Society for Industrial Archeology
Encyclopedia
The Society for Industrial Archeology (SIA) is a North American
non-profit organization
dedicated to studying and preserving historic industrial sites, structures and equipment. It was founded in 1971 in Washington, D.C.
, and its members are primarily from the United States
and Canada
, although there is some crossover with similar industrial archaeology
organizations in the United Kingdom
. SIA's headquarters is currently located in the Department of Social Sciences at Michigan Technological University
in Houghton, Michigan
. In addition to the national organization, there are thirteen regional chapters throughout the United States.
SIA produces two official publications, the formal, peer-reviewed
IA: Journal of the Society for Industrial Archeology twice a year and the less formal quarterly Society for Industrial Archeology Newsletter (SIAN). The annual conference is typically accompanied by a custom guidebook profiling local industrial and cultural sites. In addition, SIA produces occasional publications on special topics.
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
dedicated to studying and preserving historic industrial sites, structures and equipment. It was founded in 1971 in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and its members are primarily from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, although there is some crossover with similar industrial archaeology
Industrial archaeology
Industrial archaeology, like other branches of archaeology, is the study of material culture from the past, but with a focus on industry. Strictly speaking, industrial archaeology includes sites from the earliest times to the most recent...
organizations in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. SIA's headquarters is currently located in the Department of Social Sciences at Michigan Technological University
Michigan Technological University
Michigan Technological University is a public research university located in Houghton, Michigan, United States. Its main campus sits on on a bluff overlooking Portage Lake...
in Houghton, Michigan
Houghton, Michigan
Houghton is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and largest city in the Copper Country on the Keweenaw Peninsula. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,708. It is the county seat of Houghton County...
. In addition to the national organization, there are thirteen regional chapters throughout the United States.
Activities
Since its founding in October 1971, SIA members have gathered at an annual conference, which also serves as the annual business meeting required by its bylaws. The annual conference is typically held each spring. The Fall Tour, a second annual gathering usually held in September or October, began in 1972. Both annual events feature visits to local industrial sites, both active and historical. The conference additionally includes a day of paper sessions. Industrial heritage study tours to other countries began in 1990 and occur on an irregular schedule.SIA produces two official publications, the formal, peer-reviewed
Peer review
Peer review is a process of self-regulation by a profession or a process of evaluation involving qualified individuals within the relevant field. Peer review methods are employed to maintain standards, improve performance and provide credibility...
IA: Journal of the Society for Industrial Archeology twice a year and the less formal quarterly Society for Industrial Archeology Newsletter (SIAN). The annual conference is typically accompanied by a custom guidebook profiling local industrial and cultural sites. In addition, SIA produces occasional publications on special topics.