what is an archivist?
TRANSCRIPT
Krista Ferrante
June 7, 2012
How I would explain
Archives to non-archivists
and the reasoning behind
my approach
• Definition - What are Archives?
• What kinds of stuff do they have?
• What can they do for me?
• Archives n. ~ 1. Materials created or
received by a person, family, or
organization, public or private, in the
conduct of their affairs and preserved
because of the enduring value
contained in the information they
contain or as evidence of the functions
and responsibilities of their creator
• 2. The division within an organization
responsible for maintaining the
organization's records of enduring
value.
• 3. An organization that collects the
records of individuals, families, or other
organizations; a collecting archives.
• 4. The professional discipline of
administering such collections and
organizations.
• 5. The building (or portion thereof)
housing archival collections.
• 6. A published collection of scholarly
papers, especially as a periodical.
ARCHIVES
Charged with keeping and providing
access to materials of enduring value
Materials?
So what’s in all these boxes?
Research data and electronic
documents
Family photos
Digital video
3D blueprints
What can archivists do for
you?• Help you access our materials and give
guidance
• Assist research and teaching mission
• Maintain what has been entrusted to us
• Give advice about your own materials
• Advocates for better more sustainable administrative systems
• Risk mitigation
What did I leave out?
Thank you!
Krista Ferrante
June 7, 2012