Silence of the archive

Resource Information

The work Silence of the archive represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in Sydney Jones Library, University of Liverpool. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Language Material, Books.

Label

Silence of the archive

Statement of responsibility

David Thomas, Simon Fowler and Valerie Johnson

Creator

• Thomas, David, 1950-
• Thomas, David, 1950-

Contributor

• Johnson, Valerie
• Johnson, Valerie
• Fowler, Simon
• Fowler, Simon

Author

• Thomas, David, 1950-
• Johnson, Valerie
• Fowler, Simon
• Johnson, Valerie
• Fowler, Simon
• Thomas, David, 1950-

Subject

• Appraisal of archival materials
• Archives -- Acquisitions
• Records retention

Language

eng

Summary

In recent years big data initiatives, not to mention Hollywood, the video game industry and countless other popular media, have reinforced and even glamorized the public image of the archive as the ultimate repository of facts and the hope of future generations for uncovering 'what actually happened'. The reality is, however, that for all sorts of reasons the record may not have been preserved or survived in the archive. In fact, the record may never have even existed - its creation being as imagined as is its contents. And even if it does exist, it may be silent on the salient facts, or it may obfuscate, mislead or flat out lie. The Silence of the Archive is written by three expert and knowledgeable archivists and draws attention to the many limitations of archives and the inevitability of their having parameters. Silences or gaps in archives range from details of individuals' lives to records of state oppression or of intelligence operations. The book brings together ideas from a wide range of fields, including contemporary history, family history research and Shakespearian studies. It describes why these silences exist, what the impact of them is, how researchers have responded to them, and what the silence of the archive means for researchers in the digital age. It will help provide a framework and context to their activities and enable them to better evaluate archives in a post-truth society.--

Member of

• Principles and practice in records management and archives

Assigning source

Provided by Publisher

Cataloging source

StDuBDS

Index

index present

Intended audience

Specialized

LC call number

CD973.A37

LC item number

T46 2017

Literary form

non fiction

Nature of contents

bibliography

Series statement

Principles and practice in records management and archives

Target audience

specialized