Models tracking the process of professionalization were also developed, which identified steps in the process. 4 At an early stage the practitioners come from other occupations, but gradually a separate, full time work group develops. A training school for new practitioners is established, sometimes beginning independently but always eventually seeking contact with universities in order to develop standards terms of study, academic degrees and research programmes. A professional association is formed, to discuss and define professional tasks, regulate the quality of recruits and their entry into the profession and, often, change the name of the occupation. Political engagement to seek legislative protection and certification of practitioners grows. A code of ethics develops, to embody rules about behaviour, competition and the protection of clients. States of professions were identified as 'established professions' (eg law, medicine), 'professions in process' or borderline professions (which included librarianship), 'new professions' (eg information technology professionals) and 'doubtful professions' (eg public relations). Occupational groups increasingly combined professional and bureaucratic models in new modes of work. Three phases in the development of a profession have been outlined.5 In phase 1 (potential) the occupation develops an essential, exclusive and complex activity and engages in image building. In phase 2, (formation) the profession receives public acceptance and autonomy. True professions are totally autonomous (such as barristers): semi-professions may depend on an employer and are exercised within an organisational context (such as university professors). In phase 3, (stabilization) the profession settles into a pattern of autonomy. Using these models to analyse the archives and records management profession at the beginning of the 21st century, it can be argued that it is an emerging profession or a 'profession in process', still developing, but not yet fully established. An analytical framework In order to explore this story, this chapter adopts an analytical framework which was developed for the author's study of the archives and records profession in England. The framework focuses on four key themes. The first is political engagement and the enactment of legislation. What should the role of government be in the provision of and policy concerning archives and records services? In many European countries archival legislation began to be enacted in the 19th century, such as the UK's Public Record Office Act 1838. What is the legislative provision for archives and records in different countries and why does PROFESSIE 4 Wilensky: 142-146. 5 Patrick B Forsyth Thomas J Danisiewicz 'Toward a theory of professionalization' Work and Occupations 12 (1985): 59-76. 6 M Duchein, 'The history of European archives and the development of the archival profession in Europe', American Archivist, 55 (1992): 14-25. P Horsman, E Ketelaar T Thomassen, 'New respect for the old order: the context of the Dutch Manual', American Archivist, 66 (2003): 249-270. 7 Richard Cox, 'American archival history: its development, needs and opportunities', American Archivist, 46 (1983): 31-41; 'The failure or future of American archival history: a somewhat unorthodox view', Libraries and Culture, 35:1 (2000): 141-154; and 'Bibliographic essay' in JM O'Toole and RJ Cox, Understanding Archives and Manuscripts (Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2006). LJ Gilliland-Swetland, 'The provenance of a profession: the permanence of the public archives and historical manuscripts traditions in American archival history', American Archivist, 54 (1991): 160-175. 40

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Jaarboeken Stichting Archiefpublicaties | 2010 | | pagina 42