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The Roving Archivist Blog
The Roving Archivist Blog
The Archival Road Trip
The Archival Road Trip
August 15, 2025
Welcome Back!
Welcome Back!
September has been a whirlwind at RAP! From quick tips and veterans' oral histories to cross-state site visits and collaboration with cultural institutions, it’s been a month of learning, sharing, and growth.
Part of planning for my site visit meant I got to return to my roots by creating a guide to processing and archival management basics. I had forgotten how much thought and effort go into each step of the archival process. So, for the first few blog posts for our revamped blog, I want to create a series that focuses on each step of the archival process.
So, buckle up! We’re going on an archival road trip!
What is the Archival Road Trip?
What is the Archival Road Trip?
The following blog posts will be a five-part series describing the archival process from start to finish. We will examine each step to identify its meaning and applicable portions you can incorporate into your archival practice.
This series is to guide everyone–from those of us who need a refresher to the volunteer who has never worked with a collection before. Consider this your unofficial crash course. Through this series, you will learn not only each step of the process and how to perform it but also tips and tricks to ensure you provide best practices for yourself, your collections, and your researchers.
Where are We Going?
Where are We Going?
Wondering what exactly the archival process is? Well, here’s your road trip itinerary:
“Packing Your Bags” will focus on archival appraisal and accessioning (or deaccessioning) processes.
“Set the GPS” will cover inventorying and planning your collection processing.
“Hit the Road” goes into the arrangement and preservation practices of processing a collection.
“Sightseeing & Snapshots” details description practices to make materials accessible to the public.
“Post It or Pass It” describes various ways to share and make your collections available through outreach.
Whether managing a small-town museum collection or tackling inherited family records, this series will equip you with the tools to care for, preserve, and share historical materials confidently.
Archives can feel intimidating, especially when staring at a box full of materials you have no idea what to do with. (Every archivist has had that panic; don’t let them fool you.) But the truth is that anyone can learn to work with collections thoughtfully and professionally with guidance and patience.
Disney’s 2007 film Ratatouille told the world that “anyone can cook.” In 2024, I offer a different message: “Anyone can archive.” So come on, and let’s talk about how to do it!
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