Whoa! We were discussing palaeography and Latin not diplomatic. By
yoking unlike things together because they happen to be taught in the
same course segment, we generate heat but not light in this debate.
Diplomatic is not an arcane skill but key to the understanding of the
function of a record [or group of records], the activity of which it
forms a part and the process by which it came into being. As such it
informs the appraisal process and is a fundamental part of
macro-appraisal. Like Luciana Duranti, I see it as an essential
component of managing records in the modern context and it should be
taught accordingly. It's probably the unique archival insight which is
missing from the specifically records management courses.
Matt Stephenson's point about prioritising available time on the courses
is precisely the one that I was making. The balance between skills
training and professional education is an important one to establish and
maintain.
Peter Emmerson
Director
Emmerson Consulting Limited
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-----Original Message-----
From: The UK mailing list for archivists, conservators and records
managers. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Steve
Bailey, Joint Information Systems Committee
Sent: 27 November 2002 15:58
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Archive Courses
Hi Mark,
I have to say I agree with you - hence my deliberatly not referring to
either Paleography or Diplomatic in my original message for exactly the
same reasons you suggest. I recall a fascinating article some years
back by Luciana Duranti (I think) entitled 'Diplomatics: New Wine for
Old Bottles' (or something similar) which looked at how critical the
archivial skill of diplomatics was for the (then newly emerging) field
of digital preservation. Its relevance and that of paleaography at a
theoretical level was, and is, undeniable.
Unfortunately when I undertook the course some five years ago no
reference was made of these links. Both subjects were taught as though
they only applied to manuscript sources and along very traditional
lines. Likewise a significant amount of the administrative history we
learnt which was full of fascinating facts about the Marriage Act of
17whatever which may have been fine if I went to work in a local
government archive but has been of little use to me in either a
pharmaceutical company or a university. Learning the skills required
to quickly assimilate the admin history of whatever organisation you
work for and the context of the records it creates, would however be an
invaluable skill to acquire for all new archivists to acquire.
As I say, my experience of one of the MA courses is now five years old
and it may well be that they have all changed out of all recognition
since. I am also grateful for Caroline's reminder of the Resource
study into Archives and Records Management education which will, I'm
sure address these issues and many more in full.
Regards
Steve
PS No it is not Friday and I'm not entirely sure why the comparison has
been made between what has been (to my mind) an entirely valid and
fruitful discussion about our profession's future and the end of week
'Friday-froth' we all know and love ;-)
On Wed, 27 Nov 2002 15:38:57 -0000 Mark Pomeroy
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I feel quite strongly about the presence of Palaeography, Diplomatics
and
> Administrative History on Archive training courses. I do so even
though
> there is not one latin document in my Archives, not even so much as a
motto.
>
> The study and practice of palaeography and diplomatics forces a
student to
> confront textual anaylsis at extremely close quarters. The fact that
many
> will rarely confront carolingian miniscule is not the point.
Mediaeval
> manuscripts lend themselves very well to this didactic purpose. All
of the
> skills required to decode a '13th century' deed can be used on a
modern
> document. Ok, so in recent years typescript has diminished the
importance
> of palaeography, but how many of us have to fight with mid-'19th
century'
> scrawls on a weekly basis? Could you do it if it wasn't for the
anguished
> squinting involved in studying for the Diploma/MA?
>
> Same goes for Diplomatics; in spades. The discipline of diplomatics
is
> still central to the construction of all documents, particularly those
of an
> official nature. Administrative history has often been the poor
cousin of
> the other skills, I feel more emphasis should be laid on it.
>
> All of these skills should be pushed on to the students at a more
> theoretical level, making it clear that each is a principle liying at
the
> heart of all recorded information. Palaeography, diplomatics and
> administrative history are my toolkit, without them I would be like a
> fireman without a hose.
>
> mark
>
>
> * * * *
> Mark Pomeroy
> Archivist
> Royal Academy of Arts
> London
> W1J 0BD
>
> Direct Tel: 020 7300 5768.
> Direct Fax: 020 7300 5765.
> http://www.royalacademy.org.uk
>
> Aztecs is at the Royal Academy until 11th April 2003
>
> Plaster Icons: The History and Conservation of the Royal Academy Cast
> Collection. Royal Academy Library Print Room until 31 January 2003
>
>
>
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----------------------
Steve Bailey,
Records Manager
Joint Information Systems Committee
Tel: 07092 302850
Email: [log in to unmask]
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