So you want to be an Archivist? Just what does an Archivist do? A U.S. Department of Labor site has a very good description that also notes the complex context of the work. So an Archivist can work in a number of job sites. One thing that is clear from this site is how the work is often intertwined with other professions and skills. In the same site the work of "Archivists, Curators, and Museum Technicians" are listed.
Shane Peterson's notes on a class dealing with the care and feeding of Archives. The outline for the class is below, part of a hand out for the class. The hard part of this craft, art, science is getting my hands-on experience on one-of-a-kind type of Archival records. Who is going to let you "Practice" on something that can never be replaced if damaged? This is were work in the CSUN's own Urban Archives helps a lot to get some idea of what the life is like. The hardest part, after that, is learning how to do the Appraisal of a pile of unorganized, or partly organized personal or Institutional papers. Here too, you need to learn by getting your hands on the stuff. I am trying to do that with the CRC files, class notes and Gerald Ham's Selecting and Appraising Archives and Manuscrips as well as other class readings.
One question that has come up is "Why are'nt there enough sudents to form a Chapter of the The Society of American Archivists?" A good question. All we need is five or more students to do this. Why not?
One other iusse is the test that someone with a MA can take that makes you Certified Archivist. Is this something that a would-be archivist should do? the application that seems to be open to anyone with the right MA program. There is aMembership Directory showing members.
A note on storage cases, head Archivist Marshall likes the quantity of the boxes made by the Metal Edge company.
A note on where to apply for a grant to process an Archival project (it takes a lot of money to do it right). The two big grant givers, one local and one national, are the Haynes Foundation for local projects and the Mt. Olympus of Archival grants the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). As of April 2005, the money for these kind of projects is being cut, making the task even harder. Notes and outline from a hand-out (copy) Evaluation of Archival Institutions a report by the Society of American Archivists Guidelines for the Evaluation of Archival Institutions. A good review is also done with the SAA guide to Ethics (Ever hear of it?).
The Guide to Self-Study lists ten major areas, and something of their sub-sets that you need to see just how close an Archival institution is the ideal outlined in the SAA statement of ideals.
The Top Ten areas that are part of a Archival evaluation are:
How can you compare one archive to another? One way is to convert each of the ten categories above into a point scale, with each having ten points for a total of one hundred points.
Why rate an archive at all? A professionally done review, made by an outside third party, can be used in a grant writing project to get more support for a struggling archive. In the end knowing about Grant writing is a MUST for anyone who would like to be an Archivest. Why? Because, as they say, Thats where the money is. Your first few jobs as an Archivest would be in free-lance consulting in the Grant Writing process.
On the subject, or in this case, the problem of writing grants, one question that is on my own mind is "Who would fund the processing of the CRC files?". One foundation that might fund it, IF the CSUN library was a member is the Jewish Culture Foundation.
Robert G. Marshall, Head Archivist Urban Archives & University Archives California State University, Northridge Telephone: (818) 677-4199 E-mail: robert.marshall@csun.edu
History 602B: Archival Management & The profession Second course in a nine-unit sequence which is intended to prepare students to enter the archival profession. Topics include management of archival programs, appraisal of collections, automated archival systems, budgeting archival projects, space and facilities planning, career opportunities, grant writing and fund raising, and the certification process of the Society of American Archivists.
The course will prepare students for the management of archival programs as well as focus on specific career goals and professional opportunities. Post baccalaureate students who meet minimum requirements for admission to the history MA program and have completed the first archival course in the sequence be admitted on a space available basis.
I. Critical Reading and Discussion-Topics in Archival Management and the Profession.
a) Facilities Planning
b) Appraisal of Collections
c) Budgeting Archival Projects
d) Grant Writing & Fund Raising
e) Career Opportunities-Business Archives, Historic Preservation, Public History, Historical Societies, Museums, Religious Archives, University Archives, etc.
f) Professional Organizations and Conferences
g) Certification Process
II. Assignments: Project Papers. Students will write several short 5-6 page papers on topics covered in class - eg. Collection appraisal, grant proposal narrative, budget proposal, fund raising letter, and repository mission statement & facility design.
III. Methods of Evaluation: Hist 602B will be offered for a letter grade only. Students will be evaluated on the basis of:
a) Four (4) proposal and related written project assignments [80%]
b) Class participation [20%]
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