Society of Archivists

The Society of Archivists was a United Kingdom and Ireland professional association serving people responsible for archives, records, and the conservation of archival materials. It existed from 1947 to 2010 and was the largest of the three organizations that combined in 2010 to form the Archives and Records Association (United Kingdom and Ireland), commonly known as the ARA. The organization began in 1947 as the Society of Local Archivists. Its initial focus reflected the importance of local-government archive services, but its membership and professional remit broadened steadily. In 1954 it adopted the name Society of Archivists, recognizing that it represented professionals working beyond local government. By the end of its existence, its membership included archivists, records managers, archive conservators, students, paraprofessionals, and others with an interest in archival work. The Society reported more than 2,000 members in 2010. Its charitable and professional objectives centered on protecting and preserving archives in the public interest, improving the administration of repositories, advancing education and training, and supporting research into the creation, use, management, and conservation of records. It also promoted the publication and practical application of research findings, including work on archival description and new conservation techniques. The Society operated through a council, committees, and sub-committees. Its membership was organized into eleven geographical regions covering the United Kingdom and Ireland, with regional committees responsible for local activity. Seven special-interest groups represented different employment settings and professional concerns. Administrative work was handled from an office in Taunton, Somerset. Professional development was a central part of the Society's work. It accredited externally delivered postgraduate programs in archives and records management, organized events through regional and specialist groups, and operated a registration scheme for professional members. Its own distance-learning Diploma in Archives Administration ran for approximately two decades before being discontinued in 2001. The Society also administered an in-service Certificate in Archive Conservation for members and participated in the Professional Accreditation of Conservator-Restorers scheme. Its publishing program included the Journal of the Society of Archivists, a biannual professional journal, the monthly ARC newsletter covering archives, records management, and conservation, and the ARC Recruitment fortnightly employment supplement. It also issued specialist guidance and professional publications. One of its most influential publishing projects was the Manual of Archival Description, first published in 1984 and subsequently revised in 1989 and 2000. The manual contributed to the standardization and professional development of archival description practice. In 2010 the Society amalgamated with the National Council on Archives and the Association of Chief Archivists in Local Government. The resulting Archives and Records Association inherited many of the Society's structures, activities, administration, and professional functions. The Society therefore no longer operates as an independent organization, although its institutional legacy continued through the successor association and related publications. The journal retained the Society's name through 2012 before being retitled Archives and Records from 2013.

The Society of Archivists was established in 1947 as the Society of Local Archivists. Its formation reflected the growing need for a professional body representing people responsible for the custody, arrangement, preservation, and use of local-government records. As the profession expanded beyond municipal and county repositories, the organization's original name became too narrow. In 1954 it became the Society of Archivists, signaling a broader remit across the archival profession. The Society's stated charitable purposes combined public-interest preservation with professional development. It sought to encourage the care and preservation of archives, improve the administration of repositories, develop the education and training of archivists, archive conservators, records managers, and related workers, and support research into archival creation, use, administration, and conservation. It also aimed to disseminate useful research results and promote the adoption of improved techniques. Governance was provided by a council that was partly elected on a two-year cycle, supported by committees and sub-committees dealing with particular areas of policy and activity. The membership structure reflected the geographic and occupational diversity of the field. Eleven regional organizations covered the United Kingdom and Ireland, while seven special-interest groups addressed different professional environments and concerns. Routine administration was conducted from an office in Taunton, Somerset. The Society developed a broad membership model. Its core membership consisted of professional archivists, records managers, and archive conservators employed by public bodies, universities, businesses, religious organizations, cultural institutions, and other record-holding organizations. Affiliate membership was available to paraprofessionals and people interested in archival work, while students studying archives, records management, or archive conservation could join through a student category. By 2010, membership exceeded 2,000 people. Education and professional recognition were important components of the Society's work. It accredited postgraduate diploma and degree courses delivered by external institutions in archives and records management. For roughly twenty years it ran its own distance-learning Diploma in Archives Administration, which ended in 2001. In conservation, it operated a member-only Certificate in Archive Conservation as an in-service program and participated in the Professional Accreditation of Conservator-Restorers scheme. Regional committees and special-interest groups organized additional training events coordinated by a Society training officer. The registration scheme provided a formal continuing professional development route. A register was first established in 1987. At the outset, a transitional provision allowed some experienced professionals to qualify automatically after at least two years in a recognized post. That provision was closed in 1996, after which completion of the full registration process became the route to Registered Member of the Society of Archivists status. Publishing was another major activity. The Society issued the biannual Journal of the Society of Archivists, which concentrated on professional and technical issues. It also published ARC, a monthly newsletter covering archives, records management, and conservation, together with ARC Recruitment, a fortnightly recruitment supplement. From time to time it produced more extensive guides on categories of records and professional practice. The Manual of Archival Description became one of the Society's most significant publications. Michael Cook and Kristina Grant produced the first edition in 1984. Margaret Procter and Michael Cook prepared a second edition in 1989 and a third edition in 2000. The work provided a structured reference for archival description and reflected the Society's role in supporting professional consistency and technical standards. In 2010 the Society entered a three-way amalgamation with the National Council on Archives and the Association of Chief Archivists in Local Government. The merger created the Archives and Records Association (United Kingdom and Ireland), or ARA. Because the Society was substantially larger than the other two bodies, many of its organizational arrangements and activities continued with limited visible change. Its Taunton administrative operation also passed to the successor association. The Society's journal continued to use its former title through 2012, before being renamed Archives and Records from 2013. The independent Society of Archivists is therefore defunct, but its professional functions and institutional legacy continue through the ARA.

• 2013

  Successor journal adopts Archives and Records title

  [1]Society of Archivistsen.wikipedia.org

  The journal formerly known as the Journal of the Society of Archivists is retitled Archives and Records: The Journal of the Archives and Records Association.

• 2010

  Society amalgamates into the Archives and Records Association

  [1]Society of Archivistsen.wikipedia.org

  The Society merges with the National Council on Archives and the Association of Chief Archivists in Local Government, ending its independent existence.

• 2001

  Distance-learning Diploma in Archives Administration ends

  [1]Society of Archivistsen.wikipedia.org

  After operating for approximately two decades, the Society's own distance-learning diploma program is discontinued.

• 2000

  Third Manual of Archival Description edition appears

  [1]Society of Archivistsen.wikipedia.org

  The third edition of the Society's influential archival-description manual is published.

• 1996

  Automatic registration provision is closed

  [1]Society of Archivistsen.wikipedia.org

  The transitional route allowing certain experienced practitioners to qualify automatically is discontinued, leaving completion of the registration scheme as the normal route.

• 1989

  Second Manual of Archival Description edition appears

  [1]Society of Archivistsen.wikipedia.org

  A revised edition by Margaret Procter and Michael Cook is published.

• 1987

  Professional registration scheme is established

  [1]Society of Archivistsen.wikipedia.org

  The Society creates a formal registration framework for professional members and continuing development.

• 1984

  First Manual of Archival Description is published

  [1]Society of Archivistsen.wikipedia.org

  Michael Cook and Kristina Grant publish the first edition of the Society's Manual of Archival Description.

• 1954

  Organization adopts the Society of Archivists name

  [1]Society of Archivistsen.wikipedia.org

  The association changes its name as its membership broadens beyond local-government archivists.

• 1947

  Society of Local Archivists is founded

  [1]Society of Archivistsen.wikipedia.org

  A professional organization is established to represent archivists, particularly those working in local-government archive services.

A UK and Ireland professional association focused on archival preservation, records management, archive conservation, professional education, research, standards, and career development.

• Professional journal

  Journal of the Society of Archivists

  A biannual publication focused primarily on professional, technical, and organizational issues in archives, records management, and conservation. Following the 2010 merger, it retained its former title through 2012 and then continued under the Archives and Records title associated with the successor association.

• Professional newsletter

  ARC

  A monthly newsletter covering archives, records management, and conservation. It provided professional information and communication for members across the Society's regions and specialist groups.

• Recruitment publication

  ARC Recruitment

  A fortnightly recruitment supplement carrying employment-related information for the archival and records professions.

• Professional reference and standards publication · 1984

  Manual of Archival Description

  A major Society publication on archival description, first issued in 1984 and revised in 1989 and 2000. The successive editions by Michael Cook, Kristina Grant, and Margaret Procter supported consistent description practice and became an important professional reference.

• Distance-learning qualification

  Diploma in Archives Administration

  A distance-learning diploma program operated directly by the Society for approximately twenty years to support professional education in archival administration. The program was discontinued in 2001.

• In-service conservation qualification

  Certificate in Archive Conservation

  A member-only in-service scheme focused on archive conservation. It formed part of the Society's broader contribution to conservation training and professional development.

• Professional registration and continuing development · 1987

  Registration Scheme

  A formal professional-development and registration process for members. The register was established in 1987, and after 1996 full completion of the scheme became the route to Registered Member of the Society of Archivists status.

• 2013

  Rename the professional journalOther

  Background

  The Society's journal continued using its former name after the 2010 organizational merger.

  Action taken

  From 2013, after volume 33, the publication was retitled Archives and Records: The Journal of the Archives and Records Association.

  Aftermath

  The new title aligned the journal with the successor association while preserving continuity with the Society's publishing program.

  Source

• 2010

  Amalgamation into the Archives and Records AssociationM&A

  Background

  The Society joined with the National Council on Archives and the Association of Chief Archivists in Local Government in an effort to create a unified professional body.

  Action taken

  The three organizations combined to form the Archives and Records Association (United Kingdom and Ireland).

  Aftermath

  The Society ceased to exist independently. Because it was the largest of the merging bodies, many of its structures, activities, administration, and professional functions continued within the ARA.

  Source

• 2001

  Discontinue the Society's distance-learning diplomaStrategy

  Background

  The Society had operated a distance-learning Diploma in Archives Administration for approximately twenty years.

  Action taken

  The Society ended its own diploma program while continuing to support professional education through accreditation of externally provided postgraduate programs and other training activity.

  Aftermath

  Education and training remained part of the Society's professional role, but the qualification was no longer delivered directly by the organization.

  Source

• 1954

  Broaden the organization's name and remitStrategy

  Background

  Membership had expanded beyond archivists working in local government, making the original Society of Local Archivists name increasingly restrictive.

  Action taken

  The organization adopted the name Society of Archivists and represented a wider range of archival professionals.

  Aftermath

  The revised identity better reflected its national professional role across archives and related occupations.

  Source

1. 1Society of Archivistsen.wikipedia.org