Have you ever wondered what archives are and how archival documents represent a community? This special program offers an opportunity to learn about the role of archives and archivists in the preservation of history. As part of the Legion of Honor’s centennial celebration, this conversation brings together representatives from local organizations who will shed light on how historical materials are collected and preserved in order to help make them available to current and future generations.

This panel discussion will be moderated by Melissa Gonzales, head of library and archives at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

About the speakers

In order of appearance:

Melissa Gonzales is the head of library and archives at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and has 17 years of experience building and maintaining institutional archives for special collections and archives in museums and academic institutions. She has also contributed to the Society of American Archivists’ publications Museum Archives: Practice, Issues, Advocacy and the upcoming Selecting and Appraising Archives and Manuscripts.

Becky Alexander is an archivist at San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) Legacy Foundation + Archive, and worked in the SFAI Library and Archives from 2005 through 2022. Becky’s writing on SFAI’s history can be found in the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive’s online exhibition, Orbits of Known and Unknown Objects: SFAI Histories/Matrix 277.

Nathaniel Moore is an archivist and co-director at the Freedom Archives. He has been active in prisoner support work for the past decade and is the cofounder of an education program focusing on social justice inside of San Quentin State Prison. He is also active in several projects working to amplify international voices of resistance.

Nicole Meldahl is an arranger of things that tell stories, working as an award-winning journalist, community historian, and museologist for nearly 20 years. She’s worked for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the California Historical Society, and the Walt Disney Family Museum, and is currently executive director of Western Neighborhoods Project — a community history nonprofit that preserves the history of San Francisco’s west side. 

Ticket info

Free program. Theater doors will open 30 minutes before the start of the program. Seating is limited and unassigned and first come, first served. Admission to the theater program does not include admission to the special exhibition or other galleries in the museum. 

Contact info

Public Programs
publicprograms@famsf.org
415.750.7694