Society for Advancement of Management
SAM COMMUNITY
The SAM Community Archivist Program is a educational research initiative of the Society for Advancement of Management designed to uncover, preserve, and celebrate our rich history. For more than a century, SAM has shaped generations of management students and professionals, but many of our stories, photos, and documents are scattered across libraries, personal collections, and forgotten corners of the internet. This program gives members, non-members, and friends a chance to actively participate in recovering these treasures and ensuring they are safeguarded for the future.
Participation is simple and rewarding. Members can search yearbooks, local archives, newspaper clippings, or even their own photo albums for materials that highlight SAM’s chapters, conferences, and leadership. Once submitted, these discoveries will be cataloged and preserved, while contributors earn recognition that reflects their growing impact as archivists of our organization. The more you contribute, the higher you climb in this unique ladder of legacy stewardship.
Beyond recognition, this program strengthens the sense of connection that makes SAM special. By piecing together our shared history, members not only honor those who came before but also build a foundation of pride and identity that will inspire the next generation. The Archiving Program is about more than preserving old documents. It is about telling our story, celebrating our milestones, and keeping the spirit of SAM alive for another hundred years and beyond.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE
The Archiving Program is open to everyone who cares about preserving the story of the Society for Advancement of Management. Whether you are a current member, a past participant, a faculty advisor, a student, or simply someone who discovered SAM through its impact on your campus or community, your contributions are welcome.
CONTRIBUTION CATEGORIES
PHOTOGRAPHS
Images from conferences, chapter meetings, chapter events, award ceremonies, or campus activities.
A single photo can capture the spirit of a moment and bring SAM’s history to life.
VIDEOS
Recordings of chapter events, past conferences, competitions, and leadership talks.
Digitized videos preserve the voices and energy of SAM’s story for future generations to see and hear.
PUBLICATIONS
Articles, research papers, and books that reference SAM or are authored by members.
These contributions show SAM’s influence in the classroom, workplace, and community.
MEDIA MENTIONS
Newspaper clippings, press coverage, podcasts, or radio interviews that mention SAM.
These pieces show how the organization has been recognized by the wider public.
DOCUMENTS
Programs, newsletters, rosters, meeting notes, and promotional flyers for events or activities.
These everyday records provide insight into how chapters and leaders shaped the organization.
ARTIFACTS
Scans or photos of memorabilia such as pins, plaques, trophies, certificates, or coins.
These physical items highlight the traditions and symbols that have defined SAM across the years.
TOOLS
Old case studies, competition prompts, score sheets, or training materials used in SAM programs.
These pieces reveal the teaching and learning methods that shaped management for generations.
PERSONAL HISTORIES
Written reflections or video interviews that share first-hand SAM experiences.
These stories connect us to the people behind the organization and give heart to our history.
HOW TO CONTRIBUTE
Your participation in the SAM Archiving Program begins right here. You can easily upload photographs, documents, publications, videos, artifacts, or even personal stories that capture the history of the Society for Advancement of Management.
Every submission, whether it is a chapter newsletter, a conference program, or a snapshot from a campus event, adds valuable detail to the bigger picture of SAM’s legacy. You can share where you found the material, whether in your personal archive, a university collection, or a local newspaper, so we can preserve the context along with the content.
Contributions from 1912 to 1972 may even qualify for special recognition as part of our Legacy Sentinel honor. Once your files are uploaded, they will be reviewed, cataloged, and recognized toward your Archivist progression level, ensuring that your effort is officially acknowledged. By taking just a few minutes to complete your submission, you help safeguard SAM’s history while also becoming part of it. Click below to share your discoveries and join us in preserving a century of management excellence.
RECOGNITION AND REWARDS
10 VERIFIED SUBMISSIONS
RECOGNITION
DIGITAL BADGE
& SOCIAL MEDIA MENTION
20 VERIFIED SUBMISSIONS
RECOGNITION
DIGITAL BADGE
& SOCIAL MEDIA MENTION
40 VERIFIED SUBMISSIONS
RECOGNITION
CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION
& BRONZE ARCHIVIST PIN
60 VERIFIED SUBMISSIONS
RECOGNITION
BLOG SPOTLIGHT MENTION
& SAM SWAG PACK
80 VERIFIED SUBMISSIONS
RECOGNITION
FEATURE IN NEWSLETTER, SAM C.E.N.T.S.
AND SOCIAL MEDIA
100 VERIFIED SUBMISSIONS
RECOGNITION
CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION
& SILVER ARCHIVIST PIN
125 VERIFIED SUBMISSIONS
RECOGNITION
RECOGNITION IN THE
SAM STATE OF THE SOCIETY ADDRESS
150 VERIFIED SUBMISSIONS
RECOGNITION
GOLD ARCHIVIST PIN
& ARCHIVE CURATION INVITATION
175 VERIFIED SUBMISSIONS
RECOGNITION
AWARDS PROGRAM STAGE RECOGNITION &
ARCHIVAL LEADERSHIP DIGITAL CREDENTIAL
200 VERIFIED SUBMISSIONS
The Trustee of Society History honor is awarded to those who contribute a substantial collection of verified materials that include rare or high-impact items. These may consist of original chapter charters, early national officer correspondence, unpublished manuscripts, foundational training materials, or photographs and recordings that capture pivotal moments in SAM’s development. Items that reshape our understanding of key milestones, fill major historical gaps, or provide unique context to the organization’s role in advancing management are considered high-impact. This recognition represents the highest level of stewardship within the Archivist Program, marking the contributor as a guardian of SAM’s most valuable and irreplaceable history.
RECOGNITION
OPPORTUNITY TO NAME OR CURATE A THEMED DIGITAL COLLECTION WITHIN THE SAM ARCHIVE
LEGACY SUBMISSIONS
The SAM Sentinel of the Legacy distinction is reserved for those who contribute rare and historically significant materials from the earliest six decades of the Society for Advancement of Management, spanning the years 1912 to 1972. These contributions may include early convention programs, chapter charters, faculty or student rosters, photographs of national officers or local chapters, press coverage of SAM’s role in advancing management education, or publications that document the organization’s influence during this foundational period. The goal of this level is not just to gather scattered artifacts but to secure the fragile records that connect us directly to SAM’s formative years, when the principles of scientific management were taking root and evolving into the broader field of business leadership. By capturing and preserving materials from this era, Legacy Sentinels help ensure that the story of SAM’s growth from its founding through its 60th anniversary is told in full, giving future generations a clear view of the organization’s origins, its milestones, and its role in shaping management thought during the twentieth century.
RECOGNITION
PERMANENT FEATURED PROFILE IN THE SAM LEGACY ARCHIVE,
EXCLUSIVE SAM LEGACY SENTINEL MEDALLION,
AND RECOGNITION IN OUR SOCIETY AWARDS PROGRAM