Course Description
For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.
Course Guide
View this course’s outcomes, policies, schedule, and more.*
*The information contained in our Course Guides is provided as a sample. Specific course curriculum and requirements for each course are provided by individual instructors each semester. Students should not use Course Guides to find and complete assignments, class prerequisites, or order books.
Rationale
This course provides the foundational knowledge and skills necessary for the effective management of historical records. It ensures that the student understands the importance of archives in the public history field and learn how to preserve, organize, and share these resources, upholding ethical stewardship and accessibility.
Course Assignment
Textbook readings and lecture presentations
No details available.
Course Requirements Checklist
After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.
Discussions (2)
Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will complete 2 Discussions in this course. For each Discussion, the student will post one thread of at least 400 words and 2 replies of at least 150 words. For each thread, the student must support his/her assertions with at least 2 scholarly sources in current Turabian format. Each reply must incorporate at least 1 scholarly source in current Turabian format. Any sources cited must have been published within the last ten years.
Project Archive Assignments (10)
Project Archive: Summary and Mission Statement Assignment
In this assignment, the student will begin crafting a detailed plan for establishing an archive. This project will challenge the student to consider the types of historical records his/her archive will collect, the resources necessary to manage these materials, and the processes for preserving and providing access. By completing this assignment, the student will connect archival theory to practical applications, demonstrating the ability to articulate a clear mission and strategic approach. This foundational work will help prepare the student for managing archival collections in professional contexts. For this assignment, the student will create a summary of his/her project archive plan and develop an official mission statement. This should be a 2-3 page paper in current Turabian format that includes at least 2 scholarly sources published within the last ten years.
Project Archive: Collections Policy Assignment
In this assignment, the student will build on his/her Project Archive by creating a comprehensive collections policy. This policy will define the scope, priorities, and strategies for acquiring materials, ensuring his/her archive aligns with its mission and meets professional standards. Crafting this policy will help the student apply archival theory to practical decision-making, preparing him/her for real-world archival management. This should be a 300-400-word paper in current Turabian format that includes at least 1 scholarly source published within the last five years.
Project Archive: Appraisal Worksheet Assignment
Appraisal is a critical archival function, ensuring that materials acquired align with an archive’s mission and resources. A clear appraisal process provides transparency and justifies decisions when negotiating with donors. This assignment will help the student practice designing an appraisal process tailored to his/her Project Archive and applying it to real-world scenarios. For this assignment, the student will create an appraisal worksheet for his/her project outline. The worksheet can be a fillable form or a structured document with questions for appraisers to evaluate potential donations. The worksheet should include sufficient detail to guide an appraisal process effectively while remaining concise and focused.
Project Archive: Donation Form Assignment
A Donation Form, also known as a Deed of Gift, is a foundational document for new accessions in any archive. It ensures legal clarity and serves as a record of the donor’s intent. This assignment will help the student understand the essential elements of a well-constructed donation form and prepare him/her for professional archival practices. For this assignment, the student will design a Donation Form for his/her Project Archive. The student will locate and review three donation forms or deeds of gift from archival institutions to serve as a basis for his/her design with his/her submission. The student will submit the completed Donation Form along with the three reference forms in a single Word document. Use a clear and professional layout with appropriate section headers, formatted professional for real world use
Project Archive: Finding Aid Assignment
Finding aids are essential tools for researchers to discover and understand archival materials. They provide crucial metadata and contextual information about collections, facilitating both access and discovery. This assignment allows the student to create a finding aid, helping him/her understand its components, purpose, and role in archival work. For this assignment, the student will develop a finding aid for an imaginary set of historical records from one of the collecting areas defined in his/her Project Archives Collection Policy. The student’s finding aid should be concise but detailed enough to demonstrate his/her understanding of its components. The finding aid must include at least four peer-reviewed sources for the Biographical Sketch/Organizational History section of the finding aid, as well as a current Turabian formatted bibliography for the sources.
Project Archive: Environmental Conditions Assignment
Providing a safe and environmentally controlled storage space is fundamental to the preservation of archival materials. As an archivist, understanding the environmental factors and security measures required for the student’s collections is essential for responsible stewardship. This assignment will help the student identify and plan for the specific needs of his/her Project Archive’s storage facilities, considering both practical limitations and ideal conditions. For this assignment, the student will evaluate the environmental and security requirements for the materials he/she plans to collect in his/her Project Archive. This will be done in a 300-word paper.
Project Archive: Disaster Plan Assignment
Emergencies such as fires and floods can jeopardize archival collections at any time. While it is impossible to predict every scenario, having a well-thought-out disaster plan equips archivists to respond effectively to unforeseen events. This assignment will help the student apply disaster planning principles to develop a detailed and practical plan for safeguarding his/her Project Archives. For this assignment, the student will develop a comprehensive disaster plan for his/her Project Archives that addresses both fire and flooding emergencies. The disaster plan should demonstrate a strategic approach to emergency preparedness, response, and recovery, This paper will be 1,000 words in length.
Project Archive: Reference Policy Assignment
Reference services form the primary point of interaction between archives and their patrons. A well-developed reference policy ensures consistent, professional, and efficient service while setting clear boundaries for the resources and services the student’s archive provides. This assignment will help the student design a comprehensive reference policy for his/her Project Archive, preparing him/her for real-world archival interactions. For this assignment, the student will develop a reference policy for his/her Project Archive based on the template in Appendix Z of the textbook. The content of the reference policy will be 200 words.
Project Archive: Policy Update Assignment
The increasing prevalence of digital records has revolutionized archival practices, requiring institutions to adapt policies to manage and preserve these materials effectively. This assignment challenges the student to expand his/her Project Archive’s collection policy to address digital objects, considering their unique preservation and accessibility needs. Through this process, the student will gain valuable experience in integrating digital records into archival planning. For this assignment, the student will update his/her Project Archive’s collection policy to include standards for managing digital objects. He/she will draft a 700-word proposal to the Board of Directors for his/her Project Archive.
Project Archive: Digitization Plan Assignment
Digitization is a critical archival process that enhances preservation and accessibility for fragile or significant items. This assignment will help the student plan and visualize each stage of a digitization project, preparing the student to handle similar projects professionally in the future. The student will assess resources, create workflows, and develop a strategy to successfully manage a digitization initiative. The student will select one of the three scenarios provided that best aligns with his/her Project Archive and develop a detailed 1,000-word plan for a digitization project.
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