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So You Want to Be an Archivist:
An Overview of the Archival Profession
Archives
The Work of Archivists
Archival Repositories
Qualifications for Employment
Salaries and Benefits
Archives
Archives are the non-current records of individuals, groups, institutions,
and governments that contain information of enduring value. Formats represented
in the modern archival repository include photographs, films, video and sound
recordings, computer tapes, and video and optical disks, as well as the more
traditional unpublished letters, diaries, and other manuscripts. Archival records
are the products of everyday activity. Researchers use them both for their
administrative value and for purposes other than those for which they were
created. For example, Native Americans may use archival records to establish
legal claims to land and privileges guaranteed by federal and state governments;
medical researchers utilize records to study patterns of diseases; authors
use archives to acquire a feel for the people and times about which they are
writing; historians and genealogists rely on archival sources to analyze past
events to reconstruct family histories; and businesses use the records to improve
their public relations and to promote new products. In short, archives benefit
nearly everyone, even those who have never directly used them.
The Work of Archivists
The primary task of the archivist is to establish and maintain control, both
physical and intellectual, over records of enduring value. Archivists select
records, a process that requires an understanding of the historical context
in which the records were created, the uses for which they were intended, and
their relationships to other sources. The archivist then arranges and describes
the records, in accordance with accepted standards and practices; ensures the
long-term preservation of collections; assists researchers; and plans and directs
exhibitions, publications, and other outreach programs to broaden the use of
collections and to enlist support for archival programs. All archivists, especially
those with administrative responsibilities, need to understand and apply the
principles of sound management to their work.
The work of the archivist is related to, but distinct from, that of certain
other professionals. The librarian and the archivist, for example, both collect,
preserve, and make accessible materials for research; but significant differences
exist in the way these materials are arranged, described, and used. The records
manager and the archivist are also closely allied; however, the records manager
controls vast quantities of institutional records, most of which will eventually
be destroyed, while the archivist is concerned with relatively small quantities
of records deemed important enough to be retained for an extended period. The
museum curator and the archivist are associated; however, the museum curator
collects, studies, and interprets mostly three-dimensional objects, while the
archivist works with paper, film, and electronic records. Finally, the archivist
and the historian have had a longstanding relationship; the archivist identifies,
preserves, and makes the records accessible for use, while the historian uses
archival records for research.
Archival Repositories
Archival repositories are as diverse as the institutions and people they serve.
They range from large, well-funded operations providing a variety of archival
services to limited activities dependent upon a part-time volunteer staff.
There is also substantial variation in the nature and scope of repositories
and in their structure and organizational placement within the parent institution.
Archives are located in federal, state, and local governments; schools, colleges,
and universities; religious institutions; businesses; hospitals; museums; labor
unions; and historical societies -- wherever it is important to retain the
records of people or organizations.
Qualifications for Employment
Individuals can prepare for a career in archives through a variety of educational
programs. Most entry-level positions require an undergraduate and a graduate
degree, together with archival coursework and a practicum. Although archivists
have a variety of undergraduate majors, most receive graduate degrees in history
or library science. Some have degrees in both fields. Other useful specializations
include public administration and political science. A Ph.D. is often preferred
for higher ranking positions in academic institutions. Particular knowledge
of certain subjects may be important for work in archives that have specialized
topical emphases. Training and experience in conducting research in primary
and secondary sources are also helpful.
The number and content of archival education offerings, especially multi-course
programs, has continued to expand in recent years, and a few institutions now
offer master's degrees in archival studies. Graduate archival programs may
offer a variety of courses that include basic archival theory, methods, and/or
practice of appraisal, arrangement, description, preservation, reference services,
outreach, legal concerns, and ethics. In addition, programs may offer courses
that include records management, aspects of library and information science,
management, and historical and research methods.
Salaries and Benefits
Salaries, benefits, and working conditions vary greatly, depending on the
size and nature of the employing institution. Most government archivists have
civil service status, and archivists in academic institutions often have faculty
status. Archivists sometimes begin their careers on grant-funded projects;
however, many eventually achieve long-term job stability. Almost universally,
archivists express a high degree of professional and personal satisfaction
with their work.
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