Instructor: Dr. Sharon Carlson
O 387-8490, H 385-2827 Fax 387-8484
sharon.carlson@wmich.edu
111 East Hall, East Campus
Office Hours: Monday 3:00-3:30 , Wednesday 3:00-3:30, other times by appointment
Class Meetings: Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:30 to 4:45, 111 East Hall
HIST 4060 - Archival Administration
Theory, techniques, and practice in the development and administration of archives and archival materials.
Objectives:
1.
Learn the history and theory of archival practices and administration.
2.
Learn techniques of archival practices and administration.
3.
Learn the vocabulary of the profession.
4.
Learn about the profession in general and become familiar with the professional organizations, journals,
employment trends, and educational and certification issues.
5.
Complete a tangible product (finding aid) that you could place in your portfolio for job interviews or
graduate school applications.
6.
Learn about the variety of archival materials, including various formats and have some familiarity with the
content and preservation issues associated with these materials.
Required Readings:
The required readings include articles and chapters through electronic reserves as well as websites. The electronic
reserves are available at: http://www.wmich.edu/library/reserves/. You will need to have use your bronconet id and
password to enter the site. You will also be used for a password for the class which is: archivesrock Readings
available on websites are clearly marked on the syllabus. The course website on GoWMU’s elearning will feature
some lecture notes. I will also place assignments on this site for your convenience.
Course Structure:
The course will employ lectures, hands-on work, discussion, and some audio-visual presentations. There may be
guest speakers if our schedule permits. Some of the required work for the finding aid may be completed during the
class. The projects will also require substantial out-of-class work in addition to allocated class time. I have
allocated class time because some of the materials you need for the projects cannot be taken from the Archives and
Regional History Collections. You will need to return to the Archives during scheduled hours (Tuesday-Friday 8-5
or Saturday 9-4) to work on these projects.
Courtesy:
Cell phone conversations and discussions that are not part of the class dialogue are discourteous. If you need to
make a call, take a call, or the conversation can’t wait, please step into the hallway.
Policy on Email:
The only email address that should be used for communication between WMU students and WMU faculty and staff
is the email address associated with a BroncoNet ID. This email address typically takes the form
firstname.middleinitial.lastname@wmich.edu." An example is buster.h.bronco@wmich.edu. Students cannot
automatically forward email from this address to other addresses. Students can access this email account or get
instructions for obtaining a BroncoNet ID at GoWMU.wmich.edu.
Schedule Conflicts and Religious Holidays:
Western Michigan University has a diverse population. If you have a conflict over a religious holiday, which may
require an absence or schedule modification, please see me.
Academic Integrity and Honesty:
You are responsible for making yourself aware of and understanding the policies and procedures in the
Undergraduate Catalog (pp. 268-270) [Graduate (pp. 24-26)] that pertain to Academic Integrity. These policies
include cheating, fabrication, falsification and forgery, multiple submission, plagiarism, complicity and computer
misuse. If there is reason to believe you have been involved in academic dishonesty, you will be referred to the
Office of Student Judicial Affairs. You will be given the opportunity to review the charge(s). If you believe you are
not responsible, you will have the opportunity for a hearing. You should consult with me if you are uncertain about
an issue of academic honesty prior to the submission of an assignment or test.
Assignments :
Finding Aid
Students will work on a practical project as part of a small team (4-5 people). The project will involve the
preparation of a finding aid. A detailed summary of the project requirements will be distributed in class. All
members of the group will receive the same grade for the finding aid (up to 20 points), but one-fifth of the final
grade (up to 5 points) will reflect a composite of the evaluations of group members made by one another. Group
members will have the opportunity to evaluate the other members of the group. The group evaluation will focus on
the degree of participation by individual group members. It is my way of evaluating your participation in a group
effort. .25 of final grade (25 points)
Archival Vocabulary and Acronyms – In class presentation and hand-out
Terms will be randomly distributed to the class. Students will work with a partner and present their understanding
of the term in a presentation of no more than five minutes and by providing a handout to the class. Each team is
responsible for identifying the significance of the term to the archival profession. These terms will appear on both
the midterm and final exams. .5 of final grade (5 points)
Mission Statement or Collecting Policy
You are required to find a mission statement or collecting policy for an archival repository. These will be discussed
in class. .5 of final grade (5 points)
Case Studies
Case studies will be analyzed in class and include questions relating to ethics, acquisitions, and collection policies.
For each case, prepare a 2-page paper. The paper must include the key question of the case (what is it all about),
key elements, alternatives, possible outcomes, and which alternative is the best and why. Each case is worth 10
points. This portion of the class is worth .20 (10 each) of your final grade or a total of (20 points)
Midterm Exam
Archival terms, theory, . .20 of final grade (20 points)
Final Exam
Archival terms, theory, practical applications, professional issues. .20 of final grade (20 points)
Attendance and Participation
Attendance will be taken. Students missing more than 3 sessions, may be penalized up to 5 points. If you have
special or extenuating circumstances, please discuss them with me. .5 of final grade (5 points)
Grading: 100 points possible
A 95-100, BA 88-94, B 82-87, CB 78-81, C 72-77, DC 68-71, D 60-67
Papers and projects are due on the stated dates. Late papers will be penalized 1 point for each day beyond the
original due date. If you are unable to attend class, you may leave the paper at the Archives or in my mailbox at the
History Department, 4th floor, Friedmann Hall. You may also email the paper to me. When emailing papers, do not
assume I have received it until I send an email acknowledging receipt. I generally acknowledge receipt of papers
within 24 hours. Please keep all returned assignments until the end of the semester. I am very careful with student
papers but in the event of a missed grade, I will rely on you to show me a copy of your work.
Course Outline:
January 10
Introduction to Course
January 12
Tour of WMU Archives
January 17
No Class, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Day
January 19
Nature of Archives and Manuscripts
Reading: So You Want to Be an Archivist: An Overview of the Archival Profession
http://www.archivists.org/prof-education/arprof.asp
January 24
History of the Archival Profession and Core Concepts
Reading: “What is Past is Prologue: A History of Archival Ideas Since 1898, and the Future
Paradigm Shift,” Terry Cook, Archivaria, Volume 43, Spring 1997
http://www.mybestdocs.com/cookt-pastprologue-ar43fnl.htm
January 26
Mission Statements and Collecting
Reading: “Collection Management Strategies for Archivists,” Jutta Reed-Scott, American
Archivist, Volume 47(1), Winter 1984
http://archivists.metapress.com/content/wt6721l537810j13/fulltext.pdf
Due: Everybody should find one mission statement or collecting policy for an archival
facility. Be prepared to report on and discuss these in class and turn in a copy.
January 31
Case Study 1 (in class)
February 2
Field Trip, Kalamazoo City Archives and Records Center
February 7
Acquisitions and Accession Procedures
Reading: “Accessioning as Processing,” Christine Weideman
American Archivist, Volume 69(2) Fall-Winter 2006
http://archivists.metapress.com/content/g270566u745j3815/fulltext.pdf
February 9
Introduction to Archival Organization and Description
Reading: “Archival Principles of Arrangement,” T. R. Schellenberg
American Archivist, Volume 24(1) January 1961
http://archivists.metapress.com/content/l330351406231083/fulltext.pdf
Reading: Organizing Archival Material [by Laura Coles, 1988]
http://aabc.bc.ca/aabc/msa/4_organizing_archival_material.htm#Artificial%20collections
February 14
Preservation of Archival Records
Reading: Mary Fahey, The Care and Preservation of Archival Materials.
http://www.thehenryford.org/research/caring/materials.aspx
February 16
Archival Management Issues – Facilities
Reading: Wilsted, Thomas and Nolte, William. Managing Archival and
Manuscript Repositories. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 1991. Chapter 7 (part), 55-62.
(Electronic Reserve)
Due: Written Case Study 1
February 21
Archival Management Issues – Security
Reading: “Preventing Patron Theft in the Archives: Legal Perspectives and Problems,”
Vincent A. Totka, Jr., American Archivist, Volume 56, Fall 1993
http://archivists.metapress.com/content/c740ln850v882213/fulltext.pdf
Reading:
http://www.museum-security.org/?p=163
Reading:
http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/files/2008/01/lorello.pdf
February 23
Midterm Exam
Collection Processing Assignments Made
February 28 –
March 6
Spring Break
March 7
Case Study 2 (in class)
March 9
Reference Services in Archives
Reading: Pugh, Mary Jo. Providing Reference Services for Archives and Manuscripts. Chicago:
Society of American Archivists, 1992. Chapter 3, 41-53. (Electronic Reserve)
March 14
Outreach and Public Relations
March 16
Genealogy and Archives
Reading: Introduction, Findings from the Fullerton Genealogy Study, by Pamela Drake
http://psych.fullerton.edu/genealogy/
March 21
Photos, sound recordings, videos and special formats
Reading: Selections from Michigan Archival Association’s Photograph Primer (Electronic
Reserve)
March 23
Photos, sound recordings, videos and special formats
Due: Case Study 2
Reading: “Oral History in the Archives: Its Documentary Role in the Twenty-first Century,”
Ellen Swain, American Archivist, Volume 66, Spring/Summer 2003
http://archivists.metapress.com/content/9284q6r604858h40/fulltext.pdf
March 28
Laws relating to Archives/Archival Code of Ethics
Reading: Society of American Archivists. "Code of Ethics and Commentary."
http://www.archivists.org/governance/handbook/app_ethics.asp
March 30
Records Management and Archives, John Winchell, guest speaker
Reading: Records Retention and Disposal Policy for Western Michigan University
http://www.wmich.edu/library/archives/disposal.php
April 4
Professional issues
Reading: Academy of Certified Archivists (ACA): http://www.certifiedarchivists.org/
April 6
Work Session
April 11
Reports
April 13
Reports
April 18
Reports
April 20
Due: Finding Aids, Review
April 28
Final Exam, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.