archivisten

Archivisten are professionals who manage, preserve, and provide access to historical records and other materials in archives, libraries, museums, and related institutions. They work with documents, photographs, audio-visuals, and increasingly digital records.

Core duties include appraisal and acquisition of material, arrangement and description of holdings, reference and outreach to researchers, and preservation and conservation. They oversee digitization and the creation of digital archives, as well as records management, policy development, and risk management. Archivisten also navigate legal and ethical considerations around privacy, access, and provenance.

Archivische institutions vary widely. They include national and regional archives, university and school archives, corporate and industrial archives, religious and community collections, and specialized or alternative archives. Staff may work as professionals, managers, or consultants, and smaller archives often rely on volunteers or part-time personnel.

Education and professional standards typically involve a degree or formal training in archival science, library or information science, or history with an archival specialization. Professional certification or membership in national or international associations is common. Descriptive and archival standards such as ISAD(G), ISAAR(CPF), EAD, and preservation metadata standards like PREMIS guide practice.

The field has a long history, with 19th‑ and 20th‑century developments shaping modern methods of appraisal, arrangement, and access. Foundational theories by scholars such as Hilary Jenkinson and T. R. Schellenberg influenced archival practice globally. In the digital era, Archivisten manage born-digital records, ensure long-term preservation, and provide broader, more open access to archival sources.