Mary Jo Fairchild is the Manager of Research Services in Special Collections and Archives at the College of Charleston’s Addlestone Library. Fairchild holds a MA in History from the College of Charleston, a MLIS from the University of South Carolina, and is a Certified Archivist. She has served on the Executive Boards of the South Carolina Archival Association (SCAA), the Charleston Libraries, Archives, and Museums Council (CALM), and the Friends of the Charleston County Public Library and is a founding member of the Lowcountry Oral History Alliance (LOHA). Fairchild identified her calling to become an archivist while studying history in the joint master’s program offered by the College of Charleston and the Citadel. When offered a part-time position in the reading room of the South Carolina Historical Society’s archives, Fairchild discovered a great affinity for facilitating access to and preserving records of historic significance. Together with a team of librarians and administrators, Fairchild oversaw the relocation of the South Carolina Historical Society’s priceless collection to the Addlestone Library and subsequently joined the faculty of the College of Charleston in February 2015. In her new role in CofC’s Special Collections, Fairchild provides reference and instruction to students and supports the work of scholars and faculty. She also curates and oversees installation of exhibits inspired by the holdings of Special Collections and the South Carolina Historical Society’s archives in the library.
