bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perestroika in the Archives? Further Efforts at Soviet Archival Reform
Authors: Grimsted Patricia
Published: October 2015

The new openness in Soviet society in recent years has led to dramatic changes in Soviet archives. There has been tremendous progress in normalization of access and working conditions, along with an increase in foreign projects and collaborative ventures, although some archives still retain the characteristics of a closed society. Captured Nazi records and other foreign archival materials brought back to Moscow at the end of World War II remain sealed in the "Special Archive," but their existence has finally been admitted. Significant problems continue to affect archival research, and other serious archival problems remain in the areas of appraisal and acquisition of records, and a lack of adequate archival security, storage, and reproduction facilities, many of them related to the country's economic and political crisis. Reduced budgets have forced archives to assume more financial responsibility by moving toward a fee-for-service basis, even as they have been given more autonomy from centralized control. The author discusses efforts through the end of 1990 to provide a legal structure for archival reform through attempts to draft a new law governing archives and resulting conflicts within the archival community. She concludes that archival perestroika must ultimately await resolution of political and economic structural issues and of the nature and extent of the federal union.
Archival Theory Redux and Redeemed: Definition and Context Toward a General Theory
Authors: Stielow Frederick
Published: October 2015

Recent critics have argued that archival work is inherently too simplistic for theoretical discussion. Careful definition of terms and systematic analysis of historical development demonstrates that archivists can benefit from the conscious development of general principles to explain and analyze in ways that solve problems and redress past mistakes. Archives is a metadiscipline in an applied context, whose theory embraces elements from the humanities, science, and organizational theory. The author proposes a general theory or mission statement for archivists that balances their administrative responsibilities with their duty to insure the development of a documentary heritage.
The Oklahoma Historical Records Survey
Authors: Koplowitz Bradford
Published: October 2015

In Oklahoma, there is no systematic approach to the management of local records. Problems with access exist because of decentralization, and because the Works Progress Administration conducted the last extensive survey of local records about fifty years ago. In order to help remedy this situation, the Oklahoma Historical Records Survey of 1989 produced, for the first time in one source, a listing of most early-day county and municipal records, using questionnaires with follow-up telephone contacts distributed to 722 governmental offices throughout Oklahoma. The project produced a Guide to the Historical Records of Oklahoma. The author discusses all aspects of the project including the development of a survey instrument, conduct of the survey, findings, response patterns, publication of the results, and implications for future historical records surveys.
From File Folder to the Classroom: Recent Primary Source Curriculum Projects
Authors: Corbett Katharine
Published: October 2015

The author reviews four curriculum units developed by the Illinois State Archives, the National Archives, the Cleveland Bureau of Jewish Education (in cooperation with the Western Reserve Historical Society), and the Minnesota Historical Society to bring primary sources into the secondary schools.
The National Archives of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Authors: Slavin Timothy
Published: October 2015

The National Archives of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan presents a fascinating paradox for archivists interested in the work of their colleagues abroad. Faced with the separate problems of poverty, illiteracy, and martial law, the National Archives of Pakistan has established and maintained a model archival program for South Asia. The collections housed at the National Archives of Pakistan—a mix of manuscripts from the Moghul rulers to the administrative papers of the first years of government—reflect the multitude of paradoxes which Pakistan has come to represent.
An Archival Bestiary
Authors: Peterson Trudy
Published: October 2015

Well, yes, this is a bit abstract. But this whimsical presentation analyzes the origins, relationships, and evolution of archival terms and expressions.
Confronting Man and Nature: The National Archives of El Salvador
Authors: Lemmon Alfred
Published: October 2015

El Salvador's archives have been continually plagued by environmental, economic, and political hardships. The author describes the challenges that he observed firsthand during his visit to the Salvadoran archives during the week of 19-25 February 1989. He outlines the basic needs of these archives and relates examples of solutions improvised by dedicated archivists who must work with few resources.
It Only Happens Once Every Hundred Years: Making the Most of the Centennial Opportunity
Authors: Kohl Michael
Published: October 2015

Clemson University celebrated its centennial in 1988-89, an event that served as the catalyst for transforming the university's archives. The author discusses how the Special Collections department capitalized on centennial-related reference requests, publications and oral history projects, exhibits, and time capsule activities to reach new audiences and win support for program expansion. Important elements in the successful strengthening of this program were the support of key university administrators, start-up funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, and the identification of viable, high-visibility projects for its various constituencies.
"Play it Again, Sam": Historical Slide Presentations in Public Programming—A Case Study
Authors: Goerler Raimund
Published: October 2015

Attracting favorable attention to archival holdings and services is a fundamental concern of archivists as administrators. The slide presentation that depicts the history of the host institution using the resources of the archives can be an effective and economical promotional tool. Undertaking this kind of public programming requires an analysis of the potential audience, well-defined objectives, attention to technical decisions of format and length, product testing, and marketing. The Ohio State University Archives has developed a presentation that has drawn the attention of the entire institutional community— administrators, staff, faculty, students, staff, and alumni.
Access to Oral History: A National Agenda
Authors: Bruemmer Bruce
Published: October 2015

Access to oral history collections has suffered from the neglect of oral historians and archivists. The author advocates five items as the basis of a national agenda to improve bibliographic control and access to oral history interviews. Prominent among the recommendations are the establishment of MARC AMC records and interlibrary loan for interviews. This article was originally presented at the 1991 annual meeting of the Society of American Archivists, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Archives in Japan: The State of the Art
Authors: Ogawa Chiyoko
Published: October 2015

Although Japan has a long history, its archival traditions are still developing. The author gives a brief history of Japanese recordkeeping and its archival institutions. She also discusses archival legislation and the Japan Society of Archives Institutions. The article includes a translation of the Japanese archives law and an annotated bibliography of English-language articles on Japanese archives.
The European Community and Its Archives
Authors: Ketelaar Eric
Published: October 2015

The political and economic integration of the twelve countries which constitute the European Community will mandate the harmonization of archival practice within the community. The national archivists of the twelve countries are preparing archival policy to be discussed by the European Council of Ministers. High on this agenda will be the harmonization of legislation and practice concerning access. Harmonization is also sought in appraisal policies, in standards for buildings and equipment, in the adaptation of new technologies, in copyright protection, and in procedures for the lending of documents. Such harmonization among national archives would hopefully match efforts to establish a coherent archival policy for the records of European Community institutions. The author does not advocate a total archival integration but does favor a structure which would allow for the free communication between archival systems and which would foster equal access and care for European archives.
Democracy and Federalism: Changes in the National Archival System in a United Germany
Authors: Kahlenberg Friedrich
Published: October 2015

The turning point (Wende) that began in the fall of 1989 and which led to the reunification of Germany is reflected in sweeping changes in German archival structures, changes which occurred at such an accelerated pace that their impact cannot be fully realized as yet. The author gives a summary of the development of national archives in the Federal Republic of Germany and in the German Democratic Republic from the end of World War II to reunification on October 3, 1990. From May to October of 1990 plans were made for the reunification of archival structures. The author describes the cooperative work of archivists in East and West Germany and the resulting federal and state (Länder) archival structures.
Displaced European Archives: Is It Time for a Post-War Settlement?
Authors: Kecskeméti Charles
Published: October 2015

With the current political transitions in Europe, the relocation of national, regional, and ethnic archives is once again a timely issue. The author provides a historical analysis of the development in Europe of the archival principles of provenance and pertinence, as they have been challenged and used over the centuries for political gain in the displacement and reclaiming of records. In anticipation of Europe moving beyond the archival standstill of the après-guerre, the author foresees both the inevitable problems and the necessary preconditions for a replevin program of a multinational magnitude.
The History of European Archives and the Development of the Archival Profession in Europe
Authors: Duchein Michel
Published: October 2015

The history of European archives or the development of the European archival profession can only be discussed superficially as single entities. Nevertheless, there is a tendency recently to harmonize European archival legislation and practices, if not to unify them. The author discusses the genesis and history of the evolution of archival theory and practice in the major European countries through the creation of the great archival repositories, the birth of archival science, and the development of modern archives. He ends the article with an overview of current archival evolution in Europe and suggests the areas in which archival harmonization is likely to be most successful.
The Archival Legacy of Spanish Louisiana's Colonial Records
Authors: Lemmon Alfred
Published: October 2015

Louisiana was a Spanish colony from 1762 to 1803. The author traces the short history of Spanish Louisiana and the archival legacy of its colonial records. Through two centuries, administrators, historians, and archivists have undertaken copying, reorganization, and reformatting projects in an effort to preserve the records and to provide increased access. A massive microfilming collaboration by the Spanish National Archives and several American institutions, including Loyola University of New Orleans, Louisiana State University, and the Historic New Orleans Collection, has just been completed. This thirty-year endeavor achieved the ultimate preservation of the records and increased international access to these dispersed documents. In the process, the project influenced the archival policy of the archives of Spain, the former parent country.
International Archival Adventures: A Reminiscence
Authors: Warner Robert
Published: October 2015

Based on his personal diary, this article recalls Robert Warner's experiences in international archival affairs from 1968 through 1989. The period from 1980 to 1985, when Warner was archivist of the United States, explores the special problems caused by the General Services Administration and the Cold War tensions reflected in international archival activities. Also discussed are similarities and differences between the International Council on Archives and the International Federation of Library Associations.
Getting the Lead Out: The Appraisal of Silver-Lead Mining Records at the University of Idaho
Authors: Davis Richard
Published: October 2015

The application of Schellenbergian appraisal doctrine to nongovernmental records has been challenged on the basis that the dual classification of evidential and informational values is relevant only under the institutional mandate of the National Archives. This paper describes the appraisal portion of a project for the processing of 1,600 cubic feet of records of mining corporations in the University of Idaho Library and asserts that informational values depend for their validity upon the evidential values in the same records, that both kinds of value are logically related to the principle of provenance, and that these relationships are implicit in the works of T. R. Schellenberg and other traditional writers on the appraisal of public and corporate records. These values derive not from any particular institutional mandate but from the organic character of the records. It is futile to attempt appraisal of the informational value of records without considering their evidential value.
Learning by Doing: Undergraduates as Employees in Archives
Authors: Floyd Barbara , Oram Richard
Published: October 2015

Staffing levels in the archives of large universities are usually inadequate. The ready availability of undergraduates provides opportunities for improving staffing levels at reasonable costs, but employing undergraduates in university archives presents problems as well as possibilities. There are aspects to the recruitment, selection, and training of student employees that are unique to the archival environment. Drawing on personnel literature applied to archival settings as well as on recent surveys of undergraduate student employees in archives, this article offers suggestions for the effective use and management of undergraduates as university archives employees.
The American Archivist, 1971 to 1990: A Demographic Analysis of the Articles
Authors: Stephenson Mary
Published: October 2015

Based on an analysis of selected authorship and subject-based variables, 390 articles published in the American Archivist from 1971 to 1990 were analyzed. All major articles published during the period were included in the analysis, but other components of the journal were excluded. The primary subject area receiving the highest level of coverage was the General Literature category, followed by Use of Archives and Historical Manuscripts, and Repositories (History, Organization, and Activities). Single authorship was the overwhelming pattern, with almost 90 percent of the articles having only one author. Of a total of 433 authors, 124 (28.6%) were women, and 309 (71.4%) were men. From 1971 to 1990, 25.4 percent of the authors lived in the District of Columbia, followed by 8.5 percent in Massachusetts, 8.2 percent in Michigan, and 7.5 percent in New York. Academic archivists accounted for 22 percent of the authors, followed by federal archivists at 16.5 percent.
Adventures with MicroMARC: A Report on Idaho's Centennial Database
Authors: Davis Richard
Published: October 2015

The Idaho State Historical Records Advisory Board obtained funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission to provide statewide bibliographic access to manuscripts and archives. This paper describes the innovative features of that project, carried out by the University of Idaho library as subcontractor, including the integration of several off-the-shelf software programs into one process. The paper is slightly revised from a presentation to the Joint Conference of the Northwest Archivists and the Archives Association of British Columbia held at Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington, 2 May 1992. The author's attendance at that conference was made possible by a grant from the Hon. John Calhoun Smith Memorial Fund of the University of Idaho.
Hospital Documentation Planning: The Concept and the Context
Authors: Krizack Joan
Published: October 2015

Documentation planning is defined in this article as a process within an institution to select an appropriate documentary record for the institution. The author describes the functions and component institutions of the U.S. health care system, identifies the functions of hospitals within the system, offers an analysis of hospital activities and administrative organization, and presents a typology of hospitals. This information provides the informational context within which a documentation plan can be developed for a particular hospital. A similar planning approach may also be applied to other types of institutions, organizations, and corporations.
Of Archivists and Other Termites
Authors: Hinding Andrea
Published: October 2015

Archivists have long sought greater public awareness and understanding of archives, believing that this would lead to increased support. Generally, though, demonstrations of archival competence have not yielded adequate resources. In our focus on scholarly users and executive resource allocators we have ignored natural allies whose urge to remember is expressed through historic preservation, antique collecting, genealogy, and reading history and biography. Borrowing perspectives from biology and philosophy can help us in our quest and give us another sense of the meaning and value in our work. We must broaden our perspective to see our work as serving a universal human need to connect among people and across time through acts of memory.
Collective Management in Dutch Regional Archives
Authors: Margry Peter
Published: October 2015

The Dutch province of North Brabant has pioneered in the development and practical execution of collective archives management by small and medium-sized municipalities. Since 1955, municipal authorities and archivists have worked together to establish a network of municipal and regional archives for the professional management of all inactive local government records and many private archives. As of 1990 the archives network is complete in North Brabant. By affiliating with regional archives, municipalities which would normally not be able to afford archives facilities now can. The author discusses the advantages and disadvantages of a centralized versus a decentralized regional archives and the factors that must be considered in developing joint archives.
Education and Training of Archivists at the East African School of Librarianship in the 1990s and Beyond
Authors: Kigongo-Bukenya I.
Published: October 2015

This paper examines and recommends strategies for the education and training of archivists at the East African School of Librarianship (EASL) in the 1990s and beyond. First, it states the objectives of the National Information System (NATIS) in relation to coordinating the development of library and information services, a major component of which is education and training. The author then defines some terms and gives brief notes on education and training programs offered by selected African library schools, with special reference to archives. Finally, the current status of archival education and training at the East African School of Librarianship is discussed. The paper concludes with proposals for the future education and training of archivists at the EASL in the 1990s and beyond.
"Wonderful Things": History, Business, and Archives Look to the Future
Authors: McDowall Duncan
Published: October 2015

The lot of a business archivist is becoming no happier. Corporate archivists have perennially been confronted by the daunting challenge of bringing order to the mountain of corporate documentation deposited on their doorstep. All too often, archivists have also been obliged to contend with the skepticism of their corporate masters, battling to maintain that the archives is a vital corporate function. The 1980s have hardly lessened these challenges. The information revolution has fundamentally transformed the nature of corporate documentation; personal computers, telecommunications, fax machines, and the ease of corporate travel have all diminished the centrality of the written word. The days of the logical, linear paper-based archives are numbered. Corporate information has become increasingly slippery and transitory; decision making now seldom leaves a neat paper trail in its wake. This trend has been given velocity by monumental complexity of global business today, the rigors of recession restructuring, and the deep-seated litigiousness bred by a decade of hostile buyouts and financial sophistry.

Business archivists must meet the challenge of this new information order, not by resting on their laurels as efficient paper sorters but by aggressively proving an expanded applicability for their corporate talents. They must resist wrapping themselves in the esoteric jargon of professionalism and must instead present themselves in a useful light, as the information handmaidens of decision making. To do this, they must become more entrepreneurial and more attuned to the new diversity of information emanating from the corporation, thereby becoming more able to prove themselves as value adders to the corporation.
Employing the Case Study Method in the Teaching of Automated Records and Techniques to Archivists
Authors: Kesner Richard
Published: October 2015

The purpose of this article is threefold. First, the author briefly introduces the concept of case study methods in teaching and the ways these methods might be applied in the professional development of archivists. Second, this article explores case study writing and reports on what the Society of American Archivists (SAA) in particular is doing to promote the creation of case study materials. Third, this essay identifies areas in which archival educators and practitioners might team up to produce case studies concerning the archival administration of electronic records and the use of information technologies in archives. Since the author has no intention of restating in the confines of this short paper the vast body of literature pertaining to case writing and teaching, he has also provided a selected bibliography of useful texts and articles.
Shaping the Future: SAA Leadership in a Changing World
Authors: Kenney Anne
Published: October 2015

This past year has offered the Society of American Archivists (SAA) unprecedented opportunities to begin to change public perception about archivists' proper place and the value of records. The challenge for the next few years will be to capitalize on these opportunities to build a sustained leadership effort. SAA's recently adopted strategic plan calls on the Society to exert leadership on significant archival issues by shaping policies and standards, building effective coalitions, and improving public awareness of the value of archives. The author discusses some issues that the Society should address as it moves to implement this goal.
Archivists, Recordkeeping, and the Declassification of Records: What We Can Learn from Contemporary Histories
Authors: Wallace David
Published: October 2015

Over the past fifteen years, the Reviews section of the American Archivist has seen a preponderance of commentaries analyzing guides, manuals, indexes, documentary collections, inventories, and surveys. To a lesser extent, one also finds reviews of texts on archival management, functions, and theory. Although the second of these two groups of writings merits serious and current attention, the former group has been emphasized at the expense of works that can contribute enormously to our understanding of users and recordkeeping systems. This negligence limits our understanding of users, recordkeeping systems, and access issues and minimizes the significance of records as both agent, surrogate, and remnant of human activity and communication. Three recently published volumes from this ignored genre of literature are examined here. These writings contain material relevant to the archival community, and the authors' narratives highlight important archival issues such as access; records creation, destruction, and ownership; accountability; accuracy and authenticity; and document form.
The Implications of Armstrong v. Executive of the President for the Archival Management of Electronic Records
Authors: Bearman David
Published: October 2015

This article reviews the arguments presented by both sides in the lawsuit Armstrong v. the Executive Office of the President, which concerned the electronic mail created by the Reagan and Bush White House on the IBM PROFS system. It examines the emerging consensus among archivists worldwide on approaches to managing electronic records and considers the ways in which the position taken by the government failed to reflect best practices. Specifically, it examines recent discussions of functional requirements for recordkeeping systems and raises some implications of a functional perspective for archival programs and strategies. It concludes by arguing that archivists will need to play a more active role in the society at large in order to ensure that the broader culture understands and acts on the threats to accountability presented by computer-based electronic communications.
Freeing the Dead Sea Scrolls: A Question of Access
Authors: Hodson Sara
Published: October 2015

The announcement by the Huntington Library in September 1991 of its decision to open for unrestricted research its photographs of the Dead Sea Scrolls touched off a battle of wills between the library and the official team of scrolls editors, as well as a blitz of media publicity. The action was based on a commitment to the principle of intellectual freedom, but it must also be considered in light of the ethics of donor agreements and of access restrictions. The author relates the story of the events leading to the Huntington's move and its aftermath, and she analyzes the issues involved.
Automating the Archives: A Case Study
Authors: Prietto Carole
Published: October 2015

The establishment of an archival automation program requires that the archivist address issues of both a technical and a managerial nature. These issues include needs assessment, selection of hardware and software to meet identified needs, redesigning archival tasks in light of the system selected, and ongoing maintenance of the system selected. The present article discusses the issues Washington University Archives staff members faced in developing an automation program and the solutions they adopted. It concludes with a brief discussion of possible future directions for the automation program.
The Concept of Appraisal and Archival Theory
Authors: Duranti Luciana
Published: October 2015

In the last decade, appraisal has become one of the central topics of archival literature. However, the approach to appraisal issues has been primarily methodological and practical. This article discusses the theoretical implications of appraisal as attribution of value to archives, and it bases its argument on the nature of archival material as defined by traditional archival theory.
The Development of Professional Education for Librarians and Archivists in the United States: A Comparative Essay
Authors: Martin Robert
Published: October 2015

The author compares the historical development of professional education for librarians and for archivists in the United States. While librarians have developed a formal graduate education program for preparing practitioners for entry into the profession, archivists in the United States are only now beginning to develop such a program. The author identifies the funding provided by the Carnegie Corporation and the leadership provided by the American Library Association as the critical elements in the successful development of professional education programs for librarians, and he contrasts this situation with the lack of leadership provided by the Society of American Archivists in developing archival education. The article concludes with a discussion of some possible future directions for archival education.
Editing Diplomatic Documents: A Review of Official U. S. and German Document Series
Authors: Kent George
Published: October 2015

This paper describes and compares the history, development, and problems associated with such major documentary publication projects as The Foreign Relations of the United States, Die Grosse Politik, and Documents on German Foreign Policy 1918--1945. It deals with the relationship between the editors of such projects and the government agencies that sponsor them, with the difficulties of selecting and obtaining clearance of documents, and with the political pressures exerted on the project editors and their responses to these pressures. The paper also discusses the value of these major historical undertakings to historians and scholars and their place in the historiography of the twentieth century.
Science at Harvard University, 1846--47: A Case Study of the Character and Functions of Written Documents
Authors: Elliott Clark
Published: October 2015

This paper explores surviving documentation and what it reveals about the underlying social structure and relations in a historic time and place. The mid-nineteenth century is chosen as a period prior to modern bureaucracies so that documents are not found in defining filing systems. Some six hundred documents are studied individually and characterized collectively. They are examined not to tell a story, however, but for evidence of their creation and maintenance and of their physical types, functional characteristics, and relations between authors and recipients. The study reveals the fruitfulness of such an orientation to documents, which complements traditional historical uses that emphasize document content.
Prostitutes in the Archives: Problems and Possibilities in Documenting the History of Sexuality
Authors: Gilfoyle Timothy
Published: October 2015

In the past decade, the study of sexuality has proven to be one of the most dynamic academic enterprises. Among the most popular topics has been the history of prostitution. Archivists have been invaluable but largely unsung allies in the explosive growth of a new revisionist literature. Through the preservation of long-ignored and oftendiscarded records and manuscripts, archivists provided the means enabling historians to answer many new questions, not only about prostitution but about the history of sexuality. Yet some of these sources raise provocative and controversial problems for historians and archivists documenting the history of sexuality. The author acknowledges and thanks Loyola University of Chicago, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Newberry Library in Chicago for providing financial support to complete this article. His appreciation also extends to Mary Rose Alexander, Kenneth Cobb, Phillip Costello, and the anonymous referees of The American Archivist for their criticism and helpful comments on earlier drafts.
Mass Deacidification: Universal Cure or Limited Solution?
Authors: Grimard Jacques
Published: October 2015

This article is a modified version of a paper presented at the 1992 annual meeting of the National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators held in Washington on 15--18 July 1992. The author expresses special thanks to Ellen Desmarais, director of the Conservation Treatment Division, Archives Preservation Branch at the National Archives of Canada, for her contribution. Responsible for the management and operations of the Mass Deacidification System of the National Archives of Canada, she kindly agreed to provide input and to revise this paper.

Long-term preservation of paper archives produced since the middle of the nineteenth century represents a major challenge for the archival and library communities. The massive use of wood pulp to produce newspapers, books, and records has made a large portion of the documentary heritage vulnerable, particularly to acidity. Like many other cultural organizations, the National Archives and the National Library of Canada both have been searching for long-term solutions to this ongoing problem. For the past 15 years, the National Archives of Canada has been operating a Mass Deacidification System that has allowed the protection of more than half a million books. In this article, the author summarizes the system, discusses the results achieved, and ponders the problems raised by its operations and its accompanying major management challenges.
Toward a Culture of Transparency: Public Rights of Access to Official Records in South Africa
Authors: Harris Verne , Merrett Christopher
Published: October 2015

This essay's point of departure is that the public's right of access to official records and its right to place the processes of government under scrutiny are defining characteristics of democracy. An examination of official secrecy in apartheid South Africa establishes the context for an analysis of the country's restrictions on public access to official records at the dawn of a democratic era. While it is conceded that governments have a legitimate right to restrict access to certain information, it is argued that the restrictions in South Africa are weighted unreasonably against the public. At the same time, paradoxically, these restrictions do not provide adequate protection of certain legitimate interests--for instance, of individuals' personal privacy. Proposals are made for redefining the parameters of official secrecy.
Recordkeeping Practices of Nurses in Hospitals
Authors: Ngin Phyllisis
Published: October 2015

Staff nurses are both care givers and authors of documents in medical records. The author discusses the process and context in which nursing documents are created and how they are actually used in delivering care. Archivists concerned with hospital recordkeeping systems should note that the medical record does not fully reflect nursing activities. A sociological study of nurses' recordkeeping practices suggests that nurses engage in two types of recordkeeping: administrative and clinical. Most documents produced through administrative recordkeeping become part of a patient's medical record, while most clinical recordkeeping documents do not. Nevertheless, it is the latter type of recordkeeping that nurses find most useful in their practice.
Legal Admissibility of Electronic Records as Evidence and Implications for Records Management
Authors: Piasecki Sara
Published: October 2015

As civilization develops, both socially and technologically, the laws that govern human action must change accordingly. This paper examines the current legal debate over the nature of electronic records and their legal admissibility as evidence in light of past debates on the admissibility of microfilm, photocopies, and written documents themselves. The author sees contemporary judicial thinking as following the historical trend of relying on personal testimony and "dependable systems" to ensure documentary veracity and validity. The conclusion stresses the impact of the legal status of electronic records on records management programs and the need for records managers to be aware of the foundations of current legal thought.
Beneficial Shocks: The Place of Processing-Cost Analysis in Archival Administration
Authors: Ericksen Paul , Shuster Robert
Published: October 2015

Although the importance of an accurate knowledge of processing (and other) financial and temporal costs have often been nominally stated in archival literature, serious discussions or case studies have been rare. Of those, most have advocated cost analysis for appraisal or management advantages. The development of an ongoing processing-cost analysis at the Billy Graham Center Archives suggests that the latter are particularly beneficial. The archival profession would benefit from greater comparison of costs between similar types of institutions and from the regular reporting of statistics.
"No Documents—No History": Mary Ritter Beard and the Early History of Women's Archives
Authors: Voss-Hubbard Anke
Published: October 2015

The 1930s marked an important moment in the history of the national preservation effort in the United States. While the establishment of the National Archives ensured the preservation of the public record, a quest to salvage the record of women's role in civilization was just beginning. Historian Mary Ritter Beard made a commitment to the promotion of women's archives throughout the next decades. After she failed to establish a World Center for Women's Archives at the dawn of the Second World War, Beard sought her dream in institutions of higher learning, inspiring many colleges and universities to collect source material by and about women. Smith College made the greatest commitment to support a women's archives on its campus. Beginning in the early 1940s, Mary Beard nurtured a close relationship with an ardent supporter of such an archives at Smith College, Margaret Storrs Grierson, the collection's director from 1942 through 1965. The tireless effort of these two women provided the foundation for what has evolved into one of the most widely recognized woman's collections in the United States.
Managing Information in an Office Systems Environment: The IMOSA Project
Authors: McDonald John
Published: October 2015

This paper is reprinted from John McDonald, "Information Management and Office Systems Advancement," in Information Handling in Offices and Archives, edited by Angelika Menne-Haritz (New York: K. G. Saur, 1993). It describes a public-private-academic partnership project that was led by the National Archives and that investigated the impact of office systems technologies on the management of electronic records. Prototype software for managing electronic records was tested, and functional requirements and other related products were developed. This paper describes the project and summarizes the findings.

IMOSA represented an important milestone in the evolution of the National Archives' guidance in this area. The consultation drafts of this guidance, which were made available by the National Archives in June 1995, are shaped largely by the findings of the IMOSA project. For a description of this guidance and a more recent perspective on the management of electronic records in the office systems environment, please see John McDonald, "Managing Records in the Modern Office: Taming the Wild Frontier," Archivaria 39 (Spring 1995):7-79. Copies of the IMOSA reports and the consultation draft of the Guide to the Management of Electronic Records in the Electronic Work Environment are available from the National Archives of Canada, IMSP, 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa, Canada, K1A 0N3.

The IMOSA project was managed by Susan Gillies of the Canadian Workplace Automation Research Centre of Communications Canada and supported by Christiane Desautels of the National Archives of Canada. Many of the points raised in this paper resulted from their observations during this project. The author is grateful to David Bearman, Terry Cook, Margaret Hedstrom, and Lisa Weber for helping to shape many of the ideas expressed in this paper.
Group Work, "Groupware," and the Transformation of Information Resource Management
Authors: Kesner Richard
Published: October 2015

This essay briefly considers the increasingly important role of computer-mediated tools in effective organizational communications: (1) electronic mail, offering one-to-one communication; (2) electronic conferencing, offering many-to-many communication; and (3) corporatewide information systems (CWIS), offering one-to-many communication. It then proceeds to explore in greater detail the role that a new generation of computer software, so-called groupware, is coming to play as an enabler and enhancer of these technologies, thus transforming information resource management (IRM) within the modern organization. The author illustrates his points through the use of three mini-case studies. The first and primary example considers the impact of groupware on the operations of Babson College. The Babson study is supplemented by two summary references to the use of similar products within a global accounting/consulting firm and within a large U.S. government agency.

This essay was prepared for the American Archivist in October 1992. Although some of the bibliographic notes have been superseded, the concepts and issues addressed in this paper are as relevant today as they were when originally written.
Punch Card Records: Precursors of Electronic Records
Authors: Adams Margaret
Published: October 2015

Section 2 of the 1939 Federal Records Act defines the meaning of records to preface regulations related to records disposal and explicitly includes punch cards among the record types. The definition of records from the 1939 act and from its subsequent revisions have been used traditionally and statutorily as the definition of records applied to archives.

The appearance of punch cards in a list of types of records at such an early point in the history of the U.S. National Archives suggests enlightened consensus on the record nature of this then-new form of documentary material. Punch card records emerged as a by-product of the introduction of information technology in the U.S. federal government in the early twentieth century, yet the U.S. National Archives accessioned only a very few collections of punch card records.

The history of punch card records offers perspective on the manner in which records creators and archivists responded to the unprecedented challenge of punch cards as a form of documentary material. A review of this history provides the basis for an interpretation of the archival mission in a technologically based records environment.

This paper has its roots in a 29 October 1989 presentation at the annual meeting of the Society of American Archivists in St. Louis, Missouri.

The author wishes to thank and acknowledge a number of colleagues who have assisted her. Meyer H. Fishbein graciously gave permission for the use of his personal papers; Charles M. Dollar suggested some material; and Thomas E. Brown and Kenneth Thibodeau offered recommendations, interest, and encouragement. In addition, archivists Patricia Andrews, Jennifer Davis Heaps, Frank Heppner, and Aloha South helped by locating textual materials in the records of the National Archives, while Barbara Burger, Theodore Hull, and Michael Meier assisted with the illustrations. Linda Henry suggested a number of very useful editorial changes. The author is nevertheless solely responsible for the interpretations made herein.
Access in the Time of Salinger: Fair Use and the Papers of Katherine Anne Porter
Authors: Allison-Bunnell Jodi
Published: October 2015

Manuscripts curators who wish to microfilm or otherwise duplicate a collection for preservation and access commonly confront a problem: multiple copyrights represented in a collection. It is practically impossible to obtain permission from the numerous parties who may hold such copyrights. What are the limits of fair use in such a case, particularly considering the restrictive environment after Salinger v. Random House, Inc.? Archival tradition and practice offer some answers more hopeful for preservation and access to materials, but the law still limits. To best serve the research community, archivists must lobby to have more liberal policies codified into law. The Papers of Katherine Anne Porter, a collection held by Archives and Manuscripts at the University of Maryland at College Park Libraries, is used as an example.
HyperRAD: A Case Study in Developing Electronic Manuals for Archives
Authors: Duff Wendy , Toms Elaine
Published: October 2015

This case study describes an experiment to compare the use of the printed paperbased version of the Canadian Rules for Archival Description with its hypertext prototype, HyperRAD. The results of the experiment revealed no statistically significant differences in user efficiency or effectiveness or in user preference for either tool. The article concludes with some recommendations for further development.

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the National Archives of Canada through the Canadian Council of Archives, and the material support of the School of Library and Information Studies, Dalhousie University.
Electronic Records Training: Suggestions for the Implementation of the CART Curriculum
Authors: Reid Lydia
Published: October 2015

Prior to its dissolution, the Committee on Automated Records and Techniques (CART) developed a curriculum for electronic records training and education as part of a National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) grant. This article explores decisions that were made by the developers regarding whom to train and adult learning needs and speculates on possible delivery methods for the curriculum, which include on-the-job training, workshops, formal education programs, distance education, and self-directed study.
From Managerial Theory and Worksheets to Practical MARC AMC; Or, Dancing with the Dinosaur at the Amistad
Authors: Stielow Frederick , Hankins Rebecca , Jones Venola
Published: October 2015

This article discusses how theory and historical analysis can help inform managerial practices toward the integration of MARC AMC as part of a descriptive chain. The staff of the Amistad Research Center used their own experiences and research and Zipf's Law of Least Effort to produce techniques to simplify and rationalize the complex, library-based MARC format for their environment and ongoing technological change. The process is ongoing and far from revolutionary, but the techniques to date include the production of a standard cataloging worksheet and an authority list of subject headings.
The Archival Image
Authors: Ketelaar Eric
Published: October 2015

In the seventeenth century, Dutch administrators considered their books and records important evidence of their regard for the proper conduct of their duties. As David Bearman proposed in Archival Methods, and now in Archival Strategies, archivists should focus on ensuring that proof of accountability in the present is sufficiently prepared and preserved. In addition, archives' dual roles of preserving the past and documenting the present could be advanced further by emphasizing the visibility, clarity of purpose, and accessibility of archives. Bearman's Archival Strategies can provide a tool for the reinvention of the archival image.
Lasers and the Fate of Phonographic Recordings
Authors: Sprinkle Matthew
Published: October 2015

Conventional methods cannot always be used to play back sound recordings from old and/or damaged phonographic cylinders and discs. New compact disc technology uses lasers for quality and precision playback of sound recordings. To what extent can lasers be effectively used on phonographic media? Laboratory work and attempts at mass marketing provide interesting insights for sound archivists.
Archival Strategies
Authors: Bearman David
Published: October 2015

In 1989, David Bearman published an essay entitled Archival Methods, in which he argued that traditional methods employed in archives for appraisal, description, preservation, and access to records would fail to meet already identified archival needs because the extent of known demands exceeded the capacity of the profession by more than an order of magnitude in each case. In response to a shortfall of this degree, he argued, the profession needed to invent new approaches or redefine its problems. In this paper, Bearman defines strategic approaches to achieving the archival mission given that assessment of our requirements and methods. He then reviews some efforts that have been made in archives worldwide in recent years to redefine archival methods along these lines. Finally, he suggests some radical strategies as yet untried that could also contribute, along with those being tested now, to a revolution in archival methods.