Little People of America Archive – Mission, Collection Focus and Donations

1.  The Mission of the Archive

The Mission of the Little People of America Archive, hereafter referred to as “The Archive” is to document the history of Little People of America, Inc. (LPA), and to document the history and issues relative to persons of short stature.

To fulfill this mission, The Archive will:

• Develop and preserve a comprehensive collection of materials produced by or related to  Little People of America, Inc.

• Develop and preserve materials produced by others which addresses issues or matters relating to persons of short stature.

• Make these materials accessible to the membership and the general public.

2.  Collection Focus

It is the responsibility of the LPA Archive to collect and maintain:

Materials generated by Little People of America, Inc. including:

• Records of officers, employees, and volunteers that document policies, activities and events.

• Records of  District and Chapter officers that document policies, activities and events.

• Records of LPA Inc. participation in international events

• Histories of LPA Inc.

Materials related to Little People of America, Inc. including

• Publications in which LPA Inc., or it's members, are described or mentioned or which provide background for the history of LPA Inc.

• Biographical and bibliographical inforamation about LPA Inc.  officers, personnel, members, or volunteers.

• Personal papers of individuals who were officers, personnel, members, or volunteers.

Produced by others including:

• Analog or digital media that have content that relates to persons of short stature.

The Archive collects records in paper, film, audio and digital format including administrative documents, books, publications, personal papers, photographs, scrapbooks, films, e-mail and sound recordings.

3. Contributions of Records

The LPA Archive welcomes contributions of personal and family records that document events, activities, and people related to Little People of America or events and acitivities relevent to individuals with short stature. . Donations can run the gamut from individual items to extensive collections housed in several boxes or stored in digital files. The materials do not need be organized, but they should be original items if possible.

What materials are of interest?

This list, which is suggestive, illustrates the wide range of documentation that is accepted by the LPA Archive:

• Letters/email

• Memoirs/reminiscences

• Diaries/blogs

• Scrapbooks/photo albums

• Professional papers

• Genealogical information

• Speeches/lectures

• Articles/essays

• Subject files

• Legal documents

• Minutes/reports

• Brochures and fliers

• Awards/certificates

• Photographs

• Films/videos/audio tapes

• Information/links to personal Websites, Blogs, Podcasts, etc.

Also of interest are files relating to an individual’s civic, business, religious, political, and/or social activities.