Library and Information Science: Archives Management + History
Linking historical knowledge with information stewardship
As organizations recognize the value of preserving our heritage and historical records, demand for skilled archivists grows. Successful archival professionals need more than technical expertise; they must understand the historical and cultural contexts that give records meaning.
Simmons University’s dual degree program in Library and Information Science (MS): Archives Management + History (MA) equips you with professional skills and historical perspective needed to succeed in archives. The degree combines a firm foundation in library science with an in-depth understanding of global history and politics, a valuable base for archival professionals.
If you’re an aspiring library and information professional passionate about history, this dual degree is tailor-made for you. In this program, you’ll master skills in library and information science, historical methods, and research. You’ll graduate prepared for roles in colleges and universities, corporations, foundations, government agencies, museums and cultural heritage sites, public archives, and public libraries.
Learn more about our History and Library and Information Science master’s degree programs.
National Recognition
Simmons University is ranked #1 for Archives & Preservation by U.S.News and World Report, reflecting its longstanding leadership in archival education and professional preparation.
Due to its strategic location in historic New England, Simmons offers access to resources for study and research not found elsewhere in the country.
Here, you can complete internships at Boston institutions such as the Massachusetts State Archives, the Massachusetts Historical Society, the John F. Kennedy Library, the USS Constitution Museum, and Harvard University.
The program also culminates in a thesis based on original historical research.
What can you do with a dual degree in library science and history?
A dual degree in Library and Information Science (MS) and History (MA) prepares you for roles in varied settings, such as public archives, colleges and universities, museums and cultural heritage sites, public libraries, foundations, government agencies, and corporations.
A few examples of titles and job responsibilities include:
- Processing Archivist: Arrange archival materials in folders and boxes, and create finding aids that describe the contents of a collection.
- Reference Archivist: Assist researchers in finding relevant materials.
- Digital Assets Archivist: Manage the digital holdings of an archive, including digital photographs and computer files. Digitize important collections and maintain online access to these materials.
- Preservationist: Specialize in protecting archival materials from damage caused by weather, environmental conditions, natural disasters, and age.
Spotlight on Archives Management + History Students and Alums
Sharing the Untold Stories at Queer History Boston
Mik Hamilton '24MS ‘24MA is the archivist at Queer History Boston, a community archive dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing the rich LGBTQ+ histories of Boston and New England. Hamilton shares how the dual degree in LIS: archives management and history at Simmons prepared them for a dream job just before graduation.
Archivist Cherishes Communal Essence of Libraries
National Library Lovers’ Month is, according to the Boston Public Library, “a time to recognize the value of libraries and all the special things we love about them.” To celebrate National Library Lovers’ Month, we spoke with University Archivist Kelsey Kolbet ’21MS/MA about her love of archives and women’s history, and why she chose Simmons.
Students Discuss Archival Internship in The Pilot
Students Emily Greco and James Kaeser recently concluded fall semester internships at the Archdiocese of Boston Archives. They shared their reflections about this unique experience in a published interview with The Pilot.
The Extroverted Archivist: Engaging the Underrepresented in Archives
Bridgett Johnson-Pride '18MAMS was named Director of Public Services for Archives and Special Collections at Harvard University in October, 2023. We caught up with Johnson-Pride about her current role, and how she engages with patrons as an extroverted archivist.
Sacha Lamb '20MS/MA Embraces Queerness and Jewish Folklore in Debut Novel
What led you to study Library and Information Science at Simmons? I had wanted to be a librarian for a long time. I love organizing things, so it seemed like a good fit. I grew up in the Boston area...
The Mary Eliza Project Recognizes Boston's First Women Voters
Faculty and students at Simmons have joined to create the Mary Eliza Project , transcribing voter registers to create a searchable database of the more than 50,000 women who registered to vote in Boston in the months following the Nineteenth...
A Tale of Two Librarians: SLIS alumnae/i at Cambridge Public Library
Librarian Sarah Yasuda '20MS and Archivist Alyssa Pacy '06MS, '07MA reflect on how their studies at Simmons SLIS impacted their careers, the unique rewards of public library work, and the coolest items you can find in the Cambridge Public Library...
Sarah Shepherd ’23MAMS Receives Ham Scholarship from the Society of American Archivists
The F. Gerald Ham and Elsie Ham Scholarship Fund was established by F. Gerald Ham, past president of the Society of American Archivists (SAA), and his wife, Elsie Ham, in 1998. The fund, endowed in 2008, provides financial support to...
Our Faculty
Adam Kriesberg
Associate Professor and Co-Director of Dual Degree MS LIS-Archives and MA History Program
Katherine Wisser
Associate Professor and Masters Program Director, Director of the Archives Concentration, and Director of Archives Certificate Program
Steve Berry
Associate Professor
Peter Botticelli
Associate Professor and Director, Cultural Heritage Informatics Concentration
Sarah Leonard
Associate Professor and Department Chair of History, and Graduate History Program Director
Mollie Metevier
Assistant Professor of Practice and Manager of Field Experience
Donia Conn
Associate Professor of Practice
Jiarui Sun
Assistant Professor