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The ideas of T. R. Schellenberg on the appraisal, arrangement, and description of archivesStapleton, Rick January 1985 (has links)
This thesis is an examination of the ideas of the eminent American archivist, T.R. Schellenberg (1903-1970), on the arrangement, description, and appraisal of archives. The formulation of these ideas is set in the context of the National Archives of the United States where Schellenberg was employed for more than twenty-five years. The National Archives was the first archival institution to attempt to deal with the problems created by large volumes of records. Accordingly, Schellenberg1 writings—the most famous of which is the book Modern Archives; Principles and Techniques (1956)—are concerned primarily with finding solutions to these problems, especially with regard to arrangement, description, and appraisal. His skilful blending of archival theory and practice in the presentation of general principles and techniques is emphasized, as well as his important role in the modernization of the archival profession. Through a comparison with the writings of other archivists, it is concluded that Schellenberg1s ideas have a continuing relevance for present day archivists. / Arts, Faculty of / Library, Archival and Information Studies (SLAIS), School of / Graduate
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Archival professionalism and ethics : An assessment of archival codes in North AmericaMay, Trevor Ian 05 1900 (has links)
This thesis explores the subjects of professionalism and ethics as they relate to
archivists and seeks to assess the appropriateness and effectiveness of the
ethical codes adopted by two national archival associations in North America.
The archival profession in North America is in its infancy compared to its
status in Europe. Having been identified with serving scholarship and other
"non-essential" pursuits, archivists have begun to involve themselves in more
vital records management tasks involving access to information and privacy
issues. As the archival profession strives to achieve greater public
recognition and trust to better carry out these and other sensitive tasks, the
need for a code of ethics has become more acute. Both the Society of American
Archivists and the Association of Canadian Archivists have developed codes in
the last few years in an attempt to set standards of conduct in the face of rising
responsibilities. However, many of the elements have been borrowed from
other codes and with the need to ensure that such codes will be observed by
members and enforceable by sanction, it seems timely that some means be
established for analyzing their effectiveness.
This thesis attempts to establish the tools for analysis of archival codes of
ethics. To this end, it examines professionalism and ethics and the
relationship between them. It draws upon the literature on emergent
professions, establishing some of the characteristics of recognized
professions. It also draws upon the literature on professional ethics to
determine how one might look at existing codes from an ethical perspective. It
examines the nature of archives and archival work to identify ethical
principles regarding archival material and its treatment. Ultimately, the
elements of these foregoing discussions form the basis for analyzing archival
codes of ethics.
The thesis generally concludes that ethical codes must be placed in an ethical
infrastructure which reinforces the values and principles embodied in a code
of ethics. Moreover, a better understanding and consensus about the purpose
or goals of the profession needs to be achieved and stated in the codes
themselves. Greater attention needs to be paid to formulating basic principles
which can be applied in unpredictable situations. Greater use of logical
relationships between code components is also needed. Finally, to become
truly useful, the North American codes need to be made more comprehensive
and to this end, it is suggested that professional archival groups abandon their
attempt to provide ethical guidance solely in encapsulated form.
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Archival professionalism and ethics : An assessment of archival codes in North AmericaMay, Trevor Ian 05 1900 (has links)
This thesis explores the subjects of professionalism and ethics as they relate to
archivists and seeks to assess the appropriateness and effectiveness of the
ethical codes adopted by two national archival associations in North America.
The archival profession in North America is in its infancy compared to its
status in Europe. Having been identified with serving scholarship and other
"non-essential" pursuits, archivists have begun to involve themselves in more
vital records management tasks involving access to information and privacy
issues. As the archival profession strives to achieve greater public
recognition and trust to better carry out these and other sensitive tasks, the
need for a code of ethics has become more acute. Both the Society of American
Archivists and the Association of Canadian Archivists have developed codes in
the last few years in an attempt to set standards of conduct in the face of rising
responsibilities. However, many of the elements have been borrowed from
other codes and with the need to ensure that such codes will be observed by
members and enforceable by sanction, it seems timely that some means be
established for analyzing their effectiveness.
This thesis attempts to establish the tools for analysis of archival codes of
ethics. To this end, it examines professionalism and ethics and the
relationship between them. It draws upon the literature on emergent
professions, establishing some of the characteristics of recognized
professions. It also draws upon the literature on professional ethics to
determine how one might look at existing codes from an ethical perspective. It
examines the nature of archives and archival work to identify ethical
principles regarding archival material and its treatment. Ultimately, the
elements of these foregoing discussions form the basis for analyzing archival
codes of ethics.
The thesis generally concludes that ethical codes must be placed in an ethical
infrastructure which reinforces the values and principles embodied in a code
of ethics. Moreover, a better understanding and consensus about the purpose
or goals of the profession needs to be achieved and stated in the codes
themselves. Greater attention needs to be paid to formulating basic principles
which can be applied in unpredictable situations. Greater use of logical
relationships between code components is also needed. Finally, to become
truly useful, the North American codes need to be made more comprehensive
and to this end, it is suggested that professional archival groups abandon their
attempt to provide ethical guidance solely in encapsulated form. / Arts, Faculty of / Library, Archival and Information Studies (SLAIS), School of / Graduate
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Archivists’ outlook on service to genealogists in selected Canadian provincial archivesEdwards, Rhianna Helen 05 1900 (has links)
A long-standing antipathy towards genealogists on the
part of archivists is suggested by a study of the archival
literature. However, there is evidence in the literature of
the past decade to indicate that many archivists are
reassessing their position vis a vis genealogists. There
appears to be several causes. Social historians and other
professionals also acknowledge that genealogical endeavours
are helpful to their own purposes. Genealogists themselves
recognize that their qualifications and standards must be
improved in order for them to command respect. Archivists
now recognize the lobbying power that can be exercised by
this large user constituency. The literature suggests that
all these influences are leading archivists to accept the
principle that genealogy and genealogists should receive
service and respect that is equal to that afforded academic
and other researchers.
Interviews with seven archivists at three Canadian
provincial archives were conducted. They suggest that
different archivists hold different attitudes towards
genealogists. One interviewee was clearly antipathetic, but
three were impartial and three were frustrated and
discouraged, not with genealogists per se, but with the
problems inherent in putting the principle of equality into
practice. Regardless of the attitude held, each interviewee
believed that an improvement in methods of accommodating
genealogists would not only aid the genealogist, but would
also provide some relief from the pressures of serving this
large and varied user constituency. But does such
accommodation through adjustments in the functions of
appraisal and acquisition, arrangement and description,
reference and access, and public programming undermine
archival theory? In general, it was found that sound
appraisal practices are compromised by an approach driven by
the needs of the user; however, genealogical research
required no adjustment of arrangement and description
practices following the principles of provenance and
original order. It was also found that the functions of
reference and access, and public programming could meet the
needs and approaches of genealogists without jeopardizing
the physical and intellectual aspects of the records.
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A strategic approach to the management of the national archives of South Africa.Mtshali, Simon Felumbuzo. January 2001 (has links)
When the first democratic government came into power in 1994, it was faced with a number of challenges. One of these challenges was to ensure that the public service is transformed in order to redress the imbalances of the past. The National Archives of South Africa as a branch of the public service was therefore no exception. Prior to the 1994 elections, this branch was known as the State Archives Service. It was converted into the National Archives of South Africa through the passing of the National Archives of South Africa Act (Act No. 43 of 1996). It is important to note that before the 1994 election the exercise of hegemony by the government was through the control of social memory, and this control involved remembering and forgetting. Furthermore, this control demonstrated an extraordinary capacity to secure the support of most white South Africans and the minority of blacks who collaborated with this system. Therefore, the promulgation of the National Archives of South Africa Act (Act No. 43 of 1996) was of crucial significance in South Africa, since it portrayed the death knell for archival legislation moulded by apartheid. This Act converted the State Archives Service into the National Archives of South Africa with the new mandate of serving all the people of South Africa. This study examines a strategic approach to the management of the National Archives of South Africa. Firstly, the National Archives of South Africa Act (Act No. 43 of 1996 is discussed in detail, with emphasis on its formulation and implementation. This act came into operation on 1 January 1997. Secondly, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats experienced by the National Archives of South Africa during its conceptualisation and launching are discussed. Thirdly, the transformation of the National Archives of South Africa was examined and discussed using the public management functions, namely, policy-making, organising, planning, leadership, motivation, control and evaluation. The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats experienced by the National Archives of South Africa are focused on. Lastly, conclusions and recommendations end the study. / Thesis (MPA)-University of Durban-Westville, 2001.
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Archivists’ outlook on service to genealogists in selected Canadian provincial archivesEdwards, Rhianna Helen 05 1900 (has links)
A long-standing antipathy towards genealogists on the
part of archivists is suggested by a study of the archival
literature. However, there is evidence in the literature of
the past decade to indicate that many archivists are
reassessing their position vis a vis genealogists. There
appears to be several causes. Social historians and other
professionals also acknowledge that genealogical endeavours
are helpful to their own purposes. Genealogists themselves
recognize that their qualifications and standards must be
improved in order for them to command respect. Archivists
now recognize the lobbying power that can be exercised by
this large user constituency. The literature suggests that
all these influences are leading archivists to accept the
principle that genealogy and genealogists should receive
service and respect that is equal to that afforded academic
and other researchers.
Interviews with seven archivists at three Canadian
provincial archives were conducted. They suggest that
different archivists hold different attitudes towards
genealogists. One interviewee was clearly antipathetic, but
three were impartial and three were frustrated and
discouraged, not with genealogists per se, but with the
problems inherent in putting the principle of equality into
practice. Regardless of the attitude held, each interviewee
believed that an improvement in methods of accommodating
genealogists would not only aid the genealogist, but would
also provide some relief from the pressures of serving this
large and varied user constituency. But does such
accommodation through adjustments in the functions of
appraisal and acquisition, arrangement and description,
reference and access, and public programming undermine
archival theory? In general, it was found that sound
appraisal practices are compromised by an approach driven by
the needs of the user; however, genealogical research
required no adjustment of arrangement and description
practices following the principles of provenance and
original order. It was also found that the functions of
reference and access, and public programming could meet the
needs and approaches of genealogists without jeopardizing
the physical and intellectual aspects of the records. / Arts, Faculty of / Library, Archival and Information Studies (SLAIS), School of / Graduate
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The methodology of arrangement: a case study of the Department of the Provincial Secretary of British ColumbiaCarter, Michael Charles 05 1900 (has links)
Arrangement is an important archival activity that precedes other
important archival activities including description and access. Its objective is to
identify the external and internal structures of a fonds. However, despite its
importance, archivists have had difficulty establishing a standard method of
arrangement that fully achieves its objective.
This study views arrangement as a form of methodology bridging archival
theory and practice. Arrangement must therefore be in accordance with archival
theory yet be applicable in practical terms. The study first establishes the terms
of analysis in regards to archival theory, and, in particular, the concept of the
fonds. Difficulties in the practice of arrangement are then examined. These
difficulties include (1) identifying the levels of arrangement, (2) identifying when
an entity has sufficient autonomy to create a fonds, (3) identifying the
provenance of record series that have been in the custody of many agencies, and
(4) dealing with the effects that changes to the external structure of a fonds have
on record series. The main methods of arrangement, that have been utilized
throughout the archival world in the last 50 years, including the record group,
fonds method and series system, are then assessed to determine how closely each
aligns with archival theory and how well they perform in practical terms. A method of arrangement is then devised using the basic attributes of both the
fonds and series system methods.
The Department of the Provincial Secretary, of British Columbia, is the
subject of a case study to confirm the validity of the methodology. The study
first examines the external structure of the Department through the concepts of
function, competence and organizational structure. It then studies the external
structure through the concepts of functional series and documentary series. The
study concludes by examining some of the implications of the method for various
aspects of archival practice.
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Die ontwerp van 'n ordeningstelsel en vindmiddel vir 'n kultuurhistoriese navorsingsentrumEkermans, Brönnhilde 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A research centre for cultural history is an important key to the study of cultural heritage.
The Research Centre for Cultural History at the University of Stellenbosch is at present
(2000), as far as could be ascertained, the only centre of its kind in South Africa, although
the conservation of certain aspects of cultural heritage is also practised by a number of
related institutions. There is a need for a system of arrangement and finding aids through
which the contents of these institutions and specifically research centres for cultural history
can be made accessible to researchers.
In this study a system is proposed in answer to the above mentioned deficiency. It is based
on a thesaurus in which the most important themes of cultural history are identified and
assigned to a number of main categories. The system consists of a set of guidelines, rather
than a prescribed framework and it should therefore be appliable to ail cultures in South
Africa as well as cultural groups and institutions outside the South African context.
A variety of media found in research centres for cultural history are identified. The
contents of the Research Centre for Cultural History at the University of Stellenbosch
serve as an important model in this regard. It is suggested that the different media are
housed separately in the centre and that there is a code assigned to each by which they can
be identified in the integrated finding aid.
It was found that the proposed system could be applied to research centres for cultural
history and related institutions in a variety of ways. It provides the .researcher with an
image of the structure and nature of cultural history. It can also be used as a tool in the
research and collection of oral history and the structuring of research projects. Other
applications of the system will be revealed by usage. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Sentrum vir kultuurhistoriese navorsing is 'n belangrike sleutel tot die bestudering van
'n kultuurerfenis. Die Sentrum vir Kultuurhistoriese Navorsing aan die Universiteit van
Stellenbosch is tans (2000), sover vasgestel kon word, die enigste sentrum van sy soort in
Suid-Afrika, hoewel die bewaring van sekere aspekte van die kultuurerfenis ook in 'n mate
deur verwante instansies bedryf word. Daar is 'n behoefte aan 'n volledig uitgewerkte
ordeningstelsel en vindmiddel waardeur die inhoud van sulke instansies en spesifiek
kultuurhistoriese navorsingsentrums toeganklik gemaak kan word.
In hierdie studie word 'n stelsel voorgestel waardeur bogenoemde leemte gevul kan word.
Die basis van die stelsel is 'n tesourus waarin die belangrikste temas van
kultuurgeskiedenis uiteengesit en in 'n aantal hoofkategorieë verdeel word. Die stelsel is 'n
stel riglyne eerder as 'n rigiede raarnwerk en behoort dus toepasbaar te wees op alle kulture
in Suid-Afrika sowel as kultuurgroepe en instansies buite die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks.
'n Verskeidenheid brontipes wat in 'n sentrum vir kultuurhistoriese navorsing gevind sou
kon word, word geïdentifiseer. Die inhoud van die Sentrum vir Kultuurhistoriese
Navorsing aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch dien as 'n belangrike voorbeeld. Daar
word voorgestel dat die brontipes in die bergproses van mekaar geskei word en dat daar 'n
kode aan elkeen toegeken word om hulle in die geïntegreerde vindmiddel van mekaar te
onderskei.
Daar is gevind dat die voorgestelde stelsel op 'n verskeidenheid van maniere in sentrums
vir kultuurhistoriese navorsing en verwante instansies toegepas kan word. Dit verskaf aan
die navorser 'n beeld van die struktuur en aard van die vakdissipline. Verder kan dit as 'n
belangrike stuk navorsingsgereedskap vir die insameling van mondelinge oorlewering en
die strukturering van veldwerkprojekte dien. Ander toepassings daarvan sal deur die
praktyk blootgelê word.
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The methodology of arrangement: a case study of the Department of the Provincial Secretary of British ColumbiaCarter, Michael Charles 05 1900 (has links)
Arrangement is an important archival activity that precedes other
important archival activities including description and access. Its objective is to
identify the external and internal structures of a fonds. However, despite its
importance, archivists have had difficulty establishing a standard method of
arrangement that fully achieves its objective.
This study views arrangement as a form of methodology bridging archival
theory and practice. Arrangement must therefore be in accordance with archival
theory yet be applicable in practical terms. The study first establishes the terms
of analysis in regards to archival theory, and, in particular, the concept of the
fonds. Difficulties in the practice of arrangement are then examined. These
difficulties include (1) identifying the levels of arrangement, (2) identifying when
an entity has sufficient autonomy to create a fonds, (3) identifying the
provenance of record series that have been in the custody of many agencies, and
(4) dealing with the effects that changes to the external structure of a fonds have
on record series. The main methods of arrangement, that have been utilized
throughout the archival world in the last 50 years, including the record group,
fonds method and series system, are then assessed to determine how closely each
aligns with archival theory and how well they perform in practical terms. A method of arrangement is then devised using the basic attributes of both the
fonds and series system methods.
The Department of the Provincial Secretary, of British Columbia, is the
subject of a case study to confirm the validity of the methodology. The study
first examines the external structure of the Department through the concepts of
function, competence and organizational structure. It then studies the external
structure through the concepts of functional series and documentary series. The
study concludes by examining some of the implications of the method for various
aspects of archival practice. / Arts, Faculty of / Library, Archival and Information Studies (SLAIS), School of / Graduate
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Documenting archival automation systems : guidelines for the project managerMoller, Austin 01 January 1985 (has links)
With the onset of the information age, archivists are more frequently placed in professional situations where they must work with automated systems to manage the records in their custody. They must acquire new skills to use this technology, including system analysis, system planning, and the principles of computer operation. An area that is frequently neglected, however, is that of developing and maintaining in-house project documentation for systems once equipment is in place and implementation has begun. This oversight leads to poor training strategies, inconsistencies in input and output, and information loss when personnel changes occur.
Project documentation is the group of records that describe the system the archivist creates. It is a communications tool, developed by the project manager as a reference document for administrative and operations purposes, and to train users.
The documentation guidelines assembled in this text were developed by the author while implementing automated systems over a six-year period. They are arranged in five groups. SCOPE discusses ways to introduce the user to the project, the equipment, and to the concept of the project manual. SYSTEM ORIENTATION contains strategies for more detailed instruction on the equipment. INPUT shows how to describe the data base design and instruct the user on entering data. OUTPUT provides a format for profiling and generating reports. And OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE outlines the tools the project manager needs to maintain the system.
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