HIS 667 Archival Administration

William H. Mulligan, Jr.
Office: Faculty Hall 6B9
Phone: X6571
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30-9:30; 3:30-4:30 and Wednesdays 8:30-11:30; 1:30-2:30 and by appointment.
Class Meets:

Catalog Description An in-depth introduction to the care of historical materials including archives, manuscripts, photographs and ephemeral items.
Instructor Comments This course will serve as an introduction to the issues and practices in the archival profession. The course will be include lectures and in-class discussion of readings. Projects and written assignments are designed to further acquaint students with current professional issues and practices. Students are encouraged to visit archival institutions and manuscript repositories in addition to those that may be visited during the semester and talk with staff . There will be guest speakers who are practicing archivists. Due to course schedule, and the instructor's schedule, field trips will need to be on Monday or Friday. We will try to arrange one or two trips to visit appropriate institutions during the semester. This will be discussed in class early in the semester.
Texts:

Reserve:

Additional Bibliography

Schedule

Aug. 27 Distribution of Syllabus

Aug. 29 Introduction to the Course: What are Archives?
Bradsher, #1, 2
Schellenberg, Modern Archives, chpt. 2
Daniels, Appendix
TPH, I,1 "Archives Library Information Center"

Sept. 3-19 Development of Archival Principles and Methodologies
Schellenberg, Management of Archives, chpts. I - IX
Schellenberg, Modern Archives, chpts. 11, 14
TPH III, 3 Spence, "Formalizing the Paper Chase"

Sept. 24-26 Archivists and Record Management
Bradsher, #3
Schellenberg, Modern Archives, chpt. 5
Daniels, #2

Oct. 1-3 Records Appraisal and Acquisition
Bradsher, #4
Daniels, #3,4
Optional: Schellenberg, Modern Archives, chpt. 12
TPH I,5 "Accessioning"

Oct. 8-15 Archival Arrangement and Description
Schellenberg, Management of Archives, chpts. X - XVIII
Bradsher, #5,6
Daniels, #5,6

Oct. 17 MID TERM EXAM

Oct. 22-24 Maps, Photographs and Other Special Materials
Schellenberg, Management of Archives, chpts. XIX - XX
Bradsher, #7-9
TPH III, 3 "Care of Photographs";
TPH, II, 1 Nelb, "Maybe We Could Shrink 'Em?"

Oct. 29-31 Automating Archives
Harrison, all
Bradsher, #10
TPH III,5&6 "Computers and the Local Historical Organization"

Nov. 5 FALL BREAK - NO CLASS

Nov. 7 Reference Service and Access
Bradsher, #12
Daniels, #7
Optional: Schellenberg, Modern Archives, chpt. 17

Nov. 12 Security in the Archives
Bradsher, #15
TPH, I,6 "Security"

Nov. 14 Archival Ethics
Bradsher, #13
TPH II,1 "Collecting Ethics"

Nov. 19 Conservation and Preservation of Archival Materials
Bradsher, #14
Schellenberg, Modern Archives, chpt.13
TPH III,4 "Microfilming Local Newspapers"

Nov. 21 Public Programs
Bradsher, #16
Daniels, #8

Nov. 26 Archival Exhibits
Bradsher, #17

Nov. 28 THANKSGIVING BREAK

Dec. 3-10 Managing Archival Institutions
Bradsher, #18,19
Daniels, #9
TPH I-VI, passim.

Dec.17 FINAL EXAM 1:30pm

WWW RESOURCES 



New England Document
Conservation Center 
http://www.knaw.nl/ecpa/expo.htm

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE ARCHIVES LISTSERV

Semester Assignments

1. All students should establish an e-mail account and log onto the Archives listserve no later than September 10. During the semester monitor discussion on the list regularly - you may log on in digest mode. Log off the list no later than December 10. At the end of the semester turn in a copy of the acknowledgments of logging on and off and a journal outlining issues discussed during the semester on the list and summarizing the discussion of at least five issues. The journal should also include an assessment of the value of the listserve for archivists.

2. Surf the Net and visit the homepages of ten archival institutions, including at least three that post finding aids and two that post full text of parts of their collection. Write a brief, two to three page review of each homepage and an overall assessment of the value of homepages for archival institutions.

3. Visit an archival institution and observe the following: security procedures, finding aids, access to the collection, and promotional publications. Write a brief, app. 5 page, essay summarizing what you observe and how it relates to the course readings and discussions.

4. Visit an exhibit that uses archival materials and write a review that discusses how the archival materials are used, the conditions under which they rare displayed, and how they add to the effectiveness of the exhibit.

Grading

Mid-term 100 points Final 100 points Archives List 50 points Homepages 50 points Archives Visit 50 points Exhibit Review 50 points

A 360 points or more B 320-359 points C 280-319 points D 240-279 points E fewer than 239 points

Attendance Policy Regular class attendance is expected of all students. For every two unexcused absences the final grade will be reduced by one letter grade, (i.e. from A to B.) Absences will be excused for the following reasons: participation in a university-sanctioned activity or program, death in the family or other family emergency, serious illness with a doctor's note, jury duty, military obligation, or weather emergency making travel dangerous. Students are also expected to attend the entire class. Arriving late or leaving early will count as an unexcused absence, except in highly unusual circumstances. Students are responsible for all material presented in classes they miss or changes in the course schedule that are announced in class whether their absence is excused or unexcused. If you miss class get notes from someone and see me as soona s possible if you have any questions. Students who require special arrangements for exams or in-class presentations must make such arrangements themselves at least one week prior to the exam or presentation. Students with a valid excuse for missing an exam or an in-class presentation are responsible for informing the instructor as soon as possible, but no later than the day following the exam or presentation.
Academic Honesty

It is assumed and expected that all students will present only their own work on exams and the written assignment. Any student caught cheating will fail the course and all such incidents will be referred to appropriate University officials for further action, including expulsion from the University. Plagiarism, i.e. copying material verbatim (i.e. word-for-word) without attribution, on the writing assignment is included in the definition of cheating. Students should consult the College of Humanistic Studies Policy on Academic Honesty.

The policies of the College of Humanistic Studies on Academic Integrity and Plagiarism and the College's Principles of Academic Conduct will be followed.

E-Mail Procedures

To set up a university e-mail account, go to the Academic Computing & Technology Services, Second Floor, Lowery Center. It is not required that students have a university e-mail account if they already have another account. E-mail addresses must be turned into the instructor by Sept. 10. Course information will be distributed via e-mail during the semester.

TOP

Public History Courses Page

Public History Home page