Over 125 free books full of practical tools and resources. Many are classics and relevant today.
Discover our professional roots...and tap into timeless volunteer engagement gems relevant today
Who is this archive for
Students and academic researchers interested in tracing the history of specific trends or aspects of volunteer engagement will find a wealth of resource material that is nowhere else available.
Leaders and managers of volunteer engagement will find practical tips and tools that are still relevant, learn about the roots of their profession and enjoy some quirky and humorous “lost history.”
Inside the Archive
Books
Journals
Over 25 years of journals from the Association of Volunteer Administration. Plus, search the database for excerpted articles from these and other journals.
Hot Topics
These 275 thought-provoking monthly pieces, written primarily by Susan Ellis (1997-2020), sparked many discussions to continue today.
Research
Reports, papers and other primary source materials, often focused on trends of the day. Valuable for students and researchers in nonprofit/volunteer management fields.
Much More
A timeline of pivotal events/trends and profiles of trailblazers in our field. Sample forms, handbooks and templates. Plus a few humorous and quirky bits of history!
Explore
Trailblazers
Harriet H. Naylor
Harriet worked tirelessly to persuade educators and social workers to recognize the importance of effective leadership of volunteers.
Arlene K. Schindler
As mentor, teacher, globe traveler and advocate, Arlene supported others in their quest to harness the power of volunteerism.
Ivan Henry Scheier
Ivan is remembered as a cutting-edge thinker, a visionary and a humble, poetic soul who cared deeply about the future of volunteering.
David Horton Smith
Acclaimed as a “titan of volunteerism scholarship,” many regard David as the father of the nonprofit field and voluntary action research.
Jeffrey L. Brudney
“A consummate mentor and a prolific researcher and publisher” – that’s how Jeff is remembered by colleagues and students.
Susan J. Ellis
Susan was widely recognized for her knowledge, her indefatigable spirit, and her relentless promotion of volunteerism.
Who is the Ellis in the Ellis Archive?
The Ellis Archive honors Susan J. Ellis’ legacy and fulfills her final wish that her collection of volunteer engagement information and materials continue to be accessible to current and future practitioners and researchers. Susan’s career in volunteer engagement paralleled the evolution of this field – and significantly propelled it forward. She understood that professional history has many lessons to teach us in our own age, and passionately believed ‘we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us.’ Her influence as a teacher, mentor, advocate, author, and vocal thought-leader was immense.