Bernadette Floresca

Bernadette Floresca is the Head of Archives Management and Strategies at Newcomb Archives and Vorhoff Collection at Newcomb Institute. Bernadette holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in Sculpture, a Master of Library and Information Science, and a Graduate Certificate in Archives and Special Collections from the University of Southern Mississippi, as well as a Master of Liberal Arts (with an interdisciplinary focus on gender, sexuality, and art) from Tulane University’s School of Professional Advancement. Bernadette is a Certified Archivist via the Academy of Certified Archivists and is a National Heritage Responder via the American Institute for Conservation/FAIC. 

Research interests include decolonizing the archives, promoting inclusive and reparative descriptions in special collections, and exploring feminist reflections of the abject in American pop culture. Bernadette engages feminist archives and memory-keeping as spaces where women’s history, gender equity in the Gulf South, and alternative DIY feminist research outputs—such as art, oracle cards, zines, film, artist's books, and other creative, non-traditional formats—serve to inspire more ethical and innovative approaches to knowledge creation.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Administers policies for Newcomb Archives collection management, development, acquisition, archives spaces, use of budget, as well as the public access and use of collection resources.
• Oversees the storage, description organization, digital access, and preservation of archival collections and print material.
• Directs Newcomb Archives digital initiatives and preservation programs, planning and implementation of digital projects, the management of archives technology, and access and storage of digital assets.
• Manages Newcomb Archives instance of ArchivesSpace and upholds best practice standards for inclusive, and reparative archival descriptions. 
• Leads the archives in strategic planning to improve the promotion, discovery, and access of collections enriching Newcomb Institute Research Priority Areas.