Title: Year End Review

Byline: December 24, 2024

By: Linda Sampson

As 2024 comes to an end, it is a good time to reflect on what we accomplished throughout the year. This year has been a successful one for the Roving Archivist Program. Over the summer, I had the opportunity to travel across Wyoming, conducting on-site visits and connecting with numerous institutions.

My first trip took me to Park County, my second trip led me to Newcastle and its surrounding communities and the third stop on my journey included visits to Casper and Rawlins. Each trip I met with a variety of museums, libraries, and archival repositories in that area. It was inspiring to see the dedication of local professionals preserving Wyoming’s rich history. While I feel like I covered a significant portion of the state, I know this is just the beginning of building relationships and fostering collaboration with Wyoming’s cultural heritage institutions.

Alongside these scheduled visits, I made it a point to stop by museums and libraries along my routes to introduce myself and share information about the program. These impromptu connections often sparked engaging conversations and opened doors to future partnerships. It has been rewarding to witness the enthusiasm and commitment of those working in these communities.

In addition to the on-site visits, we launched the Coffee Hour Program this year. This monthly virtual meeting has quickly become a valuable platform for discussing relevant topics in the archival world. From best practices for digital preservation to strategies for community engagement, these sessions have provided a space for learning, sharing ideas, and strengthening our network of professionals across the state.

As I look back on 2024, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunities to support and collaborate with Wyoming’s cultural heritage community. These experiences have underscored the importance of preserving our collective history and the power of working together to achieve this goal. I am excited to see what 2025 will bring and look forward to continuing this important work in the coming year.