Advanced Archival Practice

Assignments

All assignments will be submitted via Dropbox. All discussion posts will be on the course website Posts page.

Lab assignments

Students will work collaboratively on an archival processing project, from appraisal to digital access. This project will be divided into component parts, which students will be expected to complete and submit for review on a class-by-class basis.

  • Lab assignment #1: propose series/collection arrangement schema
    • due Thursday, July 13
  • Lab assignment #2: biographical note draft
    • due Tuesday, July 25
  • Lab assignment #3: scope and contents note draft
    • due Tuesday, August 1

Discussion posts

Students will comment under Discussion posts according to stated prompt. All discussion prompts will require one answer and two further comments on classmates’ comments.

  • Discussion post #1: Joseph Crowley research
    • initial comment due Tuesday, July 11
    • comments on classmates’ due Tuesday, July 18
  • Discussion post #2: finding aid example
    • initial comment due Thursday, July 27
    • comments on classmates’ due Thursday, August 3
  • Discussion post #3: access initiative
    • initial comment due Thursday, August 10
    • comments on classmates’ due Thursday, August 17

Participation

Students will be expected to attend every class session, come to class having reviewed all assigned readings and resources, and prepared to engage in thoughtful discussion with their classmates. Attendance is essential in order for students to keep up with lab work. Students who miss class will be expected to make up in-class assignments on their own time outside of the class schedule.

Discussion lead

Each student will be responsible for leading one class discussion. You will need to carefully read all assigned readings and generate a few “focusing questions” to prompt and guide class discussion. Please consider the class session theme, how the readings interact with each other and the theme, and how these readings will apply to practicum work.

In addition to “focusing questions,” it may be helpful to have highlighted a few selections from the readings that resonated with you or left you with questions.

This assignment will not be graded but successful completion will be counted as part of your participation grade.

Presentation

Students will prepare a 10-20 minute group presentation about your assigned Joseph Crowley papers series or sub-series. Slide deck (even very minimal or purely photos) required.

Please start your presentation with a quick introduction to your particular series and what’s in it. Continue by including critical reflection on your own progress through processing, arrangement, and description, noting challenges, surprises, problem-solving processes, professional takeaways, and even personal enjoyment or pain points. I’m interested in your opinions!

Due Tuesday, August 15

Finding aid

In groups, students will complete a finding aid in ArchivesSpace for their assigned series within the Joseph Crowley Papers collection. Export your finding aid as a PDF and submit, one per group.

Required DACS elements at series (top) level:

  • 2.1 Reference code
  • 2.2 Name and location of repository
  • 2.3 Title
  • 2.4 Date
  • 2.5 Extent
  • 2.6 Name of creator(s)
  • 2.7 Administrative/biographical history
  • 3.1 Scope and content
    • Names that are not integral enough to be singled out as a creator/agent link can go in the free text here.
  • 3.2 System of arrangement
  • 4.1 Conditions governing access
  • 4.4 Conditions governing reproduction and use
  • 4.5 Languages and scripts of the material
  • 5.2 Immediate source of acquisition

Optional DACS elements at series (top) level:

  • 4.2 Physical access
  • 4.3 Technical access
  • 6.3 Related archival materials

Required DACS elements at sub-series level:

  • 2.3 Title
  • 2.5 Extent
  • 3.1 Scope and content
    • very brief, i.e. “The Counseling subseries (of the SEEK Records) consists of reports, publications, self-studies, proposals, and administrative records. These materials provide context for the practical, ethical, and pedagogical approaches of Queens College SEEK counselors over the years.”
    • Names that are not integral enough to be singled out as a creator/agent link can go in the free text here.

Optional DACS elements at sub-series level:

  • 2.4 Date (if known)
  • 2.6 Name of creator(s) (if different than top-level creator)

Required DACS elements at file level:

  • 2.3 Title

Due Thursday, August 17 by midnight