Jason Bell
Competency B
Recognize the social, cultural, and economic dimensions of records, recordkeeping, and records use.
Introduction
A record can hold value not always understood at a present time, in a certain form, or in combination with other objects or records. Take for example a paper clip. By itself this paperclip holds no value and in fact could be considered a detriment to others collections in an Archivists care. On second look the paperclip reads one of six million. Meaning that this paperclip was used by a group of school children to bring awareness of the World War II Nazi extermination camps. Each paperclip represented one Jewish life terminated. Suddenly, this paperclip has life. It has social, and cultural importance.
Like this paper clip each record that moves through the record keeper’s sphere of influence may have meaning that might not be clear at the time or may need extra effort by the records manager to see dimensions or aspects that would be overlooked by an unskilled eye. This is the first hurtle record managers deal with, deciding what holds value. In so doing the records manager is in a very upfront way preserving what he or she values in the record. It would be near impossible to know all aspects to a record. However, the records manager must have an understanding of the history of the records he or she is processing.
A record or object must be identified and labeled and stored according to an arranged set of standards. It is the responsibility of the Record keeper to demonstrate a record’s trustworthiness, authenticity and reliability. Often not fulfilled, Record Managers and Archivists struggle to share the information in their charge. While the professional’s first duty is the protection of the record, another almost equally important aspect of their position is to be innovators in making records accessible by researching and utilizing current technologies. To have a display of historical Native American Letters at the SF Museum where parking is expensive would exclude some Native Americans that do not live in SF or don’t wish to travel. How will this collection be made available to them? Maybe creating a database that is publically accessible or creating a moving display where the Letters are rotated through determined locations of importance to the Native American Leaders.
Selected exercises
I have drawn many learning experiences from hands on work with archival materials and standards with which to share selected records. Public engagement has been big for me. Though I do enjoy the solitary life surrounded by old books, I find more entertainment in sharing the information hidden in those books. Reality sinks in when we are faced with the fact that we can’t store only the cool records we want: preserving what is of most value becomes our first priority. In this there is a changing of the guard in a manner of speaking. Once a record is retired it is up to the Record Keeper to pass the duty of securing and preserving the records to an Archivist. As an Archivist it is the preservation of the record that will retain its value. This job is much different than the job of Record Managers who focus on being able to make large amounts of information available at a moment’s notice. On the other hand, an Archivist is bound to secure its collections; this involves accommodating the treatment of the record. Depending on the example, an Archivist may bring out a record, instruct the patrons to wear gloves, and keep their backpacks and long coats behind. Environmental factors also need to be considered. In my second example I will show in detail the threats to Archives and steps that can be taken to make collections accessible?
Supporting Evidence
Yolo County Archive DIY Project
In my duties at the Yolo County Archives I have the opportunity to develop a website that will allow the public to interact with our records via the internet. Not only will the public have visual access but they too, once vetted, will be able to transcribe handwritten documents. Selecting the material remains a challenge. First as a caretaker I want to find the most fragile documents. However, there are other considerations to contemplate. One, those who donated digitizing equipment would be remiss if we did not include a tribute collection to them. There also is the need to remain objective and select items and collections that represent Yolo County. As a Records Manager, I am expected to broaden our focus beyond Woodland. As much as our volunteers believe the Opera House and Main Street Yolo County’s county seat are important (they are!) so too is the county’s agrarian history as well as the history of surrounding towns. This project will show my ability to see records as multidimensional objects that can create a number of different views depending on the way in which they are presented to the public. I decide to share records that will best cultivate an inclusive perspective of Yolo County.
Archival Security: What can we do to protect our archives?
This was my effort to present the great concern that archivist and those working in the archival field need raise their level of attention to securing archives against theft. In the course of this paper you will come to understand recent and past events that have threatened the security of archives and what archives in the past have done to curb theft and looting of various institutions. Finally, this writing will conclude with what we as archivists can do to further protect and secure archives from both from external and internal threats of theft.
There is a change, movement or trend to share what we have in our archives. The records belong to the people. Why it is so hard for them to have access to their own history? MONEY! There just is not enough to build a safe, secure archive that will allow the people to browse the archives like they do a library. However, some great efforts are being made taking advantage of the increase of computer technology and the interest of new generations desiring to know more about where they came from. In this assignment, the Hawaiian Bishop Museum, The Healdsburg Historical Society and the National Archives are compared and contrasted in order to see how different organizations can promote our societal memory and yet protect the collections that makeup our history.
Conclusion
Archives are the collection of society’s memory. There is but only one thing to say in regards to the duty of archivists which deserves much repetition. Though the archives belong to the people the first and foremost job of the archivist is to secure the archive. Secondly is it the duty to provide access to the archive. This balance is not always the easiest thing to strike; however, providing access to collections for future generations depend on the ability of the archivist to fulfill this important mission. Much time is spent discussing the security of records against those who have sticky fingers or are poorly trained in archival procedures. Other issues that prevent the promotion of a collection are the investment needed to protect against data breaches by hackers seeking money and of course protection from natural disasters. Many reasons may create a desire to restrict access to collections held by the Archive, however, to not share or let others experience that record will diminish its value.
For many generations after they were invaded by the western culture, Hawaiians were told their language and dance are evil and must never be spoken or preformed. Of course the practice never went away; it was hidden and only known by a select few: the keepers of Hawaiian culture if you will. The last few generations have struggled to prevent their culture from disappearing. The keepers were so very good at their job that they nearly sealed and preserved the culture out of the hands of the Hawaiian people. Some still believe they are doing the right thing by withholding their culture from the public. Over the last few decades Hawaii’s cultural decline has been put in reverse; a new, freer Hawaiian voice has created pride in being of Hawaiian blood, resulting in efforts to save the Hawaiian Culture in bold and imaginative ways of reasserting their identity. Hawaiians now assert themselves leading to a new political awareness. This shift from keeping Hawaiian culture to expressing it will continue to have a positive impact on the economic and social uplifting of the Hawaiian community.
Let us get over the need to collect, preserve and protect our records to the point where we miss the very reason the records were created in the first place: to have a positive social, cultural and economic impact on the community that we serve.