Matyn, Marian
Biography
Professor Matyn is an archivist by training, special interest, and extensive expertise. She joined the faculty in the CMU Libraries, specifically in the Clarke Historical Library, in 1996, where she leads the archives unit, responsible for preserving, archivally processing and describing, and making accessible primary source collections to researchers. Professor Matyn mentors, supervises, and trains many student employees, volunteers, and interns who learn from her how to professionally archivally process and describe primary sources. She leads a moving film preservation project in the Clarke and co-leads a reparative cataloging project in the CMU Libraries. Professor Matyn serves as a liaison to the history faculty and students.
More about Marian Matyn
Publications & Presentations
JURIED PUBLICATIONS
(in process for final review) Co-author with Brittany Bayless Fremion “Michigan’s PBB Disaster: Finding New Ways to Commemorate Large-scale Environmental Disasters”, Submitted to The Public Historian October 2022.
Co-author with Tressa Graves, “The Pivotal Role of Student Labor in the Clarke Historical Library’s Moving Image Access and Preservation Project.” The Moving Image: The Journal of the Asociation of Moving Image Archivists, Vol. 19, No. 2 (Fall 2019), pp. 26-49. (https://doi.org/10.5749/movingimage.19.2.0026)
“Integrating manuscripts into certificates Michigan curriculum through archival outreach. Librarians as Community Partners: an Outreach Handbook (Chicago: ALA, 2010), pp. 110-113.
Book review of Managing Congressional Collections by Cynthia Pease Miller. Archival Issues (v. 31, No. 1 (backdated 2007 [published in September 2009]), pages 117-118.
“Collect, preserve, and fundraise: the changing nature of the Clarke Historical Library at CMU.” International Conference for Archives, SUV (College and University Unit), Dundee,
Scotland, Aug. 13, 2007 (this was published as part of the Conference proceedings in 2008).
Book review of Planning new and remodeled archival facilities by Thomas P. Wilsted. Archival Issues (v. 30 no.1, 2006), pp. 82-83.
“I can’t find my ancestors in the records!”: Assisting Anishinabeg in “uncovering” their history through written documents.” Published as part of the International Conference for Archives, SUV (College and University Unit), Conference at MSU, 2005 Proceedings.
“Teaching with primary source materials: a challenging, yet satisfying, experience,” the American Political Science Association Conference, Legislative Studies Section, Washington, D.C., Aug. 31, 2004. (This was published online in the conference proceedings as extension of remarks, July 2005, v. 28, no. 2 at http:www.apsanet.org/~Iss/Newsletter/Newsletter.htm.)
“Teaching with Michigan primary source materials: A teaching tip,” This was published as part of the Lilly North 2003 Conference Proceedings (http://www.facit.cmich.edu/lilly/2003-proceedings.htm)
“Getting Undergraduates to Seek Primary Sources in Archives.” The History Teacher, published by the Society for History Education, v. 33, no. 3, (May 2000), pp. 349-355.
“Dr. David Murray: The profound and continuing influence of an American educator on the Japanese education system, 1873-1879." Phi Beta Delta International Review. Journal of Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars, v. IX, no. 2, (Spring 1999), pp. 29-44.
Book review of Archival theory, records and the public by Trevor Livelton. Archival Issues (v. 22, no.1, 1997), pp. 86-87.
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Co-author with Jennifer Bentley, Tressa Graves, “Reel Michigan: A Film Project at the Clarke Historical Library.” Midwest Archives Conference Newsletter, January 2017, pp. 34-37.
“WWI collections at the Clarke.” MAA’s Open Entry, Spring 2015.
“Encoded finding aids project at the Clarke.” MAA’s Open Entry, Fall 2010.
Book reviews for Contemporary American Women: Our Defining Passages, published online at HoJoNews, a writer’s blog, August 2010, and on Amazon.com, Jan. 2009.
“Hemingway news from the Clarke Historical Library,” re: Hemingway article by Marion Kraft Larson, one of Ernie’s schoolmates, and his signature in her high school album, for Michigan Hemingway Society’s newsletter, May 2010.
“Anishinabe genealogical sources: what you need to know,” MAA’s Open Entry, Fall 2007. I was invited by the editor to write this article.
Co-authored with Nancy Deromedi, “Frankenmuth meeting a delicious success: MAA’s Annual Meeting, June 22-23, 2006”, Open Entry, Fall 2006.
“Clarke update: Opening of the Rackham exhibit and John Fierst.” Open Entry, Spring 2006.
Co-authored with Mary Graham. “Millard Fillmore, George C. Bates and James Jesse Strang: Why Michigan’s only king was tried in federal court.” Court Legacy(the newsletter of the Historical Society for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan), v. XI, no. 2:1-6, June 2003, Judge Avery Kohn requested that we write this article.
“Clarke Historical Library celebrates its 50th anniversary with exhibit.” Open Entry, Spring 2005.
I helped edit an “I Spy” article re: Sarah Emma Edmonds, who fought in the Civil War as Frank Thompson, New Moon: The magazine for girls and their dreams, v. XI, no. 2, Nov./Dec. 2003, pp.16-17.
“Clarke Historical Library in new Park Library Building.” Open Entry, Spring 2002.
“Theft at the Clarke.” MAA’s Open Entry, Spring 2000.
I compiled a bibliography on Civil War books, manuscripts, maps, broadsides, photographs, for the Clarke Historical Library’s website, 2001 https://www.cmich.edu/library/clarke/AccessMaterials/Bibliographies/CivilWar/Pages/default.aspx\
“Clarke Historical Library in New Location.” Open Entry, v. 27, no. 2, Fall 1999, cover photograph, pp. 4 and 14.
A Guide to Michigan archival resources, Sept. 1998, editor. I compiled and edited this for MAA in cooperation with the State Archives of Michigan.
“Archival report: Clarke Historical Library.” Michigan Historical Review, v. 23, no. 2, Fall 1997, pp.159-164.
Education
B.A. in History from University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, 1986
M.I.L.S. from University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, 1988
M.A. in History from Central Michigan University, 2016.
CMU online teaching experience certificate, 2018.
Research Interests
Professor Matyn is interested in everything archival and the stories of people in Michigan, US, and Indigenous history, especially the experiences of women, minorities, and the marginalized. Her thesis was titled “Performing into a New Reality: Michigan Female Equestrians and Fliers and their Impact on Women’s Gender Roles and Behaviors.” She also collects and researches the Michigan PBB disaster, working with donors who were personally impacted by the event. The practical application of diversity, equity and inclusion principles to archives and the archival profession including paid internships, accessible professional conferences and master’s degrees, and reparative cataloging projects also number among her research interests.
Membership in Professional Organizations
Michigan Archival Association
Midwest Archives Conference
Society of American Archivists
Association of Moving Image Archivists
Professor Matyn is a gubernatorial appointee to the Michigan State Historic Records Advisory Board.
Courses Taught
LIB 197, an introduction to the CMU Libraries and information literacy.
HST 583, a practical introduction to archival management and practice, the history and formats, and primary source literacy for educational purposes