International Volleyball Hall of Fame Announces Multi-Year Archives & Special Collections Project

This digitization project will help the IVHF fulfill their vision of bringing volleyball and its history to the world.

HOLYOKE, MASS. - The International Volleyball Hall of Fame (IVHF) today announced its Archival Preservation and Community Access Project (APCAP).  APCAP is a multi-year project, funded by grants and donations, that includes digitizing the entire IVHF collection and making it available for public research both in person and online. 

The International Volleyball Hall of Fame has been fulfilling its mission to collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret quality objects and records for over forty years.  These documents and artifacts illuminate the history of volleyball from its inception to the modern day and its impact on national and international culture.  

In the IVHF collections there are notable: Olympic memorabilia, papers, historic files, books, magazines, posters, films, videos, uniforms, volleyballs, signs, banners, flags, and exhibit pieces from all over the world.  These artifacts represent an invaluable collection including one-of-a-kind items from significant events in the history of the sport.

“This extremely important project is long overdue and will be instrumental in the IVHF’s future display and social media plans.” said George Mulry, Executive Director of the International Volleyball Hall of Fame. “We’re looking at this project as an archaeological dig within our Museum and we want to share that experience with our guests.  Upon reopening, visitors will be able to walk around an active archival work area in our Museum and see the items being digitized that day.”

The project began with a shutdown of the IVHF Museum from January 3 to February 3 so staff and volunteers can use Museum space to reorganize collections and ensure all documents and artifacts are properly preserved.  The IVHF will begin sharing photos of unique and interesting  “finds of the day” on social media so people around the world can follow the project.  

Do you have items significant to the national or international history of volleyball?  The IVHF welcomes donations of collections or single items that directly support or complement its historic collections. The first step in donating items is to contact Executive Director George Mulry at [email protected].

About the IVHF
Located in Holyoke, Massachusetts - the birthplace of volleyball - the International Volleyball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to preserving, honoring, and promoting the game of volleyball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 150 inductees from 25 countries and over 5,000 square feet of volleyball history. Thousands of people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game and experience the exhibits. Best known for its annual Induction Celebration honoring the game’s elite, the IVHF also operates over a dozen youth, high school, and collegiate competitions and programs annually. The next will be Feb. 4-5, 2022 with the Morgan Classic NCAA Collegiate Men’s Volleyball tournament, held at Springfield College. In conjunction with that event, players and coaches of all ages are invited to participate in clinics run by the participating teams. For more information on all of the events surrounding the Morgan Classic, please visit https://www.volleyhall.org/morgan-classic.html.

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