Dear Colleagues,
As business archivists we feel that we constitute a distinct and growing
community within the Society of Archivists whose views are currently
under-represented. Until now, archivists such as ourselves may have
attempted to find a voice within the Society through either the SRG or
RMG, both of which do sterling work within their specialised areas.
Neither, however, was originally set up to encompass business archives
and, as a result, our influence has been unfocused and muted.
We further believe that there are sufficient issues specific to any
professionals who care for business archives, including those in the
public sector, such that there is a need for a Specialist Interest Group
within the Society. In this way we can have an input into matters that
directly affect us and ensure that the problems and needs of our sector
are fully understood. This message, therefore, is a means of sounding out
likeminded colleagues.
This proposal is not intended as a criticism of the Business Archives
Council or the Business Archives Council of Scotland. These bodies do a
splendid job for business archives in general and their owners, users and
practitioners as a group. However, they do not provide a suitable forum
in which business archivists can meet to discuss their problems and
concerns, and neither should they. Such a forum should surely be within
our professional association, not an external body.
The proposed group should be seen as complimenting the work of the BACs
and other specialist interest groups in the Society, whilst providing a
vital plank in the development of the Society of Archivists and the
profession in general. It would provide a forum for all professionals who
have business archives in their care, and thus unite archivists from local
and central government, museums and universities, with core business
archivists.
Please publish expressions of interest or contributions on list, or send
to one of the following:
Jessie Campbell, Barclays Group Archives (e-mail
<[log in to unmask]>)
Helen Ford, BG Group (e-mail <[log in to unmask]>)
David Hay, BT Archives (e-mail <[log in to unmask]>)
Nigel Hardman, Alliance & Leicester Group Archives (Fax: 0151-966 2831)
Jeannette Strickland, Unilever Archives (e-mail
<[log in to unmask]>)
***OUR APOLOGIES FOR ANY CROSS-POSTING***
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