Establishing an archives involves answering a pivotal question: “What do we save?” This query forms the basis for decisions regarding the repository’s organization, storage, conservation, and access.
University archives are indispensable in stewarding and preserving historical records.
These materials are related to the seven core functions outlined in Helen Willa Samuels’ seminal work, Varsity Letters: Documenting Modern Colleges and Universities.
University archives are indispensable in preserving academic institutional history, achievements, and cultural legacy.
These archives encompass a variety of materials, from administrative documents and correspondence to publications, photographs, and digital records.
At the heart of socially astute archivists lies emotional intelligence, encompassing the understanding and regulation of emotions while also empathizing with the feelings of others. Developing emotional intelligence empowers archivists to forge meaningful connections with team members, stakeholders, and researchers. By discerning their needs, concerns, and motivations, they establish a positive and collaborative workspace that amplifies productivity and teamwork.
A gift that celebrates memories is so much more than a present. An occasion for gift giving--the holidays, a birthday, an anniversary--is all about the experience. And everything's better when you enjoy it together.
Here's a list of distinctive gifts for everyone on your nice list. The ties that bind these gifts together is that they cherish the past or create the future.
In my book, Creating Family Archives: A Step-by-Step Guide for Saving Your Memories for Future Generations, I discuss the techniques that archivists use to protect historical materials from the ravages of time. I find that it's also helpful to discuss what can cause damage to your archival items too. Many hazards are obvious, but others may surprise non-professionals.
A gift that celebrates memories is so much more than a present. An occasion for gift giving--the holidays, a birthday, an anniversary--is all about the experience. And everything's better when you enjoy it together.
Here's a list of distinctive gifts for everyone on your nice list. The ties that bind these gifts together is that they cherish the past or create the future.
An acute preservation challenge lies in saving digital items. Technology enables us to create, use, and be enriched by information in ways that were unthinkable generations ago. But the same advances that make sharing information so easy also pose some problems. The complexity and diversity of technology is overwhelming, even as storage capacity becomes cheaper. The volume of digital data, unstable storage media, and obsolete hardware and software make the usability of digital items a challenge.
As you reflect on your life, what moments or thoughts would you like to save? What about some of your family members? Wouldn’t you like to record their opinions on their lives?
Open-ending questions about people’s life experiences yield surprising results. Use these questions to record your thoughts, or start a conversation with a relative. When possible, record the interview on audio or video.
I was recently interviewed on The Life Story Coach podcast about my book, Creating Family Archives: A Step-by-Step Guide for Saving Your Memories for Future Generations.
Hosted by Amy Woods Butler, a personal historian and life story writer, The Life Story Coach helps listeners build careers as professional writers of personal and family histories.
I've crafted a travel memory workbook with 30 questions to capture family memories about their travels. The questions are crafted to give you more than yes or no answers and are tailored to uncover information about your loved ones. You can ask family members about their favorite trips, or use it yourself to write the next Eat, Pray, Love.
