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 H. Naylor, always known familiarly as "Hat," was one of the true pioneers in the development of Volunteer Program
Arlene K. Schindler
Mentor, teacher, trainer, pioneer, traveler, advocate – these are just a few of the words used to describe Arlene K. Schindler.
Ivan Henry Scheier
Ivan H. Scheier, Ph.D., began forging a path in Volunteer Management in the 1960s and was constantly looking toward the future.
David Horton Smith
Acclaimed as a “titan of volunteerism scholarship,” many regard David Horton Smith as the father of the field of nonprofit and
Jeffrey L. Brudney
“A consummate mentor and a prolific researcher and publisher” – that’s how Jeffrey L. Brudney is remembered by colleagues and
Susan J. Ellis
Susan J. Ellis was widely recognized for her knowledge, her indefatigable spirit and her relentless promotion of volunteerism. Her
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.