In March 2024, the City of Philadelphia hired an archivist for its Department of Planning and Development after more than 50 years without dedicated archival oversight. Facing nearly 1,800 cubic feet of unmanaged working material, the new archivist had to quickly stabilize the archive, create policy, manage risk, and build institutional support—all while navigating shifting leadership priorities and intense public scrutiny through research and Right to Know requests.

From physical hazards and locked file cabinets to inconsistent recordkeeping practices and limited supplies, this case study explores what happens when the fundamentals of records management are neglected—and how to rebuild from the ground up.

The session will highlight the planning process, priority setting, internal outreach, risk management practices (including PPE considerations), succession planning, and creative supply solutions that helped stabilize and modernize the archive. It will also discuss strategies for managing up, communicating your value, and integrating historic materials into modern workflows.

• Practical steps to stabilize and organize a new or neglected government archive
• Low-cost (or free) collection improvement strategies while awaiting funding
• Support and perspective for early-career archivists working independently
• Tested strategies for outreach, internal programming, and managing up
• Guidance for experienced professionals on mentoring and advising similar roles