LIBR 256-02
Archives and Manuscripts
Spring 2005

Instructor: David de Lorenzo
E-mail
Telephone/Voicemail: 510-643-3203

GREENSHEET

| Textbooks and Readings | Course Requirements | Grading | Office Hours |

Course Description

This course provides an introduction to the theory and practice of managing archives and manuscript collections. Both personal papers and institutional records (public and private) will be covered, as will a variety of record formats such as photographic materials and electronic records. Topics addressed will include collection acquisition and appraisal, arrangement and description, reference and public access, oral history, and preservation, as well as ethical, social, and political issues impacting archival work. The class includes both theoretical and practical components and will consist of lectures, readings, discussions, and hands-on experience processing a modest records collection.

Course and School Objectives

This course meets the School’s objective to prepare students to function effectively as information professionals by training them in the principles of archival management. Over the course of the semester, the class will address the following key questions:

1. What are archives and manuscripts and why are they important?
2. How are archival records identified and acquired, arranged and described, reserved, and made available for public use?
3. What are the significant professional, ethical, and legal issues facing archivists today?
4. How have new technologies impacted archives and archival collections?

Textbooks and Readings

Required Readings
Hunter, Gregory S. Developing and Maintaining Practical Archives: A How-To-Do-It Manual. Second Edition. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, 2003.

Recommended Texts (Available through SAA)
Frederic M. Miller. Arranging and Describing Archives and Manuscripts. (Society Of American Archivists, 1992)
F. Gerald Ham. Selecting and Appraising Archives and Manuscripts (Society Of American Archivists, 1992)
Mary Jo Pugh. Providing Reference Services for Archives and Manuscripts (Society of American Archivists, 1992)

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Course Requirements

Read the SJSU Academic Integrity Policy
http://www2.sjsu.edu/senate/S04-12.pdf

Mid-Term Paper
Review & Analysis (5 pages) of National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections (NUCMC), Chadwyck-Healey’s ArchivesUSA, and NHPRC Directory of Archives and Manuscript Repositories in the United States (1988), RLIN, and the OAC.

Processing Practicum
Students will spend time during the semester and in the final weekend processing a 1-2 carton collection of original archival records from the unprocessed holdings of the Bancroft Library. The purpose of this “practicum” is to give students experience applying archival theory and method to the processing of a real collection of documents. At the conclusion of the practicum, students will be expected to submit a finding aid describing the materials in their appointed collections. Detailed instructions for this assignment will be provided.

Reasonable Accommodation of Disabilities
Students who need accommodation due to a disability must register with SJSU's Disability Resource Center (DRC) during the first three weeks of the semester. The Center will work with the students to determine the disability, document it, and determine the services and accommodations necessary for student success. Then, the DRC will contact the faculty member to determine the types of consideration necessary.

Students attending the Fullerton campus should first contact the Disability Resource Center in San Jose since they are SJSU students. The DRC will then direct the students to supporting resources on the Fullerton campus.

The DRC Web site: http://www.drc.sjsu.edu/

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Grading

Final grades will be based on the following grading scale established for graduate students by San Jose State University:

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Office Hours

You may contact Professor de Lorenzo by e-mail during the semester. Schedule an appointment prior to or following any class, or by e-mail.

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