Why Archives Matter: Public History, the Community, and Empire State College

1. Why Archives Matter: Public History, the Community, and Empire State College Anastasia Pratt, Daniel Katz, Adele Anderson, and Mark Soderstrom History and Communities Purpose of Archives Visits to Archives Empire State College and Public History • By offering an Advanced Certificate in Public History, Empire State College will help to train those who work in archives, those who fund and plan for archives, and those who use archives. • To earn the Certificate, students must take: • Museums and Public History: Theory and Practice • Archival Theory and Practice • Exhibition: Planning and Interpretation • Oral History: Theory and Methods • The Certificate requirements reinforce the underpinnings of Public History and require students to actively participate in local communities. The final Certificate requirement—an Internship—takes place within the student’s local historical community. • Interested in becoming involved? Visit us at • commons.esc.edu/publichistory/ During 2009, more than 1.1 million people visited the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C., more than 100,000 people visited Regional Records Centers throughout the U.S., and more than 2.4 million people visited the Presidential Libraries situated throughout the U.S. In addition, more than 1.3 million people submitted written requests for information to the National Archives and more than 37.4 million people visited the National Archives online. (National Archives and Records Administration, Performance and Accountability Report, FY 2009) • According to the National Archives, we use archives to: • Serve as proof that an event occurred; • Explain how something happened, whether for personal, financial, or sentimental reasons. Historical organizations, which range from archives to museums and historic sites, “help preserve and tell the stories of the past.” When those organizations partner with communities, they make history real and create an enduring legacy: “They guarantee that each generation can search for its own answers, and forge its own meanings.” Historical organizations also “make their communities more attractive places in which to live, work, and visit.” They serve as “travel destinations, employers, purchasers of goods and services, and recipients of gifts and grants.” History organizations, in these ways, make the gift of history a living presence in the lives of Americans and American communities. They expand our understanding of who we are and what, in our diversity, we may become. And they add to the economic well being of America’s communities.” (“The Gift of History, American Association for State and Local History, www.aaslh.org) The Work of Archivists • Among the people who work in Archives and as archivists are: • Conservators • Photographers • Librarians • Records managers • Accountants • Curators • Chemists • Editors • Graphic Designers • Dynamic Media Preservation Specialists • Digital Imaging Specialists • Computer Specialists • Optical Instrument Repairers • Volunteers More than 10,000 history museums exist in the United States. Each of those museums welcomes more than 579 million visitors per year and more than 1.5 million visitors per day. (“The Gift of History, American Association for State and Local History, www.aaslh.org)