Suggestions for Compiling a Committee History

The ASA Committee on Archives and Historical Materials encourages all chapters, sections, and committees to write or update their organizational history. The Iowa State University Parks Library, which maintains the ASA permanent collections, is enthused about this new emphasis.

Organizations are encouraged to post new histories to their electronic web pages. Please send information on those locations to Jim Dickey so we can highlight new histories in Amstat News. A hard copy of the final history should be mailed to Jim Dickey at ASA so it can be placed in the appropriate organization historic files.

Developing a good, comprehensive history can be a worthwhile project for ASA committees. The history will likely be of great interest to new and prospective committee members. It should be a renewed source of pride for those individuals who contributed to major accomplishments. When a committee history is completed, a presentation on it might be a good topic for a session at the Joint Statistical Meetings.

Compiling a committee history is possibly more difficult than creating a chapter or section history. People who have been active in past section and chapter activities are more likely to still be members of those organizations than of ASA committees. Someone may need to review the committee files at ASA to document details and develop leads to follow. An oral history approach might be needed to gather information from past committee members to fill in details.

The process for compiling or updating a history can itself be worthwhile. It may be a way to involve some individuals who are currently not active with other business of the committee. Fact finding might bring newer members in touch with former members. If the committee decides to create an electronic home page, some additional members might get involved. Some committees may find that they want to distribute articles on historic activities to selected individuals as a way of collecting information for the history writeup itself.

The suggestions listed below are appropriate for fact finding and preparation of a narrative written history. It may be particularly advantageous to develop an annotated history. That is, can complete lists of past committee members be compiled? The annotated listings might lead to additional contacts for improving the history writeup.

This document offers suggestions and starter questions for compiling background information in order to prepare a history. It does not purport to suggest the final written format–the specific writeup should be tailored to the unique character of the organization.

In addition to answering the questions in this document (and adding additional questions and answers that spin off from these), it may be helpful to develop a series of snapshots. That is, what was the committee like in the 70's, the 80's, etc.? Instead of decades, there may be some other logical breaks based on activities over time.

RESOURCES:

Are there earlier committee histories?

Are there good chronological files available?

Who are the past active individuals who have an interest in documenting history?

ORIGINS:

When was the committee started?

Who were the key organizers?

What events led to the founding?

Was assistance received from other ASA committees?

Were there some previous efforts to start the committee?

What was the original charge?

ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES:

How has the committee changed over time?

When were new activities or responsibilities added?

What activities have been discontinued and when?

When were new committee charges written?

IMPORTANT INDIVIDUALS:

Which individuals have been particularly significant in continuing/expanding the committee?

Have committee members received recognition such as serving as ASA officers?

SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES:

What programs brought significant notoriety to the committee?

What activities have been the most successful?

What services have the committee provided to the statistical community?

What joint activities have there been with other ASA sections, chapters, or other committees?

Has the committee helped to start any other committees or sections?