Like you,I did have some experience in archival and historical research
before I enrolled in my archival program, which was a certificated path of
study together with that of (Public) Records Management situatuated in the
Master's in History Degree program at my university. The archival track
required the M.A. for certification and could be taken in tandem or after
the achievement of the M.A. The records management track did not require the
M.A.  I thought it beneficial to receive both.

 I was selected for the program based on my previous experience and other
undergraduate degrees.  I found I really appreciated my graduate level
history studies adjunct to the archival program for many reasons.  I find
that the understanding of the long-term historical aspect in the
identification and selection of archival records, their placement in the
larger picture of what other records are available or will be in the future,
relate to or are supported by the value in any given body of records ( as
well as their own content) are key. In addition, my education has helped me
in understanding the need to research and understand the historiographical
context of source materials whether for research purposes or understanding
the records themselves. Compiling agency histories and placing them in a
larger context from primary sources is a skill enhanced by my graduate
history studies. I feel that this, taken together, enhances in turn my
ability to work as an archivist--something I do as both a public employee
and a private contractor. Feeling the need to be well-rounded,  I am a
certified museum curator (certificate also dependent on the M.A.) and have a
certificate in conservation as well.

Strictly necessary?  NO, but I can understand the variety of approaches
given to archives in various institutions by these fields far better than
someone without this background. I personally feel that my qualifications
would be further enhanced by additional advanced education in history, and
more theoretical and practical education in related fields such as library
and information studies and management-- in spite of my qualifying
certification as an archivist from both SAA and my graduate program, and the
time I have already spent researching the discipline. Some of my work has
taken me into libraries and knowing where the cognitive and pracical schisms
between the fields lie has helped enormously.

Given the demands of rapidly changing technology, the convergence of
disciplines owing in part to the online environment,I don't think I can
ignore the array of educational opportunities addressing the world of
informatics, computing, computers and other associated
technology--digitization, photography, cognitive studies for reference, the
development of description, finding aids and indices, and more.
 
Is this to suggest that I am an education junkee?  Perhaps, but the better
my mastery of both the intellectual and philosophical issues affecting the
issues and my role as an archivist as well as the practical, technical ones,
the better prepared I am to provide reliable appraisal and identification as
well as suitable controls on and access to the records within my circle of
influence (Small though it may be.) 

I really enjoy learning new ways to apply and understand my current bag of
tricks, but it also helps me exercise my professional muscles as well.  Can
I expect a raise commensurate with new learning?  You must be joking. What's
stricly necessary for the work?  I guess it depends on what your
expectations are for the performance of it.  This is, of course, an opinion
that has pointedly left out the uncomfortable subject of finding the means
to do it all. 
To that I say, I feel your pain and suggest grants, scholarships, and a
weekend screening of the movie "Kind Hearts and Coronets".

Have a fine weekend!
 

Elizabeth Fairfax

-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Friday, June 16, 2006 1:19 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Archival Education


I might as well come clean myself: I started working libraries when I was
12, and about 15 years of my working life has been in libraries and archives
of all sorts, doing everything from shelving to cataloging to processing and
so forth.  I've also spent a large amount of time getting the PhD. in
history, and mainly consider myself to be an historian.  I am currently
getting my certificate in archival management and historical editing, a
program in a history department. I chose this instead of a traditional MLIS
program because of the greater emphasis on historical theory and techniques,
but I could end up getting the MLIS as well.  So far, I have found my formal
education and my life experience to be extremely complementary.  

-----Original Message-----
>From: Joan Goodbody <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Jun 16, 2006 4:09 PM
>To: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: RE: Archival Education
>
>Since the question was asked. I am a librarian, but was a museum 
>professional before that (about 18 years) and put small archives 
>together at many museums. Before that worked in and helped with 
>archival type projects extensively since I was a teenager - that's what 
>you get for having a father that is a historian/communications expert.  
>Look forward to seeing the answers to this one. Joan Goodbody, MTU, 
>Houghton, MI.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Archives & Archivists [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On 
>Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
>Sent: Friday, June 16, 2006 4:01 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Archival Education
>
>
>The question of education vs. experience raises (at least to me) this
>question: How many of you (archivists, librarians, et al.) had 
>experience in archives and/or libraries BEFORE your formal training?
> 
>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Richard Cox <[log in to unmask]>
>>Sent: Jun 16, 2006 3:40 PM
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Archival Education
>>
>>Beth Moser writes, "I don't think that there's a right way to go about
>>becoming an archivist -- whether it's from a graduate history 
>>perspective or a MLS perspective. This has long been a debate in the 
>>archival world."  John Erdmann writes, "I wonder, how did archivists 
>>and librarians ever got along before requiring advanced degrees and/or 
>>certifications?  Are the respective fields better for it?  I have 
>>talked to so many librarians who have told me that their experience in 
>>library school was virtually worthless.  Many have told me that the 
>>first job offered the best training."  Erdmann, in a subsequent 
>>message, writes: "Must that education and training come in the form of 
>>advanced degrees at expensive universities, or could it come from the 
>>within the work environment, study on one's own, and at conferences?"
>>
>>There is a right way to become an archivist and not everything can be
>>learned on the job.  There is a knowledge to our field (if there is 
>>not, then we are not a discipline) and there is a need for education 
>>(different from training).  As two recent observers about higher 
>>education have noted, "To succeed in education is not to succeed in 
>>what one sets out to do, or even to succeed in doing whatever is within
>
>>the realm of possibility; success means to succeed in doing something
>>worth doing." (James Engell and Anthony Dangerfield, Saving Higher 
>>Education in the Age of Money [Charlottesville: University of Virginia 
>>Press, 2005], p. 128]  We need education, not merely apprenticeship, 
>>credentialing, practical information, etc., because the archival 
>>mission is important to society (and, actually, there is quite a range 
>>to salaries for such positions).
>>
>>Leon Miller writes, "In other words, your title, your degrees, where
>>you got your training and experience, are all pretty much crap. The
>archival profession needs to do a far, far better job of making the 
>point that regardless of someone's title, a person responsible for 
>archival collections had damn well better be an archivist, had better 
>have a thorough professional-level understanding of archival theory and 
>practice (which, in the US today, usually means an MLS with a minimum 
>of twelve semester credit hours in areas defined as core archival 
>knowledge followed by archival certification within a year or two of 
>graduation, although that is not quite yet the only route) and had 
>better be able to apply archival theory and practice to their work."  
>Yes, Leon is correct.  It is sad that those who complain about salary 
>and recognition also are usually the ones who lament the need for real 
>education. Graduate archival education has changed quite a bit for the 
>better over the past!
>>  few de
>>cades, and there are many programs far exceeding what Leon describes 
>>in
>his message.  Unfortunately, the profession generally seems ignorant of 
>what this education represents and less than interested in arguing for 
>it to be even better than it is.  No, you can't learn all you need to 
>know on the job or by reading quietly at home a few basic manuals.  
>Even to suggest this is to reflect why a stronger foundational 
>education is needed.
>>
>>--
>>Richard J. Cox
>>Professor
>>Department of Library and Information Sciences
>>School of Information Sciences
>>University of Pittsburgh
>>Editor, Records & Information Management Report
>>Pittsburgh, PA 15260
>>Voice:  412-624-3245
>>FAX:    412-648-7001
>>e-mail: [log in to unmask]
>>homepage: http://www2.sis.pitt.edu/%7Ercox/
>>
>>"What we would like to do is change the world - to make it a little
>>simpler for people to feed, clothe, and shelter themselves as God
>intended for them to do. And we can change the world: we can work for 
>the oasis, the little cell of joy and peace in a harried world.  We can 
>throw our pebble in the pond and be confident that its ever widening 
>circle will reach around the world." - Dorothy Day
>>
>>A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by 
>>the
>
>>Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org. For the terms of
>>participation, please refer to 
>>http://www.archivists.org/listservs/arch_listserv_terms.asp.
>>
>>To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to
>[log in to unmask]
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>>Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at
>>     http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html
>>
>>Problems?  Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <[log in to unmask]>
>
>A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the 
>Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org. For the terms of 
>participation, please refer to 
>http://www.archivists.org/listservs/arch_listserv_terms.asp.
>
>To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to [log in to unmask]
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>Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at
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>
>Problems?  Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <[log in to unmask]>

A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the
Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org. For the terms of
participation, please refer to
http://www.archivists.org/listservs/arch_listserv_terms.asp.

To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to [log in to unmask]
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Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at
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Problems?  Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <[log in to unmask]>

A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org.
For the terms of participation, please refer to http://www.archivists.org/listservs/arch_listserv_terms.asp.

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