archivist
Document preservation specialist
An archivist is a person who manages and preserves archives—collections of historical documents, records, and other materials.
Archivists assess what's worth keeping, organize holdings, and make them accessible to researchers: The archivist helped me locate my grandmother's immigration papers.
The work requires balancing preservation with access.
Systematic list of items
- collectionGathered set of items
- exhibitionPublic display of items
- displayPresentation for viewing
- curatorCollection overseer
acquisitions · showcase · exhibit · gallery · artifacts · docent · conservator · retrospective
Handwritten or typed originals
- documentsFormal written records
- catalogingSystematic organization into records
- classificationSystematic grouping by traits
- filingStoring documents systematically
indexing · repository · inventory · records · register · accession · provenance · box
Preventing waste or loss
- digitizationAnalog-to-electronic transformation
- restorationReturning something to condition
- acid-freeLacking corrosive compounds
- climate-controlledArtificially maintained environment
encapsulation · microfilming · storage · stabilization · preservatives · foxing · deterioration · fragile
Ordered historical record
- antiquityGreat age, ancient era
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- genealogyStudy of family descent
- chronologyTemporal ordering of events
annals · relics · civilization · manuscript · papyrus · parchment · vellum · historical
catalogue
Systematic list of items
- collectionGathered set of items
- exhibitionPublic display of items
- displayPresentation for viewing
curator · acquisitions · showcase · exhibit · gallery · artifacts · docent · conservator · retrospective · anthology
manuscripts
Handwritten or typed originals
- documentsFormal written records
- catalogingSystematic organization into records
- classificationSystematic grouping by traits
filing · indexing · repository · inventory · records · register · accession · provenance · box · folder
conservation
Preventing waste or loss
- digitizationAnalog-to-electronic transformation
- restorationReturning something to condition
- acid-freeLacking corrosive compounds
climate-controlled · encapsulation · microfilming · storage · stabilization · preservatives · foxing · deterioration · fragile · handling
chronicle
Ordered historical record
chronology · annals · relics · civilization · manuscript · papyrus · parchment · vellum · historical · legacy
digitization
Analog-to-electronic transformation
- metadataDescriptive information about content
- databaseOrganized digital information collection
- scanningSystematic visual examination
OCR · born-digital · migration · backup · server · TIFF · PDF · searchable · tagging · thumbnail
- government jobscivil servant, civil servants, federal jobs, public servant, government jobs
- royal scribescourt historian
- diocesan officeschancery, curia, finance officer
- librarylibrarian, book stacks, books, library card, bookshelves
- occupationsdoctor, teacher, baker, lawyer, nurse
- caretakerscaretaker, caretakers, caregiver, guardian, minder
archivistdestroyer
One that ruins completely
censor · vandal · iconoclast · purger · demolisher
archivistrevisionist
One who alters accepted narratives
propagandist · Ministry of Truth · denier · suppressor · amnesiac
- digital archivingStoring data for posterity