Archival Science Course

Lesson 1 • Core Archival Concepts and Terminology

Defines provenance, original order, fonds, series, and related terms. Shared vocabulary enables precise communication across all subsequent coursework.

Lesson 2 • The Archival Profession and Ethics

Covers professional codes of ethics, archival associations, and practitioner responsibilities. Establishes the ethical baseline required throughout the program.

Lesson 3 • History and Evolution of Archives

Traces archives from ancient record-keeping to modern digital repositories. Provides historical grounding that informs contemporary archival values and practice.

Lesson 1 • The Records Lifecycle and Continuum

Contrasts lifecycle and continuum models for understanding records from creation to disposition. Connects records management practice directly to archival acquisition planning.

Lesson 2 • Electronic Records Management Systems

Introduces electronic document and records management system (EDRMS) functionality and governance. Prepares students to manage born-digital records entering archival custody.

Lesson 3 • Records Audits and Compliance

Covers audit methodologies for verifying records program compliance and identifying gaps. Audit skills reinforce accountability and prepare students for appraisal fieldwork.

Lesson 4 • Retention Scheduling and Disposition

Guides development of retention schedules based on operational, legal, and historical value. Schedules form the bridge between records management and archival appraisal.

Lesson 1 • Legal and Ethical Dimensions of Acquisition

Addresses deed of gift agreements, provenance research, and repatriation obligations. Legal literacy protects institutions and upholds ethical acquisition standards.

Lesson 2 • Conducting Appraisal in the Field

Applies appraisal criteria to physical and digital record sets through structured fieldwork methods. Practical skills translate theory into actionable selection recommendations.

Lesson 3 • Acquisition Strategies and Policies

Covers collecting scope statements, donor relations, and acquisition policy development. Acquisition policies align holdings growth with institutional mission.

Lesson 1 • Archival Authority Control

Establishes controlled vocabularies for names, subjects, and functions in archival description. Authority control improves search precision and supports linked data applications.

Lesson 2 • Descriptive Standards and Frameworks

Introduces international and national descriptive standards governing archival description. Standards compliance ensures interoperability and professional credibility.

Lesson 3 • Principles of Arrangement

Applies provenance and original order to multi-level arrangement of fonds, series, and items. Correct arrangement is the prerequisite for accurate and useful description.

Lesson 4 • Creating Finding Aids

Teaches construction of collection guides, inventories, and container lists at multiple levels. Finding aids are the primary access tool connecting researchers to holdings.

Lesson 1 • Preservation Principles and Planning

Introduces the distinction between preservation and conservation and the role of preventive care. Planning frameworks guide resource allocation across diverse holdings.

Lesson 2 • Digital Preservation Strategies

Teaches bit-level integrity, format migration, and trusted digital repository standards. Digital preservation extends archival stewardship to born-digital and digitized content.

Lesson 3 • Environmental Controls and Storage

Covers temperature, humidity, light, and pollutant standards for archival storage environments. Proper environment is the most cost-effective preservation intervention available.

Lesson 4 • Disaster Response and Recovery

Prepares students to respond to water, fire, and mold emergencies affecting archival collections. Recovery skills minimize permanent loss when preventive measures fail.

Lesson 1 • Measuring and Improving Reference Services

Introduces statistics collection, user satisfaction surveys, and service improvement cycles. Evidence-based evaluation ensures reference services remain responsive and effective.

Lesson 2 • Reproduction and Rights Management

Teaches policies for copying, digitization on demand, and intellectual property considerations. Rights management protects creators and institutions while supporting researcher needs.

Lesson 3 • Principles of Archival Reference

Defines the reference transaction in archival contexts and the archivist's role as mediator. Reference principles guide all subsequent service design and policy decisions.

Lesson 4 • Access Restrictions and Confidentiality

Addresses closure periods, privacy protections, and sensitive record categories requiring restriction. Restriction management balances public access rights with legal and ethical duties.

Lesson 1 • Digitization Planning and Standards

Covers project scoping, selection criteria, and technical standards for image and audio capture. Planning rigor ensures digitization investments yield durable, usable outputs.

Lesson 2 • Online Access and Discovery Portals

Addresses aggregator platforms, search optimization, and user interface design for digital archives. Effective online access maximizes the research value of digitized and born-digital holdings.

Lesson 3 • Metadata for Digital Objects

Teaches descriptive, technical, and rights metadata schemas for digital archival objects. Rich metadata enables discovery, management, and long-term preservation of digital content.

Lesson 4 • Digital Repository Systems

Surveys open-source and commercial repository platforms, their architecture, and governance models. Repository selection and configuration directly affect access and preservation outcomes.

Lesson 1 • Financial Management and Budgeting

Covers budget development, cost analysis, and grant funding strategies for archival programs. Financial literacy enables archivists to sustain and grow program capacity.

Lesson 2 • Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement

Teaches communication strategies for building support among funders, administrators, and the public. Advocacy skills secure the resources and recognition archives need to fulfill their mission.

Lesson 3 • Policy Development and Governance

Guides drafting of collection, access, and operational policies within governance frameworks. Clear policies reduce risk and ensure consistent, defensible archival decisions.

Lesson 4 • Human Resources and Team Leadership

Addresses hiring, supervision, volunteer management, and professional development planning. Effective people management multiplies the impact of archival programs.