Sorry everyone, I didn't mean to start all this!
On the bright side, at least we can be certain that we're not going to be
a target for gold-diggers - not unless they've completely lost the plot!
Claire
Claire Harrington
Principal Archivist/Y Prif Archifydd
01244 532414
Jon Trelfer <[log in to unmask]>
Sent by: "Archivists, conservators and records managers."
<[log in to unmask]>
24/04/2008 15:50
Please respond to
Jon Trelfer <[log in to unmask]>
To
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cc
Fax to
Subject
Re: Expensive tastes
Bravo Kate! I could not agree with you more.
I was not attacking archivists and did not mean to be seen to degrade
their intelligence, hard work and skills.
I was merely trying to say that which Kate put across so well. As I know
quite a few archaeologists, librarians, academics, some teachers and the
likes, that are all in similar situations to that of the archivist
community. Most of whom also, as Kate said, do what they do, not
necessarily for monetary recognition, or even any public recognition, but
because it is something that they had a passion about, an interest in, and
something that they wanted to do.
I?m not interested in archiving because of the money, but because of what
it is, as an alternative and complimentary aspect to my interest in
learning about the past, and helping and teaching others to do so, as I
do.
As for the average wage, I would like to know where the government get
that from, as very few people I know are any where near that.
Jon
-----Original Message-----
From: Archivists, conservators and records managers.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tyte, Kate
Sent: 24 April 2008 15:20
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: FW: Expensive tastes
Thank you for your lovely comment about how smart we are, Craig!
I heard recently that the average wage in Britain in 27,000, which is more
than the average archivist earns, and probably more than we will ever earn
unless we gain a management position. I do think its a shame that we all
have degrees and a masters degree, and probably student debts to pay off,
yet seem to be valued so little, and it does annoy me that teachers
complain about their pay and go on strike when they earn an average of
34,000, or so I hear.
However, the same could be said about most jobs that require academic
training - I'm sure archaeologists, teachers, academics, librarians, and
most people who work in the arts/heritage/public service sectors feel
miffed that all their years of training earn them a fairly low-paid job,
while other jobs that don't require so much training are well paid. This
is just a function of our current capitalist economy.
On the other hand, I don't think any of chose our careers on the basis of
financial reward alone. We could probably have all been corporate lawyers
if we wanted to, but we chose job satisfaction, a sense of doing something
worthwhile, relatively low stress levels, and a job that suits us and uses
our skills and enables us to 'live our values' instead. Not many people
are lucky enough to be able choose that.
Kate.
-----Original Message-----
From: craig moore [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 24 April 2008 14:44
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Expensive tastes
A couple of things in response:
1. Archivists are still on the whole paid less than teachers in the public
sector.
2. A lot of the jobs you see advertised tend to go to people with at least
a couple of years experience. (Hence a couple of years will be spent on
lower than average salaries)
3. There is quite a high bar for entry to archiving.
4. (Speaking as a Librarian here) Archivists tend to be phenomenally
smart. Sadly the pay levels do not tend to reflect that.
Craig A.M.
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:00:26 +0100
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: FW: Expensive tastes
To: [log in to unmask]
Jon Trelfer
GIS Information Technician
Contaminated Land
Highland Council
-----Original Message-----
From: Jon Trelfer
Sent: 24 April 2008 12:40
To: 'jenny moran'
Subject: RE: Expensive tastes
Definitely would have thought equality should play a part in things.
Plus, I don?t really understand, for as far as I can see (an
archaeologist, currently work as an Information Technician for
contaminated land, really quite interested in getting into archiving)
archivists are one of the better public sector jobs going. At the lower
grad they get paid more than I was on as a field archaeologist, and with
more stability, and even now, the starting/unqualified training posts are
equal to if not more than what I am on now, and the amount that you guys
can earn when you reach the upper climbs is more than most I know in
either archaeology or contaminated land. (I?ve seen the cross-posting
adverts for jobs!)
So yeah, expensive tastes, why not choose an archivist? Better than most.
{=0)
Jon Trelfer
GIS Information Technician
Contaminated Land
Highland Council
-----Original Message-----
From: Archivists, conservators and records managers.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of jenny moran
Sent: 24 April 2008 12:21
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Expensive tastes
Speaking as a wife with expensive tastes, perhaps it just didn't work out
as these ladies expected. I thought I'd be quids in marrying someone in IT
(we'll leave out the juggling years...) but then he insisted on joining
the staff of a housing association and is currently paid not much more
than an archivist. Such idle notions as 'job satisfaction' and 'doing
good' have, sadly, taken precedence over the more important things in life
like new shoes and champagne cocktails. In addition, other than the odd
bit of illicit printing he has refused to supplement our miniscule joint
income by nicking hard or software from work: at least the husbands in
question were making the effort to keep their wives in the style.
Cheers All.
Jenny
Jenny Moran
in personal capacity - suspect the item above is not endorsed by the
august bodies I am connected with being Northamptonshire County Council
and the Society of Archivists
Dear All,
As far as I remember, the New York archivist also made the excuse that his
wife had expensive tastes. Don't these women have even half a brain-cell
to tell them that if they have expensive tastes to support, an archivist
might not be the best husband to choose?
I'm rather inclined to think that the wife in these cases is just a
scapegoat. I'd like to hear her side of the story.
Claire
Claire Harrington
Principal Archivist/Y Prif Archifydd
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