I have also been following this debate with interest, as a non-archivist who
occasionally works with archival collections. I'm glad that the issue of
literary and other personal papers has been raised, as it was a point that
was occurring to me. If people will excuse an outsider's ignorance, I'd like
to ask about another issue.
Most of the discussion so far seems to have been focused on retaining
documents, electronic or otherwise, for the sake of the information they
contain. I can think of two other reasons that an item might be of interest
in the future. Firstly, for its appearance - style of handwriting, layout of
printing, type of paper used etc. Secondly, there's the question not only of
what people say but also how they say it - vocabulary employed on different
occasions, for example. I'm sure people can think of many other instances
where content alone may not be the deciding factor. I'd be interested to
know how this sort of consideration is dealt with, and to what extent it has
been officially recognised by the profession. I'm aware that with the recent
growing interest in ephemera, for example, the question of the different
ways of measuring scholarly value has arisen in various contexts.
Any thoughts gratefully received, on- or off-list.
Bridget Andrews
-------------------------------------------------------
Bridget Andrews
Research Collections Co-ordinator
Reading University Library
www.library.rdg.ac.uk
----- Original Message -----
From: "Nia Mai Williams" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 27, 2002 2:12 PM
Subject: Appraisal - literary papers
> I'm following this debate on appraisal with interest as I'm in the
> process of researching for a MSc Econ thesis on the appraisal of
> literary papers.
>
> Having started to read up on the theory of appraisal from
> Jenkinson onwards it strikes me that most appraisal theory is
> directed towards corporate and public records, which already
> have a RM system in place with disposal schedules. The
> functions of the institutions are known and the records they
> create are predictable.
>
> The appraisal of personal, and especially literary papers seems
> to need different criteria. Collection policy is key to determining
> who's papers are accepted, but guidelines for weeding are also
> needed, to enable the archivist to make decisions on item level.
>
> Are literary papers appraised on categories such as the
> importance of the author, or the type of material (drafts, galley
> proofs, diaries), historical importance, research value, or cost of
> purchase?
>
> Does the time spent on informed item level appraisal outweigh
> the benefits of reduced bulk and cost of storage?
>
> If all future literary material is to be electronic, should we now
> save all annotated drafts and holograph scribbles as the last
> examples of the evidence of the process of creative writing?
>
> Any comments arising form practical experience of appraisal of
> twentieth century literary papers would be appreciated on or off
> list.
>
>
> Nia Mai Williams
> Archifydd / Archivist
> Data Archifol / Archival Data
> Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / National Library of Wales
> Aberystwyth
>
> Fy marn i, nid barn y Llyfrgell. My opinion, not the opinion of
> the Library.
>
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