So, here‘s the thing, archives and archivists have a bit of a reputation. And, like most reputations, it leaves onlookers with only half the picture and one side of the story. Much of this problem stems from a lack of understanding about what they are and what they do.
And, as in most things, the media doesn’t help. "Richard J. Cox studied the image of archives and archivists over eight months in New York Times coverage in 1993... He concluded that archives were treated as "curiosities, generally associated with prominent individuals" (Oliver & Daniel, 2015). But Archives were made to be used by their communities, not just the prominent.
Not only do most people only have a vague idea of what archives are and who takes care of them, but, which fandom they belong to greatly impacts their view of archives and archivists. Movies and books allow pop culture to play a pretty big role in how archives are seen by the public. Here are just a few:
Fandom 1: Star Wars
“If an item does not appear in our records, it does not exist.” -- Jedi Archivist Jacasta Nu
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002) sees Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi turning to Jedi Archivist Jocasta Nu for answers. (We won’t even delve into the physical stereotypes the character plays into!)
Jocasta Nu is every inch the archival gatekeeper, who has complete faith in the thoroughness of her collection, not to mention full its digitization.
Fandom 2: The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Book 1954/Movie 2001) finds the wizard Gandalf searching for information, so he heads to the Archives of Gondor. In the movie, the silent and elderly Gondorian Archivist leads Gandolf to a room with stacks of dusty papers, leaving the wizard to search on his own.
Fandom 3: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Books smell. Musty and rich. The knowledge gained from a computer, it has no texture, no context. It’s there and then it’s gone. If it’s to last, then getting of knowledge should be tangible, it should be… smelly. -- Rupert Giles
Buffy the Vampire Slayer's (Movie 1992/Series 1997-2003) cheerleading, vampire killing protagonist relied heavily on her high school librarian Rupert Giles. When Giles wasn't in his school’s media center, however, he was guarding ancient magic texts and training Buffy and friends to fight the supernatural. Making him a knowledge keeper that at least seeks to make information accessible to others… well, as long as you’re on his side.
Giles, unfortunately, won't be heading up any digitization projects. He is firmly in the "physical book only" camp.
E-books, go away!
Fandom 4: National Treasure
National Treasure (2004) introduced us to Abigail Chase of the National Archives. She takes her job seriously, has a deep love of history, and a strict "no touching" policy when it comes to artifacts. She is determined to save items in the collection above all else. She is there to protect the past, not hunt for treasure.
Fandom 5: Steampunk/Cosplayers
Steampunkers, in general, lend an air of adventure to their portrayal of people. Steampunk mixes all of their characters with Victorian style and the technology of an H.G. Wells novel. This lends them an air of adventurous explorers, much like Indiana Jones.
From galaxies far, far away to Victorian England, these Archivists are portrayed as caretakers of old things, knowledge keepers, and having full access to all history/information on a topic. They often hold the secret to some ancient prophesy and the right information to save the world. This encourages the misunderstanding of what archivists really do with all those old scrolls they seem to have lying around.
What is an Archives?
While there are some really cool archives that do have scrolls and ancient texts, there are hundreds more without them. Archives collect all types of information, including receipts, log books, e-mails, personal letters, manuscripts, deeds, and maps.
Anything deemed to have long standing value to the community or parent organization. While libraries offer current information, archives focus on the non-current records of groups, government entities, individuals, and families. Books and articles are written to be read by an audience; most archival records are created through the course of everyday life.
Different types of archives can be made up of different types of materials. For example, a university archives would be full of collections about the founding, history, and social aspects of the college, in both official records and those created by students for personal reasons (like a scrapbook). A historical archives would be focused on the history of a particular area (like New York City) or a particular event (like World War II). Archives can be made up of one very large collection, though most are home to groups of smaller collections that share one common theme, such as a time period, place, or occurrence.
These resources are collected in a variety of forms – paper and digital, photographs and audio, originals and copies. To make all of these things more accessible, there are often efforts to digitize collections so they can be searched globally over the internet. These efforts are often costly and time-consuming, though, so the majority of what is found in archives can still only be accessed in person.
Usually, these archival collections are tied to one particular institution like a university, cultural heritage organization, or library. They can be housed in one room of a shared facility or take up an entire building and still have warehouse storage. Some operate independently, although these are seen less frequently.
What is an Archivist? What do they do?
It is often joked that archivists are the hoarders of the library world. It can appear that way on the surface – boxes of old books, papers, and memorabilia piled high. The collector (archivist) being the only one that knows where anything is located.
In reality, Archivists are more the Marie Kondos of the library family. They look at everything brought in for possible collection. They note each item’s condition, its current or historic significance, and its relation to the collection as a whole. Archivists care for the pieces saved and thoughtfully remove those which do not fit.
Their goal is to preserve the past, while also making it available for research, genealogies, and other purposes. Because of this, Archivists are careful when arranging the collection. They keep things in order that they were collected and by who created the collection. Archivists then create finding aides that act like maps to help users find the information they are looking for.
These maps include administrative information, a history of the person or institution represented, an overview of the collection that explains formats and themes used, the arrangement and description of the series in the collection, and a list of items found in the box or folder the collection is in.
Archivists also ask questions of those who come in to do research. This is not an effort to keep anyone away. Instead, they are making every effort to give patrons a positive experience by helping them find relevant information in a timely manner. They are not seeking to play gatekeeper to knowledge.
Archives visits in movies take place over a matter of minutes, while the reality is that it could take extended amounts of time to find what someone is looking for, especially if they do not have a clear picture of what they need. Through the questions they ask, archivists can help patrons narrow down their search and lead them to the best information sources, as opposed to Gandalf’s experience.
Archivists not only care for the collections they have and assist researchers in their work, they also help build the archives. This can be done by seeking donations, buying collections, or partnering with other institutions. Unfortunately, rarely (never) does the archivist find themself on highflying adventures to discover lost collections or treasure.
What to expect on an Archives visit?
There are basic rules to follow and each facility is different. Many don't allow food, drinks, large bags, or even ink pens. Don't be afraid to ask! You can also check the website or call in advance.
Many archives do not allow items to be checked out. However, they may have copying or scanning services. Some may allow patrons to bring their own devices or use a scanning app on their cell phones.
Don't panic if the archivist asks you a lot of questions. They are simply trying to help you find your information quickly and help you have a great experience.
Have fun! Enjoy your moments of research and use the archivists training to help you in your quest...even if you’re not out to save the world.
References:
Oliver, A., & Daniel, A. (2015). The Identity Complex: The Portrayal of Archivists in Film. Archival Issues,37(1), 48-70. Retrieved March 13, 2020, from www.jstor.org/stable/24590116.
UW Madison Archive Students. (17 October 2013). Badass Archivists in Television and Movies: A Really Short List. UW SAA-SC Archives Month Blog. Retrieved March 13, 2020, from http://archivesmonth.blogspot.com/2013/10/badass-archivists-in-television-and.html
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