Archive - All About All

Archive

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Archives refers to a collection of records with specific characteristics, and also refers to the location in which these records are kept. Records, which may be in any media, are normally unpublished, unlike books and other publications. Archives can be personal, and as such are sometimes referred to as manuscripts. Archives may also be generated by large organizations such as corporations and governments. The highest level of organization of records in an archives is known as the fonds. Archives are distinct from libraries insofar as archives are collections of records which have certain characteristics. The word 'archives' is the correct terminology, whereas 'archive' as a noun or a verb is related to computer science. For example [1] (http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/archives)

Etymology

The word archives (pronounced Ar-kives) is derived from the Greek arkhé meaning government or order (compare an-archy, mon-archy). The word originally developed from the Greek "arkheion" which refers to the home or dwelling of the Archon, in which important official state documents were filed and interpreted under the authority of the Archon.

Anthropological sense

The word "archives" can refer to any organised body of records, fixed on some media, even if it has no physical form, such as in the case of electronic records. The management of archives is essential for effective day-to-day organisational decision making, and even for the survival of organisations. Archives were well developed by the ancient Chinese, the ancient Greeks, and ancient Romans. Modern archival thinking has many roots in the French Revolution.

See Also

• The Internet Archive is a public non-profit organisation founded in 1996 which allows access to snapshots of websites, in addition to audio, video and books. Archivists would consider the Internet Archive to be a digital library as opposed to an archives as the Internet Archive's materials lack the characteristics of archives.

External links

• International Council on Archives (http://www.ica.org/)
• Archives Hub (http://www.archiveshub.ac.uk) - gateway to descriptions of archives held in UK universities and colleges, part of the National Archives Network
• InterPares Project (http://www.interpares.org) - international project on electronic records
• Access to Archives (A2A) (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a) - the English strand of the UK archives network
• Online-Guide to Archives around the globe (http://www.archivesmadeeasy.org)