A Career in archives

What archives are:

• “the documents created in the normal course of the life of an institution or individual in order for them to function”

• Kept permanently as to provide a historical record

• Organic - not self-conscious or collected• Broader definition - to include literary papers

and ‘artificial’ collections

What archives are:

• parchment• paper• photographs• film, audio, video• digital

What archives are:

• unique• Linked, inter-related, in context• created for a specific purpose, function• evidence of that transaction - legal, or historical• can provide information other subjects or areas

not related to their original purpose• can be used for many other purposes - to,

educate, inspire entertain

What archives are:

• Created by:– Government and public bodies – Companies– Charities– Schools and universities– Religious organisations– Clubs, associations, societies– Families – Individuals

Where archives are:

• Still with the organisation which created them

• Donated or deposited or elsewhere - often in County Record Office or University

Where archivists are:

• Government and public bodies • Companies• Charities• Schools, colleges and universities• Religious organisations• Clubs, associations, societies• Families • Strategic and advisory bodies

Where archivists are:

• Leeds City Archives

• Hertfordshire Record Office

• Borthwick Institute of Historical Research, York

• Historical Manuscripts Commission

• The Boots Company PLC

• Hull University

What archivists do:

• ‘mediation’– Cataloguing– Answering enquiries– Helping visitors

• Outreach

• Depositors and acquisitions

• Access, confidentiality, copyright

What archivists do:

• Strategy and planning

– IT - database, systems– access– Remote access - catalogues and digitisation

projects– Communication - websites, publicity– Outreach - priorities, events, collaboration– Finance and fundraising

What archivists do:

• Strategy and planning

– Use of resources - people, space, etc– How to ensure survival of records - – Deciding what to keep– How to contribute to aims of organisation

What archivists do:

• Setting objectives• New database - migrating data, new functions• Guides, catalogues, communication• Storage and preservation• Archives/information skills workshops• Enquiries, loans• Recruitment• .. And hopefully a new £7m joint repository

What archivists are:

• Graduates, usually of history, politics, English

• Order and form • Objective - broad mind• Sense of discovery - and helping others to

discover• Long and broad perspective• Management skills - acquire as you go along

Records Management

• Information, legal evidence, • authenticity, trust (confidentiality)• How long to retain• Over 50 pieces of legislation • Freedom of Information, Data Protection• Access to records/information as needed -

efficiency

What records managers do:

• establishing systems and processes• getting to know and organisation - processes,

information flows, etc• understanding people and their needs and styles• influencing people to change behaviours• technical aspects - digital preservation

Conservation

• Repair of damaged documents• Planning and managing storage - packaging,

shelving, etc• Monitoring of storage conditions• exhibitions

• More science based - chemistry

Why?

• Variety• People - within organisation and community• Sense of vocation• Being a specialist• Challenges

• Pay

Further information

• Society of Archivists• Records Management Society• Institute of Paper Conservation• National Council for Conservation and

Restoration• Museums Libraries and Archives Council• Regional MLACs• Regional Archive Councils• National Council on Archives• International Council on Archives

Further information

• The National Archives

• ARCHON

• Archives-nra - jiscmail listserv

• British Archives, a guide….

Next steps

• Courses– University College London– University of Liverpool– University of Wales Aberystwyth– University of Northumbria– University College, Dublin– University of Dundee

Next steps

• Some experience (paid or unpaid) is necessary• Vacancies advertised -

– Society of Archivists– Records Management Society– Archives-nra - jiscmail listserv

• Visits, volunteering– ARCHON– British Archives, a guide….– Visit us!– Hull City Archives (and conservator)