Archives and Preservation

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Study the management and preservation of historical artifacts and documents as well as the role of archives in making history accessible to the public.

Historical preservation: The practice of preserving cultural heritage sites and materials such as buildings, documents, artifacts, and other items for future generations.
Archival materials: The types of materials that are preserved in archives including photographs, documents, maps, journals, books, manuscripts, and other unique items.
Digitization: The process of converting physical materials into digital formats that can be accessed online, making them more accessible and easier to preserve.
Collection development: The process of selecting and acquiring materials that are relevant to a particular archive, museum, or library's mission.
Preservation techniques: The methods used to preserve archival and other artifacts such as conservation, restoration, and preventative care.
Appraisal: The process of evaluating materials to determine their value and relevance to an archive's mission, which is necessary for deciding whether or not to acquire them.
Cataloging: The process of creating detailed descriptions of archival materials in order to make them discoverable by researchers.
Records management: The practice of managing and organizing records, including their creation, use, and retention.
Intellectual property: The legal principles governing the ownership and use of copyrighted materials in archives and other cultural institutions.
Access and use policies: The rules and guidelines governing how archival materials can be accessed, used, and shared by researchers.
Community outreach: The practice of engaging with the community to promote access to and understanding of archives and preservation efforts.
Disaster preparedness: The planning and preparation necessary to protect archival materials in the event of natural disasters, fires, or other emergencies.
Collaborative projects: The partnerships between archives and other institutions such as museums, libraries, and universities to preserve and promote cultural heritage.
Ethics and professional standards: The codes of conduct that guide the work of archivists and other professionals in the cultural heritage industry.
Institutional archives: Archives created and maintained by government agencies, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, museums, and other types of institutions.
Personal archives: Archives created and maintained by individuals or families that document their personal lives and activities.
Corporate archives: Archives created and maintained by businesses and corporations that document their operations and activities.
Digital archives: Archives that preserve valuable digital content such as websites, e-mails, social media posts, and other forms of digital content.
Cultural heritage archives: Archives that preserve and make accessible cultural works and artifacts including art, literature, music, and film.
Fine arts archives: Archives that preserve and document the work of artists, including drawings, paintings, and sculptures.
Film and TV archives: Archives that collect, preserve, and provide access to films and TV programs.
Literary archives: Archives that document the lives and works of writers and other authors.
Archaeological archives: Archives that document and preserve the results of archaeological excavations.
Archive conservation: The preservation of archives through proper storage, handling, and monitoring.
Oral history archives: Archives that collect and preserve oral histories, or spoken accounts of personal experiences and events.
Regional archives: Archives that document the history and culture of a specific region or locality.
Special collections archives: Archives that collect and preserve unique or rare items such as manuscripts, rare books, and historical maps.
Military archives: Archives that document the activities of military units, including personnel records, operational reports, and other historical materials.
Religious archives: Archives that document the history and activities of organized religions and religious institutions.
- "Archival science, or archival studies, is the study and theory of building and curating archives, which are collections of documents, recordings and data storage devices."
- "To build and curate an archive, one must acquire and evaluate recorded materials, and be able to access them later." - "Archival science seeks to improve methods for appraising, storing, preserving, and cataloging recorded materials."
- "In order to be of value to society, archives must be trustworthy." - "An archivist has a responsibility to authenticate archival materials, such as historical documents, and to ensure their reliability, integrity, and usability."
- "Archival records must be what they claim to be; accurately represent the activity they were created for; present a coherent picture through an array of content; and be in usable condition in an accessible location."
- "An archive curator is called an archivist." - "An archivist has a responsibility to authenticate archival materials, such as historical documents, and to ensure their reliability, integrity, and usability."
- "To build and curate an archive, one must acquire and evaluate recorded materials, and be able to access them later."
- "Archival science seeks to improve methods for appraising, storing, preserving, and cataloging recorded materials."
- "Archival records must be in usable condition in an accessible location."
- "An archivist has a responsibility to authenticate archival materials, such as historical documents, and to ensure their reliability, integrity, and usability."
- "Archival records must accurately represent the activity they were created for."
- "Archival records must be what they claim to be; present a coherent picture through an array of content; and be in usable condition in an accessible location."
- "The curation of an archive is called archive administration."
- "Archives are collections of documents, recordings, and data storage devices."
- "Archival science seeks to improve methods for appraising, storing, preserving, and cataloging recorded materials."
- "Archival records must be in usable condition in an accessible location."
- "In order to be of value to society, archives must be trustworthy."
- "An archivist has a responsibility to authenticate archival materials and ensure their reliability, integrity, and usability."
- "The curation of an archive is called archive administration."
- "Archival science seeks to improve methods for cataloging recorded materials."
- "An archivist has a responsibility to acquire and evaluate recorded materials."