After 15 years Shirley Sands is retiring as Executive Director of the Manuscript Society. 

When I joined the society as a member in 2009, I had no idea I would become its executive director. Through a series of happy incidents, I met late Manuscripts Editor David Chesnutt and his wife Elizabeth Dow, then a trustee. The executive director’s position was opening, and they recruited me to fill it.

Now after almost fifteen years as Executive Director I am truly retiring.  As I look forward to my retirement, the search committee is now actively seeking a new Executive Director. If you have an interest in the position, please click here to learn more.

Over the past 14+ years, I have been fortunate to meet so many wonderful members. I work closely with the board of trustees and committee members, who are the heart of society management. The trustees who commit their time to the details of running the Society have always been interesting and knowledgeable. They are all committed to the growth and financial soundness of the Society, and their support for change and experimentation has allowed us to try all sorts of ideas to grow our community. The editors of our publications are true colleagues in every sense. Our collegiality has enabled us to make the best use of our resources and to share wonderful publications and programs with our members.

Through e-mails and phone calls, I have met so many of you. Often it is to fix something, which is part of my job—but only part of it. My hope has been to provide a sense of belonging, even when I cannot sit across a desk from you, as we talk about collecting or share a story.

Our collecting community is incredibly special. We come from all over the world, speaking different languages and having different experiences. Yet we all love history and value the uniqueness of the documents we collect. We want to share that love with like-minded people. That is the Manuscript Society’s reason for being, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

So, once again, if you are interested in learning more about this position please click. Join this amazing group of people and become a part of  society management.