Archive
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{{selfref|For other uses, see [[Archive (disambiguation)]]. For the Wikipedia coordination point on archived pages, see [[Wikipedia:Historical archive]].}}
[[Image:AMVC archive 070628.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Archive of the [[Archive and Museum for the Flemish Culture|AMVC]]]]
An '''archive''' refers to a collection of historical records, and also refers to the location in which these records are kept.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usd.edu/library/instruction/glossary.shtml |title=Glossary of Library and Internet Terms |accessdate=2007-04-30 |publisher=[http://www.usd.edu University of South Dakota Library]}}</ref>
Archives are made up of records (AKA [[primary source]] documents) which have been accumulated over the course of an individual or organization's lifetime. For example, the archives of an individual may contain letters, papers, photographs, computer files, scrapbooks, financial records, diaries or any other kind of documentary materials created or collected by the individual--regardless of media or format. The archives of an organization (such as a [[corporation]] or [[government]]), on the other hand, tend to contain different types of records, such as administrative files, business records, memos, official correspondence, meeting minutes, and so on.
In general, archives of any individual or organization consist of records which have been especially selected for permanent or long-term preservation, due to their enduring research value. Archival records are normally unpublished and almost always unique, unlike [[book]]s or magazines, in which many identical copies exist. This means that archives (the places) are quite distinct from [[libraries]] with regard to their functions and organization, although archival collections can often be found within library buildings.
Archives are sometimes described as information generated as the "by-product" of normal human activities, while libraries hold specifically authored information "products".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.archivists.org/glossary/term_details.asp?DefinitionKey=156|title=A Glossary of Archival and Records Terminology |accessdate=2007-04-06 |publisher=[http://www.archivists.org Society of American Archivists]}}</ref>
A person who works in archives is called an [[archivist]]. The study and practice of organizing, preserving, and providing access to information and materials in archives is called [[archival science]].
Archivists tend to prefer the term 'archives' (with an S) as the correct terminology to serve as both the singular and plural, since 'archive,' as a noun or a verb, has meanings related to computer science.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/archive|title=definition of archive |accessdate=2007-04-30 |publisher=[[wikt:archive|Wiktionary]]}}</ref>
==Archive Users and Institutions==
[[Historian]]s, [[genealogist]]s, [[lawyer]]s, [[demographer]]s, and others conduct [[research]] at archives.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://americanhistory.si.edu/archives/a-1.htm|title=What Are Archives? |accessdate=2007-04-30 |publisher=[http://americanhistory.si.edu National Museum of American History]}}</ref> The research process at each archive is unique, and depends upon the institution in which the archive is housed. While there are many different kinds of archives, the most recent census of archivists in the United States identified five major types: academic, for profit (business), government, non profit, and other.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Walch |first=Victoria Irons |coauthors= |year=2006 |month= |title=Archival Census and Education Needs Survey in the United States: Part 1: Introduction |journal=The American Archivist |volume=69 |issue= 2|pages=294–309|url=http://www.archivists.org/a-census/reports/Walch-ACENSUS.pdf | accessdate=2007-04-30}}</ref>
===Academic Archives===
Archives existing in [[college]]s, [[universities]], or other educational facilities are usually grouped as academic archives. Academic archives typically exist within a [[library]], and duties may be carried out by an [[archivist]] or a [[librarian]]. Occasionally, history professors may run a smaller academic archive.<ref>{{cite book | first=William J. | last=Maher | year=1992 | title=The Management of College and University Archives. | chapter= | editor= | others= | pages= | location=Metuchen, New Jersey | publisher=Society of American Archivists & The Scarecrow Press, Inc. | id= | url=http://www.archivists.org/catalog/pubDetail.asp?objectID=185 | authorlink= }}</ref> Academic archives exist to celebrate and preserve the history of their school and academic community.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kennesaw.edu/archives/|title=Welcome to University Archives and Records Management |accessdate=2007-05-08 |publisher=[http://www.kennesaw.edu/archives/ Kennesaw State University Archives]}}</ref> The inventory of an academic archive may contain items such as papers of former professors and presidents, memorabilia related to school organizations and activities, and items the academic library wishes to remain in a closed-stack setting, such as rare books or [[thesis]] copies. It is always a good idea to contact an academic archive before visiting, as the majority of these institutions are available by appointment only. Users of academic archives are often graduate students and those wishing to view rare or historical documents for research purposes. Many academic archives work closely with [[alumni]] relations to help raise funds for their library or school.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.archivists.org/governance/guidelines/cu_guidelines.asp|title=Guidelines for College and University Archives |accessdate=2007-05-08 |publisher=[http://www.archivists.org Society of American Archivists]}}</ref> Because of their library setting, a degree certified by the [[American Library Association]] is preferred for employment in an academic archive in the USA.
===Business (For Profit) Archives===
Archives located in for-profit institutions are usually those owned by a private [[business]]. Examples of prominent business archives in the United States include [[Coca-Cola]] (which also owns the separate museum [[World of Coca-Cola]]), [[Proctor and Gamble]], [[Motorola]] Heritage Services and Archives, and [[Levi Strauss & Co.]]. These corporate archives maintain historic documents and items related to the history of their companies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessarchivescouncil.org.uk/|title=Business Archives Council |accessdate=2007-05-08 |publisher=[http://www.businessarchivescouncil.org.uk Business Archives Council]}}</ref> Business archives serve the purpose of helping their corporations maintain control over their [[brand]] by retaining memories of the company's past. Especially in business archives, [[records management]] is separate from the historic aspect of archives. Workers in these types of archives may have any combination of training and degrees, from either a history or library background. These archives are typically not open to the public and only used by workers of the owner company, although some will allow approved visitors by appointment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hunterinformation.com/corporat.htm|title=Directory of Corporate Archives |accessdate=2007-05-08 |publisher=[http://www.hunterinformation.com Hunter Information Management]}}</ref> Business archives are concerned with maintaining the [[integrity]] of their parent company, and therefore selective of how their materials may be used.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.archivists.org/saagroups/bas/Intro_bus_arch.asp |title= Business Archives in North America - Invest in your future: Understand your past |accessdate=2007-05-08 |publisher=[http://www.archivists.org Society of American Archivists]}}</ref>
===Government Archives===
The category of [[government]] archives includes those institutions run on a local and state level as well as those run by the national (federal) government. Anyone may use a government archive, and frequent users include [[reporters]], [[genealogists]], [[writers]], [[historians]], [[students]], and anyone wanting more information on the history of their home or region. While it is a good idea to make an appointment before visiting government archives, at many government archives no appointment is required, as they are open to the public.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.ca/about-us/016/index-e.html|title=Directions for Change |accessdate=2007-05-09 |publisher=[http://www.collectionscanada.ca Libraries and Archives Canada]}}</ref>
In the United States, [[NARA]] archives exist not only in the [[District of Columbia]], but regionally as well.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.archives.gov/|title=The National Archives|accessdate=2007-05-09 |publisher=[http://www.archives.gov/ United States National Archives and Records Administration]}}</ref> Some city or local governments may have repositories, but their organization and accessibility varies widely.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cyndislist.com/lib-state.htm|title=U.S. - State Level Records Repositories: State Libraries, Archives, Genealogical & Historical Societies |accessdate=2007-05-09 |publisher=[http://www.cyndislist.com Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet]}}</ref> [[State]] or [[Province]] archives typically require at least a [[bachelor's degree]] in history for employment, although some ask for certification by test (government or association) as well.
In the UK the [[National Archives]] [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk], formerly known as the Public Record Office, is the government archive for [[England]] and [[Wales]]. The [[National Monuments Record]] [http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.1530]is the public archive of [[English Heritage]]. The [[National Archives of Scotland]] [http://www.nas.gov.uk], located in [[Edinburgh]], serve that country while the [[Public Record Office of Northern Ireland]] [http://www.proni.gov.uk/] in [[Belfast]] is the government archive for Northern Ireland.
A network of local authority-run record offices and archives exists throughout England, Wales and Scotland and holds many important collections, including local government, landed estates, church and business records. Many archives have contributed catalogues to the national Access 2 Archives programme and online searching across collections is possible [http://www.a2a.org.uk/].
In France, the Directorate of the Archives of France (''Direction des Archives de France'') in the [[Minister of Culture (France)|Ministry of Culture]] manages the [[Archives nationales (France)|National Archives]] (''Archives nationales'') which possess 364 km. (226 miles) of archives as of 2004 (the total length of occupied shelves put next to each other), with original records going as far back as A.D. [[625]], as well as the departmental archives (''archives départementales''), located in the ''[[Prefectures in France|préfecture]]s'' of each of the 100 ''[[departments of France|départements]]'' of France, which possess 1,901 km. (1,181 miles) of archives (as of 2004), and also the local city archives, about 600 in total, which possess 449 km. (279 miles) of archives (as of 2004).<ref>{{fr_icon}} {{cite web |url=http://www.quid.fr/2007/Formalites|title=Les archives en France|accessdate=2007-05-15 |publisher=[[Quid (encyclopedia)|Quid]] - 2007}}</ref> Put together, the total volume of archives under the supervision of the Directorate of the Archives of France is the largest in the world, a testimony to the very ancient nature of the French state which has been in existence for more than eleven centuries already.
In [[India]] the National Archives [http://nationalarchives.nic.in/landing.html] are located in New Delhi.
=== Non-Profit Archives ===
[[Non-profit]] archives include those in [[List of Historical Societies|historical societies]], not-for-profit businesses such as hospitals, and the repositories within [[Foundation (charity)|foundations]]. Non-profit archives are typically set up with private funds from donors to preserve the papers and history of specific persons or places. Often these institutions rely on [[Grant (money)|grant]] funding from the government as well.<ref>{{cite book | first=by Dorothy Weyer | last=Creigh | year=1995 | title=A Primer for Local Historical Societies: Revised and Expanded from the First Edition | chapter= | editor= | others= | pages=122 | location= | publisher=AltaMira Press | id= | url=http://www.altamirapress.com/Catalog/SingleBook.shtml?command=Search&db=%5EDB/CATALOG.db&eqSKUdata=0942063120&thepassedurl=%5Bthepassedurl%5D | authorlink= }}</ref> Depending on the funds available, non-profit archives may be as small as the historical society in a rural town to as big as a state historical society that rivals a government archives. Users of this type of archive may vary as much as the institutions that hold them. Employees of non-profit archives may be professional archivists, para-professionals, or volunteers, as the education required for a position at a non-profit archive varies with the demands of the collection's user base.<ref>{{cite book | first=Walter Muir | last=Whitehill | year=1962 | title=Independent Historical Societies: An Enquiry into Their Research and Publication Functions and Their Financial Future | chapter=Introduction | editor= | others= | pages=311 | location=Boston, Massachusetts | publisher=The Boston Athenaeum | id= | url= | authorlink= }}</ref>
===Special (Other) Archives===
Some archives defy categorization. There are tribal archives within the [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] nations in North America, and there are archives that exist within the papers of private individuals. Many museums keep archives in order to prove the [[provenance]] of their pieces. Any institution or persons wishing to keep their significant papers in an organized fashion that employs the most basic principles of [[archival science]] may have an archive. In the 2004 census of archivists taken in the United States, 2.7% of archivists were employed in institutions that defied categorization. This was a separate figure from the 1.3% that identified themselves as self-employed.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Walch |first=Victoria Irons |coauthors= |year=2006 |month= |title=A*Census: A Closer Look|journal=The American Archivist |volume=69 |issue= 2|pages=327–348|url=http://www.archivists.org/a-census| accessdate=2007-05-08}}</ref>
== Etymology ==
{{Wiktionary|archive}}
The word ''archives'' (pronounced /{{IPA|'ɑː(ɹ}.kaɪvs}}/) is derived from the Greek ''{{Polytonic|ἀρχή}}'' (arkhē) meaning government or order (compare an-archy, mon-archy). The word originally developed from the Greek ''{{Polytonic|ἀρχεῖον}}'' (arkheion) which refers to the home or dwelling of the [[Archon]], in which important official state documents were filed and interpreted under the authority of the Archon.
== Archives in history ==
{{Unreferencedsection|date=June 2007}}
The word "archives" can refer to any organised body of records fixed on media. The management of archives is essential for effective day-to-day organisational decision making, and even for the survival of organisations. Archives were well developed by the ancient Chinese, the ancient Greeks, and ancient Romans. Modern archival thinking has many roots in the French Revolution. The [[French National Archives]], who possess perhaps the largest archival collection in the world, with records going as far back as A.D. [[625]], were created in 1790 during the [[French Revolution]] from various government, religious, and private archives seized by the revolutionaries.
== Standardization ==
Currently, [[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]] is working on the standards, which will be implemented soon <ref name=hisa>{{cite web
| last = [[International Organization for Standardization]]
| first =
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = ISO/NP TS 21547-1 Health informatics -- Secure archiving of electronic health records -- Part 1: Principles and requirements
| work =
| publisher =
| date =
| url = http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=44479
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate = 19 July
| accessyear = 2008 }}</ref><sup>,</sup> <ref name=dma>{{cite web
| last = [[International Organization for Standardization]]
| first =
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = ISO/DIS 11506 Document management applications -- Archiving of electronic data -- Computer output microform (COM) / Computer output laser disc (COLD)
| work =
| publisher =
| date =
| url = http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=50565
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate = 19 July
| accessyear = 2008 }}</ref>.
== Footnotes ==
<div class="references-small">
<references />
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Ark-Ive
== See also ==
* [[Archival informatics]]
* [[Archival science]]
* [[Archivist]]
* [[BS 5454]]
* [[Collection (museum)]]
* [[Computer data storage]]
* [[Data proliferation]]
* [[Information repository]]
* [[Internet Archive]]
* [[List of archives]]
* [[Manuscript processing]]
* [[Preservation (library and archival science)]]
* [[Web archiving]]
== External links ==
* [http://www.unesco.org/webworld/portal_archives/ UNESCO Archives Portal] - over 8000 links worldwide
* [http://www.ica.org/ International Council on Archives]
* [http://www.archiveshub.ac.uk Archives Hub] — gateway to descriptions of archives held in UK universities and colleges, part of the National Archives Network
* [http://www.interpares.org InterPares Project] — international project on electronic records
* [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a Access to Archives (A2A)] — the English strand of the UK archives network
* [http://www.archivesmadeeasy.org/ Online-Guide to Archives around the globe]
* [http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/NMR The National Monuments Record] the public archive of [[English Heritage]]
* [http://www.businessrecords.com/doc.asp?page=21&subpage=87&subsubpage=46 The Changing World of Records Storage]
* [http://www.motorola.com/history http://www.motorola.com/history] - [[Motorola]] History at your fingertips!
* [http://www.humanarchives.org] Online collection of human archives and memories
* [http://archivopedia.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page Archivopedia] - archives wiki
* [www.aim25.ac.uk] AIM25 - archives within the [[M25]] area.
[[Category:Archives|*]]
[[Category:Historical documents]]
[[bs:Arhiv]]
[[br:Diell]]
[[bg:Архив]]
[[cs:Archiv]]
[[de:Archiv]]
[[et:Arhiiv]]
[[es:Archivo]]
[[fr:Archives]]
[[gl:Arquivo]]
[[hr:Arhivalije]]
[[id:Arsip]]
[[iu:ᓂᐱ/nipi]]
[[it:Archivio]]
[[he:ארכיון]]
[[la:Archivum]]
[[ms:Arkib]]
[[nl:Archief]]
[[ja:公文書館]]
[[no:Arkiv]]
[[pt:Arquivo]]
[[ru:Архив]]
[[scn:Archiviu]]
[[simple:Archive]]
[[sl:Arhiv]]
[[sh:Arhivalije]]
[[fi:Arkisto]]
[[sv:Arkiv]]
[[ta:ஆவணக் காப்பகம்]]
[[tr:Arşiv]]
[[uk:Архіви]]