Archivists obtain, catalog and store valuable bits of history -- documents,
maps, film clips and photographs.
Without archivists, our look into the past might be a haphazard jumble.
They organize and describe "non-current" information of value, and they determine
the best way to classify records and make them accessible to others.
Archivists assist researchers or individuals in finding particular documents.
They also plan exhibits.
An important part of an archivist's job is to know what records fit into
a collection. "It's as important to know what not to keep as it is to know
what to keep," says Donna Murphy. She is an archivist.
Archivists may specialize in certain record forms.
Universities, organizations, corporations and all levels of government
maintain archives. Archivists may work in any of these places.
Terry Eastwood is a professor who teaches archival studies. He says archivists
work in specialized institutions for the preservation of archives or in institutions
like libraries and museums. They may also work for organizations that keep
their own archives.
The work environment for archivists is basically hazard-free.
Susan Box is with the Academy of Certified Archivists. She says archivists
sometimes work long days because they have small staffs or are the only staff.
"A day is usually filled with a variety of things to do that can include
processing records, cataloging, identifying photographs, working on projects,
answering requests [and] writing letters, proposals and reports," she says.
"Requests for information arrive by mail, phone and fax from around the world,
both from inside and outside the institution."
Because of these various duties, good management skills are a must for
this profession.
Sometimes travel is necessary in order to attend conferences for research
purposes.