Is the Narrative of a 'Public Archives Tradition' and a 'Historical Manuscripts Tradition' Accurate?: Examining the History of the American Archival Tradition

Examines the scholarly literature on the history of the American archival tradition to discuss the predominate narratives, the issues associated with such a narrative, and to provide suggestions to direct the debate going forward. In 1983, archivist Richard Berner wrote Archival Theory and Practice in the United States: A Historical Analysis in which he identified “two traditions” that formed the basis for archival development in the United States: the public archives tradition and the historical manuscript tradition. Over the next three decades, numerous articles and SAA-published pamphlets perpetuated this dichotomy of two traditions. In 2010, however, Rebecca Hirsch challenged this narrative by suggesting that it is built on faulty historical evidence and is not healthy for American archival development. This debate has implications for the entire archival profession because it speaks to a fundamental question: who are we? Indeed, this debate contributes to discussions on the identity of archivists and their primary function, which is also related to questions of archival practice and professionalization. Understanding the historical development of archives in the United States will better allow archivists to guide the conversation about the future of the profession in a meaningful way.