it vary from place to place? Is there an identifiable national archives policy and
system in each country?
The second theme is identifying a complex and distinct occupation or work
group for archivists and records managers. The late 19th century saw a growing
awareness of professional archival work in many countries, although it was
often carried out by historians working in national archives or with historical
manuscripts. Modern European national archives began to be established after
1794, beginning in France, followed by the appointment of a national archivist
in the Netherlands in 1802, the establishment of the Public Record Office in
England in 1838 and the Archivo Historico Nacional in Spain in 1866.6 In the
USA, state historical societies collected historical manuscripts, beginning in
Massachusetts in 1791, and state archives departments were founded following
the work of the Public Archives Commission in 18997 Canada also developed
provincial historical archives, starting with the Literary and Historical Society
of Quebec in 1824, and appointed a dominion archivist in 1872.8 When did an
occupational area devoted to archives and records begin to exist and when did it
become distinct from other occupations? How have national and local, public
and private archives developed historically? Which factors have influenced and
hindered developments? Are services delivered as independent archives and
records services, or do they now form part of larger cultural or administrative
functions in organisations? How should archival structures change to meet
present and future needs?
The third theme is the existence and development of an exclusive professional
organisation. Archives provide a focus for leisure and a resource for cultural
and legal research; records have value for accountability and as part of the
information compliance and services of institutions. People interested in
archives, such as genealogists, record agents, local historians, academics,
editors, students, businessmen and lawyers, met together in many countries
and formed societies from the late 19th century onwards. The first professional
archival association in the world was founded in the Netherlands in 1891, an
international congress of archivists was held in Brussels in 1910, and archival
associations developed in England (Society of Archivists) and the USA (Society
of American Archivists) in the 1930s and in Australia (Australian Society of
Archivists) in 1975.9 What were the circumstances and reasons for the formation
of associations and for their policy development? How and why did professional
standards and ethics develop? What contribution did the professional bodies
make to research, publication and professional development?
ELIZABETH SHEPHERD ARCHIVISTS IN 21ST CENTURY EUROPE: EMERGING PROFESSIONALS?
8 Ian E Wilson, 'A noble dream: the origins of the Public Archives of Canada', Archivaria, 15 (1982-83):
16-35; Carol Couture, 'Taking stock: the evolution of archival science in Quebec', Archivaria, 59 (2005):
27-39; Laura Millar, 'Discharging our debt: the evolution of the total archives concept in English Canada',
Archivaria, 46 (1998): 103-146; Terry Cook, 'An archival revolution: W Kaye Lamb and the transformation
of the archival profession', Archivaria, 60 (2005): 185-234; WG Ormsby, 'The Public Archives of Canada,
1948-1968', Archivaria, 15 (1982-83): 36-46.
9 S McKemmish Michael Piggott (eds), The Records Continuum: Ian Maclean and Australian Archives first
fifty years (Clayton, Aus: Ancora Press Australian Archives, 1994); RC Sharman, 'Modest practitioners:
Australian archival achievements since 1944', Australian Library Journal, 23: 6 (1974): 203-211; T Ling,
'The Commonwealth's first Archives Bill 1927', Archives and Manuscripts, 29: 1 (2001): 98-109.
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