Milton H. Erickson Foundation Archives

UPDATE FROM THE ARCHIVES
Planning for 2006
By Roxanna Erickson Klein

Recent advancements in technology make this an exciting time to be involved in archival work.  Photographic and recording tools are now available that allow us to capture and retain important wisdom.  The same technology allows us to preserve that which we have captured from earlier generations.  Until now, protecting and maintaining archives in optimal ways was costly as well as cumbersome.  Now, we are entering an era where technology allows us to preserve and develop our resources in ways we have not seen before.     
 In March, Drs Ernest and Kathryn Rossi, Dr. Jeffrey Zeig and I met in Phoenix to review last year's progress and to set goals for 2006.  The four of us, along with Dr. Kristina Erickson, serve as trustees of the Archives of the Milton H. Erickson Foundation.
Our most important task is the long-term preservation and safeguarding of historical materials.  Concurrently, it is our ambition to facilitate wider accessibility of the educational and teaching materials that we house.  For the last many years, the Archives has safeguarded and protected materials, though it is only with the last two years that we have undertaken it with a systematic and priority setting approach.  
We overviewed our 2005 progress a more detailed report of which appears in the Newsletter Vol 21, # 1 page 16.  Our goals for 2006 include:

  1. Completing the project of digitizing video footage of Milton H. Erickson. 
  2. Begin indexing video footage of Dr. Erickson. 
  3. Organizing storage of duplicate copies of historical materials in separate facilities. 
  4. Scheduling for back-up of precious materials at regular intervals.    
  5. Beginning the digitization of the video footage from the Evolution of Psychotherapy Conferences.
  6. Developing at least one income generating resource that will continue to bring in financial funding directly to the Archives. Our time and energy as trustees are donated, and economic assets of the Archives are used directly for the preservation and distribution of educational materials.
  7.  Continuing to seek copies of audio and video materials that are not currently in the Archives. 
  8. Supporting and enhancing the dessimation of teachings of Milton H. Erickson
  9. To continue to seek copies audio, video or written materials of Milton H. Erickson that are not currently within the Archives. 
  10. To support and enhance the dissemination of the teachings of Milton H. Erickson.

In April Dr. Roger Schick donated an audio CD of a lecture delivered by Dr. Erickson in Vancouver BC.  The Archives did not previously have a copy of this and is grateful for the donation. Nothing is so rewarding and heartwarming as the discovery of materials that have been safeguarded by interested colleagues for so many years! Thank you Dr. Roger Schick!  

Anyone wishing to learn more about the Archives or having additional materials that may be of interest to us, you may call me directly.  Roxanna Erickson Klein   at 214-526-9634 (home) or to write me at ericksonklein@yahoo.com.