archivists
Document preservation specialists
Archivists are professionals who preserve, organize, and maintain collections of historical documents, records, and other materials.
They work in libraries, museums, government agencies, and corporations, determining what should be kept and making materials accessible to researchers: The archivist helped me locate my grandfather's immigration records.
The role requires balancing preservation with access.
Preventing waste or loss
- digitizationAnalog-to-electronic transformation
- restorationReturning something to condition
- acid-freeLacking corrosive compounds
- microfilmingPhotographing documents in miniature
encapsulation · stabilization · reformatting · security · preservatives · migration · emulation
Handwritten or typed originals
- photographsLight-captured images
- correspondenceExchanged written communication
- ephemeraDisposables preserved as collectibles
- mapsGeographic visual representations
audiovisual · artifacts · memorabilia · born-digital · repository · stacks · vault · holdings
Descriptive information about content
- classificationSystematic grouping by traits
- indexingSystematic organization for retrieval
- catalogingSystematic organization into records
- taxonomyScience of categorical arrangement
ontology · encoding · schema · cross-referencing · inventory · register
Record of ownership
- accessioningFormally adding to holdings
- appraisalEstimation of worth
- arrangementOrdered configuration or agreement
- descriptionAccount of characteristics
series · accession · disposition · transfer · restrictions · redaction · declassification · FOIA
Ordered historical record
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
- codexAncient bound manuscript
- scrollWound document of parchment
- parchmentTreated hide for manuscripts
palimpsest · papyrus · inscription · genealogy · antiquarian
conservation
Preventing waste or loss
- digitizationAnalog-to-electronic transformation
- restorationReturning something to condition
- acid-freeLacking corrosive compounds
microfilming · encapsulation · stabilization · reformatting · security · preservatives · migration · emulation
manuscripts
Handwritten or typed originals
- photographsLight-captured images
- correspondenceExchanged written communication
- ephemeraDisposables preserved as collectibles
maps · audiovisual · artifacts · memorabilia · born-digital · repository · stacks · vault · holdings
metadata
Descriptive information about content
- classificationSystematic grouping by traits
- indexingSystematic organization for retrieval
- catalogingSystematic organization into records
taxonomy · ontology · encoding · schema · cross-referencing · inventory · register
provenance
Record of ownership
- accessioningFormally adding to holdings
- appraisalEstimation of worth
- arrangementOrdered configuration or agreement
description · series · accession · disposition · transfer · restrictions · redaction · declassification · FOIA
chronicle
Ordered historical record
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
- codexAncient bound manuscript
- scrollWound document of parchment
parchment · palimpsest · papyrus · inscription · genealogy · antiquarian
- caretakerscaretaker, caretakers, caregiver, guardian, minder
- museum archivescataloging, collections, curators, documents, inventories
- museum jobstour guide, curator, museum guide, gallery guide, art historians
- museum staffcurators, conservators, docents, guides, tour guides
- literary librariesforbidden books, rare books, hidden knowledge, ancient texts, dusty shelves
- Museum Filmsmuseum guards, museum tours, exhibit halls, curators, display cases