An entry · Work · Life
Archivist
The person deciding, on behalf of the future, what the past gets to keep.
Why the human is the point
Memory is not automatic; someone has to keep it. The archivist decides what is worth saving, orders it so it can be found again, and hands it, whole, to people not yet born. It is quiet, careful stewardship of the record: the letter, the ledger, the photograph that proves a thing happened. Delete is instant and forever. Against it stands a person who believes the past has a right to be remembered, and spends a career making sure it can be.
Work it
Do the work.
Jobs, apprenticeships, and training that put a person in the room.
On now
- Certification
Become a Certified Archivist
Academy of Certified Archivists · United States
The independent US credential for archivists; an annual exam verifying real archival knowledge and skills.
- Community
Archives and Records Association (UK and Ireland)
Archives and Records Association · United Kingdom
The lead professional body for archivists, archive conservators, and records managers across the UK and Ireland.
Ways in
- Route in
Archival studies degree
The graduate route into records and conservation.
- Entry job
Records assistant job
Start by cataloguing and handling; the collection teaches.
- Association
Archives association
The professional body for standards, training, and jobs.
Ways in, gathered by hand.
Add yours to the atlasLive it
Live the hour.
Experiences, classes, and places where the presence is the whole point.
On now
- Visit
Visit the National Archives
National Archives Museum · Washington, DC
Free public galleries and guided tours; see the founding documents and how records are kept.
- Workshop
DHPSNY Preservation Workshops
Documentary Heritage and Preservation Services for New York · New York State
Free hands-on preservation and archives workshops run throughout the year for people who care for collections at libraries, archives, and historical societies.
Ways in
- Visit
Visit a public archive
Most archives take the curious; request a real record and hold history.
- Volunteer
Volunteer to digitize
Archives welcome help scanning and indexing collections.
Ways in, gathered by hand.
Add yours to the atlasKept nearby
