Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Records for the Years 1954-1959Review by: Frank F. White, Jr.The American Archivist, Vol. 29, No. 4 (Oct., 1966), pp. 538-539Published by: Society of American ArchivistsStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40290660 .

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538 REVIEWS OF BOOKS

shire County Archivist limits the record of the year's work, including lists of acessions and of lectures and exhibitions, to 8 pages; the remaining 34 pages are devoted to several articles based on materials in the record office. Such a report is obviously aimed at fairly wide distribution in an attempt to arouse popular interest in local history and perhaps to advertise the resources of the record office.

The report of the Worcestershire County Archivist, on the other hand, is directed primarily to the County Council, but since it gives a full account of the activities of the record office it has a great deal of interest for profes- sional archivists. He explains archival principles as they relate to the record office; points out the relative priorities of tasks - for example, that detailed cataloging, calendaring, and indexing "are important, but not so important as rinding and saving records, getting them in (by the ton sometimes), brief listed and off the floor"; describes in some detail the training of staff; and makes an appeal for the maintenance of high professional standards. He holds firmly to the view that an archivist should not be a historian (he has persistently declined requests to talk on historical subjects) but that he should be willing to provide service "to all who wish to use its resources, irrespective of their background." Finally, he describes a project to compile a pictorial record of the county. This report is not only informative, but it is written in a sprightly style that provides a refreshing contrast to so many archival reports that are presented in arid prose and inert statistics.

Public Archives of Canada W. I. Smith

Northern Ireland. Public Record Office. Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Records for the Years 1954-1959. (Belfast, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1966. 138 p. 10s.)

Annual reports always serve a useful purpose. This one happens to be a 5- year report covering the activities of the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland between 1954 and 1959. Regrettably, it was not published for 7 years after the close of the period it covers. The decision to delay its issuance may, however, have been a wise one. The result is not only a report on the work of the P.R.O. but also a finding list of its acquisitions arranged under the categories of official sources, private sources, and purchases.

Like most of its counterparts in the United States, the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland concentrated its efforts on the search for, the collection of, and the preservation of its records. Deliberately, for some years, the P.R.O. gave top priority to the collection of materials rather than their cataloging. Finally, after this long delay, there is now available a detailed report on its accessions, published more as an aid to the academic researcher rather than to the genealogist.

Described in the report are the more important accessions. A detailed in- ventory for each accession shows quantity, dates, and sources. Most of the records fall into the categories of land, politics, business archives, emigrant letters, materials relating to military history, and microfilms of official docu-

THE AMERICAN ARCHIVIST

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REPORTS OF ARCHIVAL AGENCIES 539

merits. It is surprising to learn just how much material of American interest can be found in Northern Ireland.

This, then, is more than a report. It is what we have come to call the "preliminary inventory." The index is quite thorough. Under the heading "United States," however, one notices "Baltimore" and "Attica." Evidently, we are supposed to know just where this last-named place is located.

It is readily apparent from reading this report that European archives have their storage problems, too. But with the publication of this report one can see that although this problem exists, the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland seems to have control over its accessions for the years 1954 to 1959, as well as a great potential of use by those who need the information contained within its walls.

Maryland Hall of Records Frank F. White, Jr.

West Virginia. Department of Archives and History. Annual Report, 1965. (Charleston, 1966. 28,1 1., proc.)

Wisconsin. State Historical Society. Division of Archives and Manuscripts. Annual Report: 1964-1965, (Madison, n.d. 22 p., 7 append., proc.)

The titles of these two publications are descriptive of their content. Sep- arately they represent for each institution past accomplishments, the present situation and needs, and the expectations for the future. Together they represent some of the variations found on the State level relative to archival and his- torical programs.

In his cover letter addressed to Gov. Hulett C. Smith, James L. Hupp, State Historian and Archivist of West Virginia, states that the report "covers the operations of the State Department of Archives and History and the

conditions, progress and needs of the department for the period from January 1, 1965 to January 1, 1966." A reading of the report will show that con- ditions are poor, progress has been slow, and the needs expressed are far from

adequate. Following a brief history of the archival and historical movement in West Virginia, each branch and activity of the department is discussed, and functions, personnel, and needs of each are presented. Besides the Archives, there are a library, a museum, the West Virginia Historic Commission (road markers), and the West Virginia Antiquities Commission. One of the activities of the department is the publication of West Virginia History and the Short Title Check-List of West Virginia State Publications. The lack of space appears to be a reason for an emphasis on microfilming certain holdings. It is pointed out that library space is the biggest need at present, and that as funds permit the old newspapers stored in the back of the library are being filmed. What happens to the old newspapers once they are filmed is not clear. A planned microfilm project to film all local and county records, the adequate cataloging and indexing of all holdings (manuscript and book form), the con- tinued publication of West Virginia History, coordination of the historical markers and historical sites programs, and maintenance of existing buildings will keep the staff busy in the future.

VOLUME 29, NUMBER 4, OCTOBER iç66

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