Archivists in 21st century Europe:
emerging professionals?
Introduction
This chapter will examine the notion of the professional archivist and records
manager. Drawing on the author's study of archives and archivists in 19th and
20th century England,1 it will explore four aspects or contexts of the profession:
government policy and legislation; the emergence of an occupation specifically
devoted to archives and records; the role and work of a professional association;
and the development of archival education and training. It will consider whether
these attributes have emerged clearly for archives and records as a profession,
especially in England, but also looking at examples from other countries, in an
attempt to establish whether archivists and records managers in the 21st century
are fully fledged or still emerging professionals.
Models of professionalism
Sociologists, such as Wilensky and Pavalko, sought to define professions and
professionalism.2 Attribute taxonomies were developed which identified key
traits or attitudes of professions, including the need for theory and intellectual
technique, underpinned by a complex knowledge base; relevance to important
social values, such as justice or health; the requirement for training to be long,
specialised and strongly conceptual, during which technical knowledge and an
understanding of the occupational sub-culture (including obscure terminologies
and social norms) is transmitted. Professionals are motivated by a desire to serve
the public, which requires them to behave in an objective, impartial and ethical
manner. They seek autonomy and self-regulation, often forming associations and
drawing up codes to regulate the profession. Joining a profession is generally
a lifelong or long term commitment.
Later models, such as those developed by Caplow,3 gave weight to external issues,
seeking to interpret professional behaviour in a wider context, and to examine
the process of professionalisation. Occupations aggregate (by developing formal
representative associations and regulatory mechanisms), differentiate the work
group from other occupations, and rationalise, by developing codes of practice
and formal training. Key activities, including the establishment of a professional
association, a new name for the occupation, the development of a code of ethics,
the enactment of legal restrictions and the establishment of training, iterate until
the profession emerges.
ELIZABETH SHEPHERD
1 Elizabeth Shepherd, Archives and Archivists in 20th Century England Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate (2009).
2 Harold Wilensky 'The professionalization of everyone?' American Journal of Sociology 70 (1964): 137-158.
Ronald M Pavalko Sociology of occupations and professions 2nd ed. Itasca, IL: Peacock Publishers, 1988.
3 Theodore Caplow The sociology of work Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1954: 19-25.
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