"The imperative of challenging absolutes" in graduate archival education programs: Issues for educators and the profession

Abstract

This article reflects on various themes discussed by the authors of papers and the audience at the Archival Educators' Day, and a related program session at the 1999 annual meeting of the Society of American Archivists in Pittsburgh. It posits a gulf between archivists in academia and in the workplace that needs to be addressed, crossing various misunderstandings of discipline versus profession; theory versus practice; education versus training; and "new" recordkeeping, electronic-records models versus "traditional" cultural, heritage, and historical orientations for the profession. It asserts that both academics and practitioners may be overlooking the importance of educating students in conducting the in-depth contextual research required to be first-class working archivists.