Kate
A few years ago I asked the list for their explanations of what an
archivist is/does and got the following suggestions:
"I find that "Archivist" is beginning to appear as an occupation
category in more and more places, but the staff filling in the forms
never know what it means. I always say "An archivist runs and [sic]
archive, you know, keeping all sorts of records for people?" That always
works and never provokes further questions!"
"I tend to say 'It's like libraries and museums, only with papers
instead of books and things'. A vast oversimplification, but it seems to
work!
(although I have been asked, on saying that I work in the County Record
Office, 'Is that like HMV then?')"
"My two sentences are:
'I'm an archivist; that's A - R - C - H - I - V - I - S - T.'
[Blank look]
'I look after archives and records - anything from mediaeval parchments
to yesterday's computer disks.'"
I've withheld the original respondents' details - if they recognise
themselves, perhaps they would contact Kate direct.
My daughter answered a phone survey on Saturday and, when asked for the
main earner's occupation said "Archivist - most people don't know what
that is" only to find that the caller used to work for the National
Archives of Scotland...
Regards
Peter
Peter Elliott
Senior Keeper
Department of Research & Information Services
Royal Air Force Museum
Hendon
London
NW9 5LL
Direct line 020-8358-4850
Switchboard 020-8205-2266
Fax 020-8358-4991
-----Original Message-----
From: Archivists, conservators and records managers.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kate Thompson
Sent: 19 April 2010 14:16
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: What is an archivist?
Dear colleagues
I am talking to the Catholic Archives Society annual conference next
month and have come up with this title. Obviously I have my own stories
but if anyone has a particularly unusual or funny experience when trying
to explain what they do I would be pleased to immortalise you! Needless
to say, you can remain anonymous if you prefer.
Thanks
Kate
Contact the list owner for assistance at
[log in to unmask]
For information about joining, leaving and suspending mail (eg during a
holiday) see the list website at
https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=archives-nra
RAF Museum Photograph Sales are now available online at www.rafmuseumphotos.com
Visit www.rafmuseumshop.com for all your Royal Air Force and aviation gifts.
Confidentiality: This e-mail and its attachments are intended for the above named only and may be confidential. If they have come to you in error you must take no action based on them, nor must you copy or show them to anyone; please reply to this e-mail and highlight the error.
Security Warning: Please note that this e-mail has been created in the knowledge that Internet e-mail is not a 100% secure communications medium. You should remember this lack of security when e-mailing us.
Viruses: Although we have taken steps to ensure that this e-mail and attachments are free from any virus, we advise that in keeping with good computing practice the recipient should take steps to confirm that they are actually virus free.
Consider the environment: Do you need to print this message?
Contact the list owner for assistance at [log in to unmask]
For information about joining, leaving and suspending mail (eg during a holiday) see the list website at
https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=archives-nra
|