Week 2: Understanding Archives and the Archival Profession: History, Types, and Archival Culture


  • A Brief History of Archives

    • Active knowledge vs. passive knowledge
    • The genesis of writing
    • The monopolization of information (elitism)
    • The democratization of information (public)
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  • Archives vs. Libraries
    • (an intro to theory)

  • Types of Archives:

  • Public Archives or Public Records (Federal, state/provincial, local)
  • Library and Archives Canada (National Archives)
  • Archives of Ontario
  • Peterborough Centennial Museum and Archives

  • Institutional or Organizational Archives (often semi-public)
  • Clara Thomas Archives & Special Collections (York University)
  • Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives
  • United Church Archives

  • Business Archives
  • Hudson's Bay Company Archives
  • Scotiabank Archives

  • Family and personal archives

  • The Archival Profession - Breaking the Stereotype

  • Reference Exercise Handout #1
    • Back to Course Outline