Her Story
About Mary
Mary Snyder, MLIS, is an archivist, historical researcher, and public historian with more than a decade of experience advancing archival preservation, historical research, and community-centered storytelling. As the founder of Snyder Archives & Research LLC and a PhD candidate in American Studies at Boston University, she specializes in helping cultural institutions and communities preserve, interpret, and steward their histories with integrity, accuracy, and long-term accessibility. Her expertise spans archival consulting, digital preservation, database development, interpretive planning, and records management, with a particular focus on documenting the histories of underrepresented communities and freedom struggles in the United States.
Throughout her career, Mary has worked with leading museums, historic sites, and nonprofit organizations, including Whitney Plantation, History Factory, Historic Charleston Foundation, The Henry Ford, Monticello, and the Richard Genrette Foundation. She has led complex archival initiatives involving historical records, digital collections, metadata design, and cataloging systems while developing research resources that support public engagement, education, and future scholarship. Her current work includes building archival collections and conducting advanced historical research that centers Black and Indigenous histories, strengthens community partnerships, and expands access to historically significant records.
Mary holds a Master of Library & Information Science from Wayne State University and is pursuing her doctorate in American Studies at Boston University. Guided by the values of empathy, humility, integrity, and authenticity, she is committed to empowering communities to preserve and share their own histories while promoting ethical stewardship of cultural heritage. Through her research, consulting practice, and public scholarship, Mary continues to advance inclusive historical narratives and create sustainable archival solutions that preserve the past for future generations.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Mary
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the strong foundation my family provided by encouraging curiosity through museums and history from an early age. The women in my family inspired me through their perseverance and commitment to preserving stories, while mentors such as Jacqueline Langholtz challenged and encouraged me to grow professionally. Most importantly, I have remained committed to gaining hands-on experience at every stage of my career and staying connected to the deeper purpose behind my work, which continues to guide my professional decisions.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is to prioritize experience and seek opportunities to learn through hands-on work. Meaningful professional growth comes from actively engaging in the field, finding mentors who provide honest guidance and accountability, and continuously building practical skills. Those experiences have been just as valuable as my academic education in shaping my career.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage young women not to underestimate the skills they already possess. Many abilities are highly transferable, even if your career path is not perfectly linear. Stay connected to your purpose, be confident in the passion that drives your work, and seek every opportunity to gain practical experience, including volunteering when possible. Experience builds confidence, and empathy, creativity, and authenticity are qualities that strengthen both your career and the communities you serve.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the greatest challenges in my field is ensuring that underrepresented communities have the resources and support needed to preserve and share their own histories. Political pressures can also threaten the accurate interpretation of history, while the long-term preservation of digital records presents significant technical challenges that could lead to a future "digital dark age" if not properly addressed.
At the same time, I see tremendous opportunities to empower communities with the tools and knowledge to steward both paper and digital archives. By building collaborative partnerships between families, community organizations, and cultural institutions, we can create more inclusive historical narratives, improve long-term preservation, and expand ethical access to historical information.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Empathy is the foundation of everything I do. I strive to de-center myself and focus on using my skills to support and uplift the communities whose histories I help preserve. Humility, integrity, and authenticity guide my work, and I believe it is essential to approach every project with respect, honesty, and a commitment to community ownership. Above all, I seek to foster hope by helping ensure that important stories are preserved accurately and shared for future generations.
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