Interview with Jan Blodgett, 2024 June 07
Scope and Contents
This interview was conducted by archivist Jessica Cottle-Hart as part of the History of E.H. Little Library Oral History Project, a project meant to document the work of staff who made the library a celebrated space on the Davidson College campus in recognition of its 50th anniversary. Dr. Jan Blodgett worked as the Davidson College Archivist and Records Management Coordinator between 1994 and 2017. In this interview, Blodgett discusses the influence her experiences with the Girl Scouts had on her life, her educational and professional journey to librarianship and then archival work, and the evolution of her career at Davidson College. Blodgett describes several key influences and collaborators, including Dr. Hilton Kelly, Dr. Nancy Fairley, Dr. Leland Park, Dr. Ralph Levering, Dr. Shireen Campbell, Dr. Chalmers Davidson, Sharon Byrd, Loyce Davis, Susan Kerr, Caitlin Christian-Lamb, the archives staff of Dickinson College, and several Davidson College Archives fellows. She also explains the origins of several significant Archives projects, including Shared Stories and Under Lake Norman, in addition to shifts in the College Archives’ collections development priorities over time. Blodgett goes on to highlight the reasons she wrote her book, One Town, Many Voices, mentioning the perceived invisibility of Davidson, NC’s Black community and her desire to diversify the stories represented through the Archives. She describes how many such projects were influenced by her participation in groups like Common Ground and the Davidson Historical Society, as well as professional networks and academic movements.
Dates
- Creation: 2024 June 07
Creator
- Blodgett, Jan, 1954- (Person)
- Cottle-Hart, Jessica (Person)
- Davidson College (N.C.) (Publisher, Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
This interview is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Access to this interview is given for personal research use and does not imply the right to use it for other purposes, including publication. Use of our collections is subject to the provisions of current intellectual property, privacy, and libel laws. Researchers assume full responsibility for their use of these materials. For publication or other use requests, email archives@davidson.edu.
Extent
1 Digital (Sound recordings) (M4A)
2 Transcripts (Digital) (PDF)
Language
English
Genre / Form
Topical
- Archival materials--Digitization
- Archival materials--Processing
- Archives and education
- Davidson College (N.C.) -- History
- Davidson College - Library - (Little)
- Davidson College -- Library
- Girl Scouts
- Librarianship
- Professional development
- Universities and colleges--Archives
- Women archivists
- Women library employees
Repository Details
Part of the College Archives Repository