Amanda Shepp, MLS

Amanda M. Shepp currently serves as the Coordinator of Special Collections & Archives in The State University of New York at Fredonia’s Daniel A. Reed Library Special Collections & Archives Division. She presents and writes on topics related to digitization and historical subjects within the realms of Freethought, Spiritualism, and the Occult. When she’s not elbow-deep in materials from a bygone era, Mandi can be found homebrewing, experimenting in the kitchen, and enjoying life with her happy-go-lucky husband, Chris, and enormous Norwegian Forest Cats, Kujira and Bakemono.

Office Hours

• Monday: 9 AM - 5:30 PM
• Tuesday: 9 AM - 5:30 PM
• Wednesday: 9 AM - 5:30 PM
• Thursday: 9 AM - 5:30 PM
• Friday: 9 AM - 5:30 PM

Research Interests

Digital humanities, In-house digitization methodologies - The Black Box Method, Specialized research techniques, Research & Archival Pedagogy,, Rare books, Bookmaking techniques, Artist book methods & materials;

Woman’s suffrage, Spiritualism , Freethought, Burned-Over District and related movements, Utopian society movements, Victoriana;

Local History, Legend, Lore, & Haunted History;

Occult Beliefs, Practices, and History, Theosophy, Secret societies, Esoteric and Goetic literature, Phrenology & Esoteric psychology, Esoteric and Occult philosophy, History and practice of illusions and stage magic;

History of 20th-Century subcultures.

Awards and Honors

• Conference Scholarship, Association of College & Research Libraries Rare Books & Manuscripts Section (2018).
• Excellence in Library Service, Western New York Library Resources Council (2017).

License/Certification

• Copyright Leadership Certificate
• Book Repair Basics
• Certified Archivist
• Library Director I

Professional Membership

• The League of Awesome Librarians
• Society of American Archivists
• Rare Books and Manuscripts Section of the Association for College and Research Libraries
• American Library Association
• New York Library Association
• Western New York Library Resources Council
• Special Libraries Association

Contracts, Grants and Sponsored Programs

• Festivals Fredonia Outreach Improvements, N/A (2023).
• Recordings at Risk, N/A (2022).
• Innovation & Access Grant, N/A (2020).
• Preservation Assessment Program, N/A (2020).
• Strategic Planning Assistance, N/A (2019).

Intellectual Contributions

• "New York Heritage Digital Collections: Helping Researchers at Home," Western New York Genealogical Society, Inc. (2022).
• "Tips and Tricks for Researching Your Spiritualist Ancestors," Western New York Genealogical Society, Inc., Journal (2021).
• "A Peek Beyond the Veil: “Spiritualist Shorts” at Lily Dale," Rowman & Littlefield/American Alliance of Museums (2020).

Media Contributions

• "Bound by the Cloak Podcast - "Exploring America: Lily Dale (NY"" (2023).
• "Who's Who at WNYLRC" (2022).
• "The Joseph Damon Story" (2021).
• "the New York Times" (4).
• "Lost In The Stacks: The Research Library Rock 'n' Roll Radio Show" (27).
• "American Libraries Magazine ()."

Performances/Exhibits

• "The Buffalo Bills @ SUNY Fredonia," , Reed Library (2023).
• "Far From Normal: A Rich History of Music at SUNY Fredonia," , Reed Library Music Mezzanine Exhibit Area (2023).
• "Demystifying Archives: Availability, Accessibility, & Invisible Labor," , Reed Library, SUNY Fredonia (2023).
• "Music in Our Schools Month: Celebrating Alumni of Note in Music Education," , Rosch Recital Hall/Mason Hall, SUNY Fredonia (2023).
• "Sigurd Rascher Collection Highlights," , Rosch Recital Hall/Mason Hall, SUNY Fredonia (2023).
• "Sounds of the Past: Music in Reed Library's Archives & Special Collections," , Reed Library Music Mezzanine (2023).
• "The History of Mason Hall," , Mason Hall, Rosch Recital Lobby (2023).
• "A Trip to the Archives in 50 Objects," Reed Library, Gallery @ Reed (2023).
• "I Love NY Summer of Hip Hop," , Mason Hall, Rosch Recital Hall Lobby (2023).
• "Chautauqua County Ephemera," , Reed Library (2022).
• "The Art of Correspondence," , Reed Library Exhibit Area (2022).
• "Founder's Day 2020 Virtual Exhibit," Reed Library Special Collections & Archives Division, Reed Library Website (2021).
• "Founder's Day 2019," Reed Library Special Collections & Archives Division, Reed Library (2019).
• "Honoring Fredonia Alumni Who Have Served," Fredonia History Days, Festivals Fredonia, Barker Commons (2019).
• "Rare Books: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly," Reed Library Special Collections & Archives Division, Reed Library (2019).

Presentations

• "Witches, Wives, Women: Feminist Theory & Salem Witchcraft," Faculty by the Fireside (2023).
• "Demystifying Archives: Accessibility, Availability, & Invisible Labor," Living In History (2023).
• "Updates & News From Reed Library's Special Collections & Archives," Monthly Meeting (2023).
• "Remixing the Archives: Current Students and Future Researchers," TPSFest 2023 (2023).
• "Getting the Most Out of Tours," TPSFest 2023 (2023).
• "International Collaboration in Interesting Times: Salzburg, Skype, & Stefan Zweig," SUNYLA Midwinter Conference (2022).
• "Keeping Current: Tips & Tricks for Policy Updates," DHPSNY Webinar Series (2022).
• "Well, That Escalated Quickly: When One Project Becomes Many Projects," SUNYLA Annual (2022).
• "International Collaboration in Interesting Times: Salzburg, Skype, and Stefan Zweig," Perspectives on International Digital Scholarship Collaborations During a Global Pandemic (2022).
• "Collections/Archives Panel," Future Librarians Day (2022).
• "DIY Digitization: Methods & Practices," Preservation Institute (2022).
• "State of the Scholarship in Special Collections & Archives," Preservation Institute (2022).
• "History Where You Least Expect It! Place-based Strategies," Right Here, Right Now: The Power of Place (Annual Conference) (2022).
• "Failing at Failure," The Connection Virtual Unconference (2021).
• "International Collaboration in Interesting Times: SUNY Fredonia, Zweig Digital, and StoryMapsJS," Intersect Unconference (2021).
• "Virtual Assessment Experience at SUNY Fredonia," Preservation Section Quarterly Meeting (2021).
• "Advocacy and You," Intersect (Virtual) Unconference: From Shushing to Shouting: Advocacy and Using Your Voice (2020).
• "Advocating for Your Passions and for Yourself," Intersect (Virtual) Unconference: From Shushing to Shouting: Advocacy and Using Your Voice (2020).
• "Weak in Body, Strong in Spirit: Suffrage, Social Progress, & Spiritualism," Virtual Happy Hour Speaker Series (2020).
• "Witches, Wives, Women: Salem Witchcraft & Its Influence on Feminist Theory," Historical Dinners Speaker Series (2020).
• "Special Collections Librarianship," Online Speakers Series (2020).
• "A Slice of Lily Dale History: Colonel Bob and Robert Burns," Monthly Meeting (2019).
• "The Global Library," Intersect Unconference (2019).
• "A Demonstrative History of Sideshow Acts," Monthly Meeting (2019).
• "Mentoring the Mentors," Intersect Unconference: Where Ideas and People Meet (2018).
• "Undoing Library Cliches," Intersect Unconference: Where Ideas and People Meet (2018).
• "‘As God as My Witness, I Thought Turkeys Could Fly’: Failure Confessions," Intersect Unconference: Where Ideas and People Meet (2018).