A First Introduction to Archival Science

This first introduction, written for educational purposes, is meant to be a concise basic text in which the core concepts of archival science are coherently defined and explained, in a non-polemical way and departing from a de-institutionalised point of view. It is not intended to support or reject any single theory, but to provide an overview. It should be read as a synthesis of a variety of shared ideas and views, not as a manifesto of a new approach to archival science. If there is anything new to it, it might be located in the coherent and integrated presentation. In this primer of archival science annotation has been avoided.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Archival theory in Italy today

Archival theory in Italy has a long tradition, going back as far as the second half of the nineteenth century, and with roots in the 17th and 18th centuries. Central theme in the theory is themetodo storico, the principle of provenance, for the first time expressed in the late 19th century by Bonaini and Bongi. In the following decades archivists like Casanova and Cencetti were among the leading authors. Elio Lodolini assigned himself the task to synthesize ideas and notions, within a clear distinctions between records (registratura) and archives. One of the overall characteristics of the rich Italian literature is the stressing of the cultural value of archives. I have twice treated before the theme of archival theory in Italy from the fifties up to the nineties. The first time on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of theScuola speciale per Archivisti e Bibliotecari dell'Università degli Studi “La Sapienza” di Roma in 1989, when there was an international round table on archival science in the State Archives of Rome. My essay,Italian archival science today, has been published in the proceedings of the meeting (cfr. Donato Tamblé,L'archivistica in Italia oggi, inStudi sull'archivistica, by Roma: Elio Lodolini, 1992). Some years later, in 1993, I published a book on contemporary Italian archival theory (Donato Tamblé,La teoria archivistica italiana contemporanea (1950–1990). Profilo storico-critico (Roma, 1993) which was the sequel to the volume of Elio Lodolini on Italian archival history — (Lineamenti di storia dell'archivistica italiana (Roma, 1991). The purpose of my book was that of locating and identifying the scientific object of archival science as it developed and was clarified in the thinking and in the lucubration of the contemporary Italian Archivists.     

Archival theory in Italy today

Archival theory in Italy has a long tradition, going back as far as the second half of the nineteenth century, and with roots in the 17th and 18th centuries. Central theme in the theory is themetodo storico, the principle of provenance, for the first time expressed in the late 19th century by Bonaini and Bongi. In the following decades archivists like Casanova and Cencetti were among the leading authors. Elio Lodolini assigned himself the task to synthesize ideas and notions, within a clear distinctions between records (registratura) and archives. One of the overall characteristics of the rich Italian literature is the stressing of the cultural value of archives. I have twice treated before the theme of archival theory in Italy from the fifties up to the nineties. The first time on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of theScuola speciale per Archivisti e Bibliotecari dell'Università degli Studi “La Sapienza” di Roma in 1989, when there was an international round table on archival science in the State Archives of Rome. My essay,Italian archival science today, has been published in the proceedings of the meeting (cfr. Donato Tamblé,L'archivistica in Italia oggi, inStudi sull'archivistica, by Roma: Elio Lodolini, 1992). Some years later, in 1993, I published a book on contemporary Italian archival theory (Donato Tamblé,La teoria archivistica italiana contemporanea (1950–1990). Profilo storico-critico (Roma, 1993) which was the sequel to the volume of Elio Lodolini on Italian archival history — (Lineamenti di storia dell'archivistica italiana (Roma, 1991). The purpose of my book was that of locating and identifying the scientific object of archival science as it developed and was clarified in the thinking and in the lucubration of the contemporary Italian Archivists.     

Education and research in archival science: General tendencies

This text is essentially based on works carried out for a research which was subsidized from 1997 to 2000 by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). The goal of this study was to examine the general tendencies of education and research in archival science. First, a review of the literature published from 1985 to 1998 allowed us to establish a state of the art. Then, a survey was completed with a questionnaire which has been sent to educational institutions, national archives institutions and researchers. Answers were received from more than 70 different countries. With regards to the education program, the analysis of data shows that there have seen notable progresses. More than the growth of the number of programs, we must especially recognize the constant improvement of its contents, which is achieved in conformity with the propositions made in the literature. As for the research, it exists a community of ideas about fields and themes to be privileged even if there is an apparent division of the researchers into two groups. The first group distinguishes itself by its cohesion by unanimously recognizing a small number (nine) of priorities in research in archival science. The second group shows multiple interests which cover 30 research themes. The author conclude in saying that the development of education and research in archival science are on their way, but nothing has yet been won. It is important to accentuate the efforts to insure a durable life to education and research as pillars of the discipline. This text is an overview of a project which has been subsidized by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) from 1997 to 2000. It has been presented in September 2000 in Seville (Spain) at the 10th Symposium of the Section for Archival Education and Training of the International Council on Archives (CIA/SAE).     

Archival science and postmodernism: new formulations for old concepts

Process rather than product, becoming rather than being, dynamic rather than static, context rather than text, reflecting time and place rather than universal absolutes—these have become the postmodern watchwords for analyzing and understanding science, society, organizations, and business activity, among others. They should likewise become the watchwords for archival science in the new century, and thus the foundation for a new conceptual paradigm for the profession. Postmodernism is not the only reason for reformulating the main precepts of archival science. Significant changes in the purpose of archives as institutions and the nature of records are other factors which, combined with postmodern insights, form the basis of the new perception of archives as documents, institutions, and profession in society. This essay explores the nature of postmodernism and archival science, and suggest links between the two. It outlines two broad changes in archival thinking that underpin the archival paradigm shift, before suggesting new formulations for most traditional archival concepts.     

The impact of digital technology on archival science

Archival science is to be regarded as a system. The properties of that system can be investigated and integrated. The methodology to do so has been tested in two research projects which are presented in this article as examples of the way in which the view of archival science as a system supports the development of new knowledge and as a demonstration of the stability of archival theory. This article presupposes that the archival discipline is also a “science”. Many have argued against the idea on the basis of a common perception that a science is a type of study entirely objective by virtue of the rigorous manner in which it is carried out and the restricted range of topics to which it applies. In fact, the activity of science is based upon a complex framework of assumptions that make it possible for the landscape of the scientific endeavour to be redrawn over time, and, while striving towards objectivity, considers it to be an unattainable ideal.     

The impact of digital technology on archival science

Archival science is to be regarded as a system. The properties of that system can be investigated and integrated. The methodology to do so has been tested in two research projects which are presented in this article as examples of the way in which the view of archival science as a system supports the development of new knowledge and as a demonstration of the stability of archival theory. This article presupposes that the archival discipline is also a “science”. Many have argued against the idea on the basis of a common perception that a science is a type of study entirely objective by virtue of the rigorous manner in which it is carried out and the restricted range of topics to which it applies. In fact, the activity of science is based upon a complex framework of assumptions that make it possible for the landscape of the scientific endeavour to be redrawn over time, and, while striving towards objectivity, considers it to be an unattainable ideal.     

Teaching Macroappraisal: A View of the Literature

The author, who is Guest Reviews Editor for this special issue on macro-appraisal, introduces and provides context for four review articles, written by archival educators from Canada, the United States, and Australia, that discuss the most important works they use to teach macroappraisal and why these works are chosen. While each article demonstrates the unique characteristics of the archival education program in which the author is situated, they are united by a common theme—the need for educators to prepare students, as best they can, to take their places as practising professional archivists.     

Archival science and postmodernism: new formulations for old concepts

Process rather than product, becoming rather than being, dynamicrather than static, context rather than text, reflecting time andplace rather than universal absolutes – these have become thepostmodern watchwords for analyzing and understanding science,society, organizations, and business activity, among others. Theyshould likewise become the watchwords for archival science in thenew century, and thus the foundation for a new conceptual paradigmfor the profession. Postmodernism is not the only reason for reformulatingthe main precepts of archival science. Significant changes in thepurpose of archives as institutions and the nature of records areother factors which, combined with postmodern insights, form thebasis of the new perception of archives as documents, institutions,and profession in society.This essay explores the nature of postmodernism and archival science,and suggest links between the two. It outlines two broad changes inarchival thinking that underpin the archival paradigm shift, beforesuggesting new formulations for most traditional archival concepts.     

高校档案教育新形式的出现与发展——以福建师范大学首届档案职业技能大赛为例

档案学作为一门实践类学科,实践教学本就必不可少,但受到资源限制,学生实践机会较少。福建师范大学举办档案职业技能大赛,将档案竞赛活动同档案专业教育相结合,取得了较好成效,同时探索了适合档案专业实践特性的新型教育方式,也为高校档案教育的发展提供了新的思路。     

后现代档案学理论的思想实质研究

作为档案学演进的一股重要潮流,后现代档案学已成为继古典档案学与现代档案学之后的又一创新性理论样态。探析后现代档案学理论的思想实质是理解与深化这一理论样态的重要基础。后现代档案学理论的思想实质体现在其理论批判性、思维更新性和多元主张性。其中,理论批判是后现代档案学理论的基本立足点,区别于传统档案学理论的僵化模式;思维更新是后现代档案学理论的发展活力源泉,区别于传统档案学理论的固有认知;多元主张是后现代档案学理论的认识论与方法论基础,区别于传统档案学理论的确定性倡导。     

Archival education in scandinavia

In the Scandinavian countries, archival education and training are provided by a great number of actors. There are no traditional archives schools in the sense of the école de chartes but all the other forms of education and training are available. Archival science has a strong presence in universities especially in Sweden, Finland and Norway. A typically Scandinavian characteristic is the prominent role of the National Archives Services as providers of archival education and training. In Finland the National Archives Service has two comprehensive programmes, resulting in formal degrees, for people working in archival duties in the administration or in the private sector. Another markedly Scandinavian characteristic is that records management has a prominent role in educational and training programmes. Also archival associations and foundations are mong the actors in the field of education and training in Scandinavia. The Norwegian “Arkivakademiet” and the Finnish Association of Business Archivists are good examples of this.     

基于扎根理论的用户档案价值判断影响因素研究—以综合档案馆的档案利用者为例

档案价值判断是档案利用者利用档案的前提条件。首先通过文献研究法和访谈法收集影响档案利用者判断档案价值的因素;然后利用扎根理论分析发现:档案利用者对档案价值的判断主要受利用需求、利用能力、档案信息、档案来源、档案实体、档案实践活动及档案系统环境7个主范畴的共同影响;最后,根据访谈文本构建了档案利用者档案价值判断的影响因素模型,并据此提出完善档案利用者档案价值认识系统、提高档案工作人员服务水平及推动档案馆馆藏资源建设合理化等启示。     

Conceptual Analysis: A Method for Understanding Information as Evidence, and Evidence as Information

The utility of conceptual analysis for archival science is assessed by means of an exploratory evaluation in which the concept of evidence is analyzed. Usage of the term “evidence” in the philosophies of science, law, and history is briefly reviewed; candidates for necessary conditions of evidentiariness are identified and examined; and taxonomies are built of evidentiariness and of archival inference. Correspondences are shown to exist between the concepts of evidentiariness and relevance, and between the domains of archival science and social epistemology, thereby pointing in promising directions for further research. The tentative conclusion is reached that conceptual analysis may profitably be used to improve understanding of archival concepts.     

改革开放40年来中国档案学研究的全景透视——基于研究主题的挖掘与演化分析

本文基于研究主题的挖掘与演化分析,对改革开放以来我国档案学研究的主题结构、演化规律、热点变迁与研究前沿进行了透视。发现：①“档案资源建设与服务”是改革开放以来我国档案学领域形成的规模最大且最具发展潜力的核心主题社区;②“档案资源&档案信息资源”主题形成前后,我国档案学领域出现改革开放以来最为明显的主题分化与融合现象;③改革开放以来我国档案学研究热点有很明显的“世纪分割”现象,“互联网+”“大数据”等成为学科研究的前沿。同时指出,档案学研究中存在如下问题：①思维保守以致超前研究较匮乏;②盲目追求热度而研究深度不足;③国外经验与国内实践间的冲突。面对问题,档案界应：①做好规划,树立自信;②稳中求进,逆向思维;③正视差别,回归理性。     

档案学革命发生与否的范式论分析

档案学革命是否已经发生?档案学界分歧的焦点是档案学正处于常规科学时期,还是科学革命时期?运用范式论分析并质疑了"现阶段档案学已经完成了科学革命"的观点,指出当前档案学正处于常规科学向科学革命转变的时期。