Crossing a Librarian with a Historian: The Image of Reel Archivists

  • Tania Aldred
  • Gordon Burr
  • Eun Park

Abstract

The image and stereotypes of archivists are topics that nag at the back of every archivist’s mind. What do people think of us? What do they think we do? Do they genuinely think that we are covered in dust, aging, and unhappy? This exploratory study aims to investigate issues surrounding the image and stereotypes of archivists as presented in films. A content analysis of nineteen films was performed to determine how archivists are portrayed, both physically and behaviourally. Based upon previous literature in the fields of archivy and librarianship, a checklist was created to appraise the characteristics of the films, the role of the archivists within each film, and the archivists’ physical and behavioural characteristics. A preliminary assumption concerning the portrayal of archivists as librarians in the films was hypothesized and proven to be false. Results of the study indicate that, within the context of film, physically and behaviourally, archivists follow generally accepted stereotypes. It is suggested that this study could provide the basis for future research into archival stereotypes found in other forms of popular culture. 

RÉSUMÉ
L’image et les stéréotypes de notre profession sont des sujets qui continuent de nous embêter en tant qu’archivistes. Que pensent les gens à notre sujet? Que s’imaginent-ils que nous faisons? Pensent-ils réellement que nous sommes empoussiérés, vieillots et malheureux? Cette étude exploratoire tente d’examiner des questions liées aux images et aux stéréotypes des archivistes tels que présentés au cinéma. Les auteurs ont effectué une analyse du contenu de dix-neuf films afin de déterminer comment sont présentés les archivistes à l’écran, à la fois au niveau du physique et du comportement. À partir d’une recension des écrits en archivistique et en bibliothéconomie, ils ont élaboré une liste de contrôle pour évaluer les caractéristiques des films, le rôle des archivistes dans chacun des films, et leurs caractéristiques physiques et leur comportement. Une hypothèse de départ au sujet de la représentation au cinéma des archivistes comme bibliothécaires a été formulée puis rejetée. Les résultats de l’étude indiquent que, dans le contexte cinématographique, les archivistes à l’écran se conforment généralement aux stéréotypes répandus par rapport à leur apparence physique et à leur conduite. Les auteurs concluent que cette étude pourrait servir de base à la recherche sur les stéréotypes des archivistes tels que véhiculés dans d’autres formes de culture populaire. 

Author Biographies

Tania Aldred
Tania Aldred holds both a BA in Archaeology, Religious Studies and Middle Eastern Languages (Arabic), and an MLIS with a specialization in archives from McGill University, Montreal, Quebec. She served as the inaugural Coordinator of the Association of Canadian Archivists’ (ACA) Student Chapter at McGill University (2006–2007), and is serving on the ACA Outreach Committee from 2007 to 2009. She is currently working as an Assistant Documentalist for the Canadian Culture Online project at the Canadian Museum of Civilization. Her research interests include the hybridization of information professions, genealogy, and the image of archivists in popular culture.
Gordon Burr
Gordon Burr is a Senior Archivist, Collections Management and Digital Services in the McGill University Archives, and is responsible for the management of the historical collections. He is a two-time McGill graduate with a BA in History and an MA in Library and Information Studies. He also teaches courses on archival subjects in McGill’ s Graduate School of Library and Information Studies. He is a joint author of La gestion des archives informatiques, sponsored by CREPUQ (Council of Recteurs and Principals for Quebec Universities), as well as entries in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography. His current research interests are in the history of the archival profession. He is a long time member of GARM (Montreal Area Archives Group) and CREPUQ.
Eun Park
Eun G. Park is an assistant professor and is the coordinator of the Archival Studies Specialization in the School of Information Studies at McGill University, Montreal, Quebec. She holds a PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles. Her research interests include digital archives, digital preservation, metadata, authenticity and authentication, electronic records management, and social aspects of information technology.
How to Cite
Aldred, Tania, Gordon Burr, and Eun Park. 1. “Crossing a Librarian With a Historian: The Image of Reel Archivists”. Archivaria 66 (1), 57-93. https://archivaria.ca/index.php/archivaria/article/view/13189.
Issue
Archivaria 66 (Fall 2008)
Section
Articles

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