Riva Pollard discusses the plight of personal papers in her article “The Appraisal of Personal Papers: A Critical Literature Review.” Pollard comments upon the lack of respect personal papers have received in the archival discussion over time, noting Hilary Jenkinson stated archives are intended to work with official documents and records. Historically, personal papers were not seen as an important segment of the archive. Due to their so-called biased origin, institutional archives may have been fearful inclusion of personal papers in their repository would go against their inherent mission. In more modern times, personal papers, including manuscripts, have become more commonplace in institutional repositories. However, collection development in this area is inconsistent and problematic; the appraisal of the personal material is rife with difficulty. With no specific interactions or functions relatable to well-known components of the institution, the archivist must process and appraise personal papers as with a brand new and often unique construct. Yet the basic procedures are the same: appraise with the intent to preserve for the posterity of the individual while simultaneously looking for research value.
The collection I am charged with processing during my internship is composed entirely of personal documents, including letters, research, essays, and manuscripts. In order to process this collection, I found myself confronting many of the problems and issues noted by Pollard. I was forced to build a plan from scratch after careful study of the entirety of the collection at large. The actions and functions performed by Professor Nugent are unique to his life. This is not to say that other history professors or writers do not perform the same tasks, but instead to note that Professor Nugent performed these tasks in a manner unique to him. Personal paper appraisal means attempting to understand the life the subject lead, choosing the most appropriate functions, and only then beginning the appraisal process. I believe to do otherwise will invite the potential of disorganization and misappropriation of information. This article is a great read for anyone called upon to process and appraise personal papers.
Pollard, Riva. “The Appraisal of Personal Papers: A Critical Literature Review.” Archivaria, No. 36, Autumn 1993, pp. 136-150.
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