagues, and refreshed my excitement for my work. I am delighted to be able to have the opportunity to serve in the new position of Conference Planning Chair, and I will endeavor to uphold SNCA’s tradition of stellar conferences to the best of my ability. Engagement Chair (2 year position): Jennifer Daugherty, East Carolina University My name is Jennifer Daugherty and I'm the Head of the North Carolina Collection at East Carolina University. I've been a SNCA member for 15 years and have served on various committees. I recently finished a vacant 1-year term for the newly created Engagement Chair and am happy to continue to serve in that role. I look forward to working with SNCA members and the board to communicate about the organization and to share announcements from our membership. Publications Chair (2 year position): Randall Bowman, Elon University For the last two years, I have served as Membership Chair; this office has enabled me to learn a lot about SNCA and the Executive Board, as well as to meet a lot of wonderful members of this great organization! Now I am ready to use the knowledge that I have gained to continue serving, this time as Publications Chair. From 2019-2022 I served on the Publications Committee, contributing to the publication of the Journal for the Society of North Carolina Archivists. I am looking forward to seeing this journal continue being published online, as well as keeping members up to date with SNCA activities and happenings through its social media platforms. Member-at-Large, Regional Archival Associations Consortium (RAAC) (2 year position): Angela Howell, Appalachian State University Angela Howell is the University Archivist and Director of Records Management at Appalachian State University. She earned her Master of Library and Information Science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and holds an undergraduate degree in anthropology. She became a certified archivist through the Academy of Certified Archivists in 2024 and serves on the University Archivist Consultant Committee of the North Carolina Community College Archives Association (NCCCAA). Member-at-Large, Students and New Professionals (2 year position): Mollie Frazier, East Carolina University I currently serve as the Member at Large for New Professionals and Student Members for the Society of North Carolina Archivists and work in special collections and archives at East Carolina University. Through my work with SNCA, I have focused on supporting student and early career archivists through outreach, communication, and professional engagement opportunities. In the coming term, I would like to strengthen communication and outreach efforts with students and new professionals through increased promotion of SNCA opportunities, events, scholarships, and professional development resources across social media, LIS programs, and professional network as well as expanding early career-focused programming on topics such as networking, interviewing, career preparation, and entering the profession. I look forward to continuing my role this year.

Apply at https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/315626

Application deadline: 4/17/26

The Conservation Technician works in the Preservation and Conservation Services department of the University Library and will report to the Senior Conservator.

Preservation and Conservation Services supports all University Library collections, including circulating and special collections. The Conservation Technician reports to the Senior Conservator, but works across circulating and special collections, sometimes working under the direction of the Supervisor of General Collections Conservation or the Assistant Conservator.

Duties include:

* Complete selected treatments on book and paper-based special collections, including paper flattening, mending, a wide range of repairs on bound volumes, and more

* Create written and photographic documentation for special collections conservation treatment

* Create custom enclosures for Library materials

* Coordinate commercial boxing workflows for circulating and special collections, including precisely measuring materials, liaising with vendors, and performing quality control

* Independently perform a range of conservation treatments on circulating library materials, from minimal stabilization like stapling pamphlets into binders, to complex treatments like rebinding books

* Assess circulating materials and creatively problem solve to find the best solution for housing or repairing items

* Contribute to lab workflows for tracking incoming and outgoing collections

* Contribute to the conservation lab’s role in exhibits preparation, including mounting flat and bound items for safe exhibition

* Contribute to special preservation and conservation projects, such as collections surveys and large-scale stabilization efforts

* Assist with lab maintenance and supply inventory

* Contribute to department meetings and serve on relevant Library committees

* Train and supervise undergraduate and graduate student workers as needed

* Assist in salvaging collections after leaks, floods, or other disasters affecting Library collections

* Answer questions and communicate with colleagues about departmental workflows

* Share preservation and conservation knowledge through participation in lab tours, class visits, and other outreach activities

Minimum education and experience requirements: High school diploma or equivalency and two years of experience in library services, office support, or related field; or equivalent combination of training and experience.

Due to a large amount of in-person attendees who have already registered and physical space limitations at the conference venue, we need to close in-person registration for the upcoming SNCA/SCAA conference at 5pm on Friday, April 10th. Virtual registration will remain open. Thank you for your understanding.

Posting on behalf of Andrea A. Breazeale, MBA, MSHR, SPHR, Director of People and Engagement, NC Rural Center

Step into a role where history, purpose, and impact intersect. The Archivist will play a pivotal role in preserving and shaping the legacy of the NC Rural Center by organizing, processing, and bringing to life four decades of work supporting rural communities across North Carolina. From carefully arranging archival materials to digitizing critical records, this position blends hands-on detail work with a broader narrative mission. Working in close partnership with the Communications team, the Archivist will serve as the steward and storyteller of the organization’s 40-year journey—ensuring its history is not only preserved but meaningfully shared for years to come.

In this CONTRACT position, the Archivist will direct the review, organizing and presentation of the archival material covering the 40-year history of the NC Rural Development Center. This archival processing work may involve sorting papers, photographs, or other archival materials into chronological and/or topical order, labeling folders, or digitizing documents. This position will work closely with the Communications team, President/CEO and an Advisory Committee in the effort to tell the story of the 40-year history of the NC Rural Center.

**THIS IS A SHORT-TERM CONTRACT POSITION.  EXPECTED DURATION OF 9 TO 15 MONTHS**

Essential Functions:

• Responsible for establishing a centralized repository for paper, photographed, born-digital and digitized historical items.
• Develop policies and workflows that ensure long-term preservation, discoverability, and access to the NC Rural Center’s historical records.
• Responsible for compiling the most important and relevant artifacts of the NC Rural Center history.
• Inspect documents and consult with program area leaders on their record keeping practices.
• Arrange, catalogue, exhibit, and maintain collections and records of valuable material for the Center and expand their physical and digital access.
• Respond to research requests, partner on collaborative projects with other program teams.
• Focus on day-to-day project management and assist the overall project by supporting the archives process and workflow among program teams.
• Appraise records in all formats created by Rural Center program teams, to identify those having historical value.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Minimum of two years experience in archiving, records management or historical document preservation.
• Expertise in image, audio, video, and text formats and their preservation requirements.
• Experience with relational collections management systems and digital storage best practices.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively across departments.

Education and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in records management, library and information science, digital archiving, or a related field.

Salary and Benefits
$65,000 - $75,000, based on background and experience
This is a contract position and not eligible for benefits.

To apply:
Visit the Careers page on the NC Rural Center website: https://www.ncruralcenter.org/careers/

The Education and Development Committees are excited to announce that the SNCA award applications for 2026 are officially open! Each year we offer four awards that recognize the work of both archival professionals and students. Additionally, they provide support for professional development opportunities, including the SNCA Annual Meeting. 

Please see below for additional information on each award. If you have any questions, please reach out to Amy Archambault, SNCA Development Chair (aarchamb@gmail.com), or Kristen Daniel, SNCA Education Chair (danielk23@ecu.edu). 

SNCA Development Committee Awards

Michelle Francis Endowment Fund: The purpose of the Michelle Francis Scholarship is to provide SNCA members access to professional development opportunities by attending the annual SNCA conference. This award is intended to provide assistance with travel and conference fees and to defer costs associated with attending the conference. It also allows an archivist who normally might not attend an opportunity to increase their knowledge by attending this important function.

• Scholarship: $250

• Application Deadline: Friday, March 6th, 2026

• Link to Application: https://www.ncarchivists.org/francis 

Thornton W. Mitchell Service Award: The Thornton W. Mitchell Service Award seeks to recognize an individual who has demonstrated outstanding service to the archival profession in the state of North Carolina. SNCA members are encouraged to nominate their colleagues to highlight and celebrate their exceptional work.

• Nomination Deadline: Thursday, March 26th, 2026

• Link to Nomination Form: https://www.ncarchivists.org/mitchell 

SNCA Education Committee Awards

 C. David Jackson Memorial Scholarship: This student scholarship is intended to promote continuing archival education and professional alliances among archivists in North Carolina. In addition to using the scholarship funds to support attendance at the annual meeting, recipients are encouraged to use scholarship funds to register for workshops and other professional development opportunities that would provide supplemental education to existing coursework and work experiences.

• Scholarship: $500

• Application Deadline: Friday, March 6th, 2026

• Link to Application: https://www.ncarchivists.org/jackson  

Gene J. Williams Award: SNCA annually recognizes a project on an archives-centric topic completed for a graduate-level course, thesis, practicum, or similar by a student residing in or attending a North Carolina school.The award recipient is selected in the Spring and their project is published in SNCA's peer-reviewed Journal of the Society of North Carolina Archivists.

• Scholarship: $250, free attendance to the next annual conference (2027), and a one-year SNCA membership

• Application Deadline: Friday, March 6th, 2026

• Link to Application: https://www.ncarchivists.org/williams 

There's still time to submit a proposal for the Spring 2026 SNCA/SCAA joint conference. We are looking forward to everyone's great ideas and learning with colleagues this spring.

SNCA/SCAA Annual Meeting 

Call for Proposals

Many Voices, Stronger Archives: Advocacy through Community

UNC-Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | May 28-29, 2026

The Programming Committee encourages you to submit proposals for the SNCA/SCAA Joint 2026 Annual Meeting. This year’s theme, "Many Voices, Stronger Archives: Advocacy through Community" calls us to reflect on the roles and impacts of advocacy and community within the archival profession.

We encourage submissions that address a wide range of topics, including, but not limited to:

• America’s 250th

• Reflections of past communities

• Outreach to communities: engagement and partnerships

• Community-driven projects/exhibits

• Community among archival professionals

• Various aspects of advocacy

• Support for small archives/lone archivists

• Grant writing

• Inclusive metadata and description practices

Proposal Form

Proposals are due by February 13, 2026 at 5:00 pm

Kelli Policelli has been named State Archivist of North Carolina. 

https://www.dncr.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2025/12/02/kelly-policelli-named-state-archivist-north-carolina

Eileen Dewitya named Frank Borden Hanes Curator of the Rare Book Collection and Lisa Gregory named curator of the North Carolina Collection at UNC Chapel Hill. 

https://library.unc.edu/news/university-libraries-names-permanent-curators-for-special-collections/

Sharing from East Carolina University

East Carolina University’s Laupus Health Sciences Library and our Medical History Interest Group will be hosting Sheena M. Eagan and David M. Durant's "Beyond Unit 731: Japanese Medical Atrocities in the Greater Pacific War, 1931-45: Context and Implications" on November 3rd, 2025 at 2pm at this link. 

Presentation Description: Much is known about the horrific medical experiments conducted by Nazi physicians and researchers at Auschwitz and other concentration camps. Less well known are the numerous horrific atrocities performed by Japanese medical personnel during the Second World War. Unit 731, a biological warfare research complex, performed hideous medical experiments that claimed thousands of lives. Its work culminated in a number of biological warfare attacks as part of Japan’s war in China.

Unfortunately, such horrific acts went well beyond Unit 731, involving both the Japanese Army and Navy Medical Corps, and the civilian Japanese medical establishment. This included regular involvement of medical personnel in war crimes, killing of non-ambulatory wounded, and the widespread practice of vivisection as a tool of both medical research and education.  This presentation will explore the history of these crimes, their context, and the broader conditions that made them possible.

About the Speakers: 

Sheena M. Eagan, MPH, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Bioethics and Interdisciplinary Studies at the Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, where she also directs the Medical Humanities & Ethics Distinction Track. Her research explores the intersections of bioethics, medical humanities, and the history of medicine, with particular attention to ethical challenges in times of war, disaster, and public health crisis. She has published and presented widely on military medical ethics, social determinants of health, and the historical legacies of medicine under conditions of social and political upheaval.

David M. Durant is Professor/Federal Documents & Social Sciences Librarian at East Carolina University, in Greenville, NC. He holds a Master of Science in Library & Information Services from the University of Michigan, and an MA in Russian and Soviet History from the University of California, Los Angeles. His research interests include the use of disinformation and propaganda, reading in the digital age, and 20th Century history.

This presentation is part of the Ruth and John Moskop History of Medicine Lecture Series. All are welcome and refreshments will be provided.

Celebrate Our Archives Month Theme "People's of North Carolina" with a blog post by Patrick Cash

North Carolina's "Papa Wyche": Major General Ira Thomas Wyche and His Career

Major General Ira Thomas Wyche (1887–1981) stands among North Carolina’s most accomplished military figures of the twentieth century. Born on the isolated Ocracoke Island and educated at the United States Military Academy, Wyche’s career spanned four decades of transformation within the United States Army. His life reveals both the depth of North Carolina’s contribution to national service and the evolving nature of American military professionalism.

Ira Thomas Wyche was born on October 16, 1887, on Ocracoke Island, the son of Methodist minister William W. Wyche and his wife, Mary. Orphaned at an early age following his mother’s death and his father abandoning his family, Wyche was cared for by his grandparents and neighbors. His early life was shaped by the challenges of being raised on the isolated barrier island, a fact he would later credit for his famed resourcefulness and determination. He attended the Quackenbush School in Laurinburg and Trinity Park School in Durham, institutions that prepared promising southern students for higher education. His academic promise and family connections earned him an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, from which he graduated in 1911.

Upon entering the Academy, Wyche joined a cohort of future generals that included the likes of Omar N. Bradley and Jacob L. Devers, individuals who historians have credited with defining the  U.S. Army during World War II. Wyche’s cadet training emphasized mathematics, engineering, and the new scientific approaches to military discipline that characterized the post-Spanish-American War era.

A Professional Officer, 1911–1941

Upon graduation, Wyche received his commission to the Coast Artillery Corps but was transferred to Field Artillery, a branch that appealed to his technical precision and leadership aptitude. His early postings took him to the American West before the United States entered World War I. During the conflict, he served in the American Expeditionary Forces in France, where he joined the 10th Field Artillery Regiment, rising to temporary lieutenant colonel and commanding artillery units in the thick of combat, gaining valuable experience in both field operations and staff coordination.

Following the end of World War I, Wyche pursued a methodical career path through the professional military education system, graduating from the Field Artillery School, the Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College.⁴ His assignments in these years reflected the Army’s emphasis on doctrinal development and instructional rigor. He served as an instructor and staff officer at multiple training commands, where he helped standardize the curriculum that prepared younger officers for modern warfare. This steady progression through the ranks exemplified the professionalization of the interwar U.S. Army, which increasingly valued education, merit, and technical expertise over political patronage.

World War II and the 79^th Infantry

Wyche’s leadership reached its peak during the Second World War. On June 15, 1942, he assumed command of the newly reactivated 79th Infantry Division, commonly referred to as the “Cross of Lorraine” division. The 79th Infantry Division was activated for World War I in 1917 and saw its most significant combat during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in the fall of 1918, where it played a key role in the assault on Montfaucon. During the war, the 79th demonstrated determination in advancing against entrenched German forces, but had been deactivated in 1919 following the end of the war. Reactivating and training the division was a formidable task, but Wyche’s leadership, which was characterized by a methodical approach that emphasized rigorous physical conditioning, live-fire exercises, combined arms coordination, and amphibious warfare preparation, proved to be up to the task.

The division trained at Camp Pickett, Virginia, before moving to England in April 1944 in preparation for the Normandy invasion. Wyche’s insistence on realism in training, replicating the coastal terrain, practicing beach landings, and coordinating with naval and air units, helped ensure the division’s readiness for its eventual combat role. His involvement, including front-line inspections and direct engagement with junior officers and enlistees, earned him respect and loyalty.

The Normandy Campaign and the Assault on Cherbourg

Though Wyche and the 79th Infantry Division did not land on the beaches of Normandy during D-Day itself, they would reach the sands of Utah Beach on June 12, 1944, just six days after the initial invasion. Upon arrival, the 79^th  was tasked with securing the Cotentin Peninsula and, critically, the city of Cherbourg, whose deep-water port was vital for sustaining the Allied logistical buildup in France, and its capture was a primary objective. Wyche and his men faced entrenched German forces, fortified with artillery, minefields, and natural defensive positions. Under his leadership, the 79th executed a series of coordinated assaults, culminating in the capture of Fort du Roule, a key defensive position overlooking Cherbourg. Cherbourg finally fell on June 29, 1944, after three weeks of fierce fighting. Wyche’s leadership during this phase earned commendations from senior commanders, including one from his former classmate General Omar Bradley.

Pursuit to the Seine, the Liberation of Paris, and Crossing the Rhine.

Following the breakout from Normandy through Operation Cobra in late July 1944, Wyche and the 79th Infantry Division were among the units ordered to pursue retreating German forces toward the Seine River. Under Wyche’s leadership, the 79^th executed a complex river crossing at Mantes-Gassicourt in August 1944. The operation involved rapid bridge-building, coordination with engineers and armor, and effective reconnaissance to secure crossing sites. The successful crossing helped facilitate the encirclement of German forces, leading to the eventual liberation of Paris, France.

As the Allies advanced into Germany, the 79^th Infantry Division encountered the heavily fortified Siegfried Line during the winter of 1944-1945. Wyche’s men endured harsh conditions and fierce German resistance. In March 1945, Wyche and his men took part in Operation Plunder, the large-scale Allied crossing of the Rhine River. The success of the operation permitted Allied forces to continue their push east into Germany, capturing key military strongholds and German cities along the way, hastening the fall of Nazi Germany and the end of the war in Europe.

“Papa Wyche”: A Leader Among Soldiers

Wyche’s leadership style earned him the affectionate nickname “Papa Wyche” among his troops. He was known for personally visiting front-line units, engaging with soldiers, and personally working to address their needs and concerns. This personal touch fostered loyalty and high morale, rare among generals whose presence at the time was often limited to rear command posts.

One of Wyche’s notable innovations was the establishment of an in-division replacement training system. Recognizing the toll of combat and the need for prepared reinforcements, Wyche instituted a program that trained replacements within the division before sending them to front-line units. This system improved cohesion and reduced casualties among newcomers, providing a model adopted by other divisions.

Following the surrender of Nazi Germany, Wyche briefly commanded VIII Corps and III Corps before his appointment as Inspector General of the Army in January 1947.

The Inspector General and the Lee Investigation

In May 1947, Wyche was tasked with investigating syndicated columnist Robert C. Ruark’s allegations that Lieutenant General John C. H. Lee, commanding general of the U.S. Forces European Theater, had misused enlisted personnel in Italy and exploited Army resources for personal comfort. Wyche’s inquiry cleared Lee of the charges, concluding that Ruark’s reporting had exaggerated or misrepresented the situation. His balanced handling of the case preserved the Army’s credibility at a delicate moment when public confidence in the military became strained due to number of public controversies and budget reductions.

Wyche’s measured professionalism during the investigation earned praise within military circles and from the Secretary of the Army, who commended his objectivity and command of facts. He retired from active duty the following year, on September 30, 1948, closing a thirty-seven-year career that had bridged the U.S. Army’s transition from horse-drawn artillery to atomic-age administration. Upon retirement, Wyche moved to Pinehurst, North Carolina, where his civic engagement reflected the broader postwar veteran culture of the state, where he remained active in veterans’ organizations and civic affairs until he passed away on July 8, 1981. Upon his death, Wyche was interred at the Fort Bragg Main Post Cemetery.

Legacy and Significance to North Carolina History

Wyche’s legacy is both national and distinctly North Carolinian. His rise from Ocracoke’s maritime isolation to the upper echelons of the U.S. Army reflected the possibilities of merit-based advancement in early twentieth-century America. He stands in a lineage of Tar Heel military leaders, such as Major General John F. Morrison and General Jacob L. Devers, whose contributions shaped national policy and combat doctrine.

For North Carolina historians, Wyche represents a vital link between local heritage and international conflict. His story underscores how the state’s citizens participated in the creation of a modern, professional army during a century of global upheaval. The preservation of his papers at East Carolina University ensures that researchers can continue to study his administrative acumen, leadership philosophy, and human dimension of command. The collection includes correspondence, military orders, training materials, and reports related to the 1947 Lee investigation, materials invaluable for understanding both the institutional Army and its moral culture in the postwar world.

Wyche’s life also contributes to broader discussions of civil-military relations, wartime innovation, and the role of character in leadership. His career reflected the Army’s best traditions: discipline, adaptability, and an unwavering sense of duty. For North Carolina, he remains a model of how local upbringing and public service can intersect in the making of national history.

Philip Howard, “Ocracoke’s WWII General Ira Thomas Wyche,” Ocracoke Observer, March 26, 2025, https://ocracokeobserver.com/2025/03/26/ocracokes-own-wwii-general-ira-thomas-wyche.

Howard, “Ocracoke’s WWII General Ira Thomas Wyche.”

George W. Cullum, Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, Supplement, 1910–1920 (West Point, NY: Association of Graduates, 1920).

Ira Thomas Wyche Papers (#210), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.

United States Army, The Cross of Lorraine: A Combat History of the 79th Infantry Division, June 1942–December 1945 (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946), 3–7.

“79th Infantry Division (U.S.),” Database-Mémoire, https://www.database-memoire.eu/prive/en-us/12-present-us/191-79-infantry-division-us.

“79th Infantry Division,” US Army Divisions (ArmyDivs),https://www.armydivs.com/79th-infantry-division.

“Forgotten Fights: Assault on Fortress Cherbourg,” The National WWII Museum, https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/assault-on-fortress-cherbourg-june-1944.

Hank H. Cox, The General Who Wore Six Stars: The Inside Story of John C. H. Lee (Dulles, VA: Potomac Books, 2018), 222-225.

“General Wyche to Investigate Charges in Italy,” Time, May 12, 1947.

William S. Powell, Dictionary of North Carolina Biography: T-Z. United States: University of North Carolina Press, 1996.