Happy Archives Month!!!
For me, this week’s readings (http://chnm.gmu.edu/digitalhistory/collecting/ ,http://quod.lib.umich.edu/d/dh/12172434.0001.001/1:4/–hacking-the-academy-new-approaches-to-scholarship?g=dculture;rgn=div1;view=fulltext;xc=1#4.7) are a continuation of last week’s readings and discussion about digital humanities.
This week however really emphasizes the importance of archivists. I have several friends who are archivists and I am fascinated by what they do, but I am more happy to benefit from their expertise while I work more with objects. Recently, I have been guest curating an exhibit for the Baltimore Museum of Industry and have worked closely with their archivist to gather photos and background information. It’s been a great collaborative experience – he’s helped me find (and choose) some great photographs and has steered me towards sources of information needed. Working with him has helped develop my own research skills.
I came across this post today from the Smithsonian about their “Ask an Archivist” Day. http://siarchives.si.edu/blog/ask-and-archivist-bring-your-questions-monday-october-27 I find the descriptions of the different kinds of archivists there to be quite interesting and am glad to see the Smithsonian dedicating some of their efforts to preserving their own digitally-born history. I also find it interesting that this whole “event” occurs solely on their Facebook page. It’s very informative and apropos to our discussions this week.
Now go out and thank an archivist!!!
vintagetooblog 
I too really see the importance of archivists! Without them, when we do research all we would see is a traffic jam of information. It is the archivist who much like a gps helps us navigate through all the information. They are the guardians of information. The ones who shepherd in all information and attempt to put it in the right place. All the meanwhile identifying the information at hand. So since you are working with an archivist and helping along, I salute you!
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Your posts are always interesting since you have a inside look at what goes on in the collection and curation of history. I wholeheartedly agree the archivists are very import. They are responsible for creating the landscape on which history is understood. Without them, we would lose much of our history, and it would undermine the field significantly. This is why I think the rise of digital archives is going to be vital to the field.
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