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by Jana Buhlmann
As archivists, and indeed as human beings, it is important to question that which is generally perceived as true, or simply assumed - the so-called facts which we accept as obvious notions. It is my contention that more often than not, this type of exploration leads to new understandings, or at the very least, a further clarification of our societal assumptions.
The question that I wish to pose is this: What is the role of gender in the process of records creation, maintenance, and use? A further question follows: Why should we, as archivists, undertake an examination of women as records creators?
Let me jump back for a moment and make a few broad statements. Women create records as private individuals. They create records as members of organizations. And finally, women create records in the context of their professions, in both the private and public sphere.
Archives acquire records. They do so from a variety of sources, including public and private bodies, voluntary organizations, and private individuals. Many of these records have been generated by women. In fact, I might venture to say that more than ever, archival institutions are acquiring records generated by and containing information about women.
And of course we, as archivists, are impartially acquiring records This impartiality is reinforced by our knowledge of the various contexts in which records are created, maintained, and used. But does this knowledge include an understanding of the role of gender in the record keeping process? Does gender even play a definable role in record keeping? Perhaps through a simple examination of the notion, we are broadening our perspectives and therefore strengthening our understanding of something that may not even need to be isolated. My goal today is not to leave you with answers, as I don't believe there are any easily conceived answers to these questions. Rather, I would prefer to leave you with questions that lead you to ask your own.
A number of issues lie beneath a discussion of the role of women as records creators. Reviewing these issues is useful in that it provides a basis for any sort of understanding of women as records creators and their relationship with the archival community.
The women's history movement has inspired a number of discussions about archival resources pertaining to the experiences of women. Unfortunately, many of the discussions of the archival role within the women's history movement are almost thirty years old, but they are worth reviewing as they point to the relevancy of this discussion in a given era.
Eve Moseley, in a 1980 article in the American Archivist defines what she calls the "new women's history" as, "that of all women and their activities, achievements, and relationships, especially those not traditionally the concern of historians."1 This concept of women's history developed within a new generation of social historians, "who began to criticize traditional historiography for its preoccupation with elites."2 Moseley points out that women have traditionally been "active and important" in the context of the private sphere, that of the family, and more recently in "public institutions that have assumed family functions." Hence, a different records creation experience from males who have figured prominently in a variety of institutions, large and small, and therefore created records in a public context, as well as developed a more enhanced sense of the importance of private or personal records creation.
But this issue is more complex in that women have not just recently begun to create records. Granted, their more traditional role in previous eras may have restricted their ability to generate reams of recorded information, but this does not mean that records pertaining to the experiences of women do not exist. The extended problem is the issue of how much material generated by and about women has actually made its way into an archival institution. And if it has, is it buried within the papers of a relevant male, whether that be husband, father, or employer. In a more recent discussion, Gabrielle's Earnshaw's 1994 thesis exploration of the women's archives movement, the author states,
The women's archives movement suggests that appraisal for acquisition in traditional archives has discriminated against records created by women. Although archival theory and methodology of appraisal for acquisition are not inherently biased, in practice acquisition of private records takes place in a haphazard manner according to the value system of the ruling political ideology ... because of structural and societal discrimination women have not been part of this ruling elite and interest in the preservation of their records has been minimal.3
The women's history movement, as well as the women's archives movement, has pointed to two basic "archival problems" pertaining to records created by and about women. The first problem is that of acquisition; are records created by and about women making there way into archival institutions? The notion of awareness rears its head here. Are we informing ourselves as to the activities of women, individually and collectively, within our communities? And if we are ignorant of this context, is it influencing the acquisition process? The women's history movement has argued that the archival community is negligent in this light.
The second problem relates to access of materials pertaining to the experiences of women. It would be naive to say that archival institutions do not hold any records created by and about women. While we may be negligent as to informed acquisition of such materials, this does not mean that we are excluding such material, consciously or subconsciously. Rather, the problem in terms of access is getting to the records that reflect women as the content and creators of records. As I have already mentioned, the problem lies in the degree to which such records are buried amongst the records of husbands and fathers, or within government records, such as case files and census records. Veronica Strong-Boag, in a 1978 Archivaria article, points out that accessing such material is often complicated by the fact that researchers are more often than not unfamiliar with the specific government department responsible for records containing information relating to "mothers' allowances, minimum wage [or] factory inspection."4 The "walking finding aid" seems too shaky a solution here.
So, what sorts of solutions have been broached in order to address these problems? In the area of acquisition, speaking in general terms, some archival institutions have designated individual archivists as responsible for so-called "women's materials." Acquisition policies have been re-evaluated in order to determine their effectiveness in the acquisition of materials pertaining to women's experiences. And generally, the presence of articles addressing the issue of materials created by and pertaining to women, few as they may be, has sparked discussion and therefore awareness within the archival community.
Here I feel it is important to point out that this does not advocate a subject-based approach for acquisition. As Earnshaw writes, "Women are not a subject. They are records creators in all realms of human activity."5 She goes on to state that
acquisition policies should be based on a thorough understanding of women and women's organizations as records creators in order to acquire records. Archivists must become familiar with the kinds of records women and women’s organizations create to understand the documentary residue of their actions and transactions.6
In the area of access, a number of effective steps have been taken to address the notion of "buried" materials. More effective description has provided researchers with a means of access to such materials, inclusive of the redescription of existing records and more thorough description of new records. The use of RAD has most definitely aided in this process. The creation of thematic guides such as The Canadian Women's Movement, 1960-1990: A Guide to Archival Sources, has also provided researchers with more effective access to records reflecting women's experiences. The creation of the Canadian Women's Movement Archives in 1977 was an attempt to address the inadequacies of archival material pertaining to women.7 And once again, discussion of the issues surrounding "buried" sources pertaining to the experiences of women has provided individual archivists with a broader understanding of the issue, enabling them to better assist the researcher.
So as an archival community we have addressed the notion of buried or absent information pertaining to the activities of women through more relevant description, more well-informed acquisition, and through the creation of a variety of thematic guides. Now it would be naive to say that the problems pointed to by the women's history movement have been addressed by all archival institutions and in a thorough manner, but we have definitely taken steps in this direction. Discussion has lead to awareness, which has in turn lead to more inclusive acquisition and access methods and practices. However, these are two areas that could most likely still use a little work.
Here it is important to note that women themselves have altered the context by moving into more and more diverse areas of society, and within those areas, are more active in the record keeping process. The increasing presence of women in a wider variety of organizations, as well as public focus on the role of individual women, both professionally and personally, has meant that archives have begun to acquire more and more records created by and about women - whether we are conscious of this change or not. As Gabrielle Earnshaw writes, " . . traditional archives will automatically catch documentary evidence of women's activities in their net ..."8
So do our attempts to address the inadequacies of past acquisition and access practices provide us with a better understanding of the kinds of records created by and about women? And do we therefore, possess a better understanding of women as records creators? The lack of written archival discussion in this area seems to suggest that we do not. Gabrieile Earnshaw notes that out of 37 issues of Archivaria (1975-1994), aside from Veronica Strong-Boag's article, "Rising Clio's Consciousness: Women's History and Archives in Canada," and book and exhibition reviews, "the subject of women and archival preservation has been the topic of only two other articles."9 She also points out that in 57 issues of the American Archivist (1938-1994), only four discussions have addressed records pertaining to women's experiences. Perhaps we have undertaken a lot of discussion on the topic and have just failed to put it in a written form, but that seems unlikely. So it would seem that we have more work to do and more knowledge to acquire. And logically, it would seem necessary to move on to an examination of records created by and about women as they are being created, maintained, and used.
As archivists, we are only better able to do our job if we have a clear understanding of what happens to records before we receive them. What types of records creators exist? How do they create, maintain, use, and dispose of records? If we attempt to answer these questions, we begin to acquire knowledge that allows us to provide better access to the records within our custody and care.
However, the notion of examining women as records creators is a difficult one. Various investigations have been carried out in relation to clearly defined groups of records creators visual artists, voluntary associations, ethnic organizations, and environmental NG0s, to name a few. Susan Hart, in her MAS thesis, Archival Acquisition of the Records of Voluntary Organizations, calls on archivists to "conduct research in order to reach a clearer understanding of records creators, and based on this, to develop better approaches to acquisition."10 Hart writes, "The archivist must seek a thorough understanding of the period and area of society from which she or he is supposed to acquire archival records."11 Jian Liu's MAS thesis on the potential for acquisition of ethnic archives argues that "[a]rchivists will be able to develop more feasible acquisition strategy with knowledge from the investigation of the creators or owners situation."12 But how do we begin to explore something as diverse as the female record creator? And how do we isolate the role that gender plays in the various activities involved in record keeping? Is this isolation even possible?
It would be difficult to examine the role of gender in record keeping within public institutions and larger private bodies. This does not mean that such an investigation would not reveal pertinent information about the increasing number of women in the workforce, with varying levels of responsibility and varying roles in the creation, maintenance, and use of records. However, gender would be only one factor amongst many. Ethnicity, socio-economic status, previous work experience, and personal perspective would all work in unison with gender to influence the record keeping process, to say nothing of the institutional requirements within this process. This is not to suggest that such research should not be carried out, as the changing face of our workforce in terms of gender representation must certainly be reflected within record keeping practices.
In the course of my MAS thesis I have attempted to address women as records creators in a definable, attainable category, that of the women's organization. While it would be simplistic to say that gender is the only factor influencing record keeping within women's organizations, it is more easily examined in this context. Organizations that focus their activities on the unique experiences of women as a sex and gender can be examined as such.
Once again, I feel it is important to point out that in answering my initial questions, it is not necessary to come to any neat and tidy conclusions. As I have already stated, women are not only defined by their gender, but also by their ethnic background, socio-economic status, educational, professional, and general life experiences. This makes us more than just the sum of our gendered experiences, and the same can be said for men of course. This is what is so interesting about such an investigation -we may arrive at a number of answers, none of which is necessarily incorrect, all of which broaden our knowledge base, providing us with a better understanding of the records creator.
So where does that leave the role of gender in record keeping? Well, it allows us to explore the ways in which gender may or may not be of influence in a variety of contexts. Within women's organizations, gender plays a key role in the activities of the organization - it is more dominant, therefore more easily examined, but not necessarily isolated. But this does not mean that we should shy away from explorations of women as records creators in a variety of realms.
And where does that leave us as archivists? Well, as I have already indicated, it should leave us asking questions. These questions establish a frame of mind that is conducive to the creation of clearer access points through description that acknowledges so-called "buried material" pertaining to the experiences of women. These questions allow us to develop a broader understanding of the communities from which we acquire material. And in the end we have broadened our knowledge base, remained true to the records in our custody, and benefited the researcher, all in combination.
* Paper presented as part of a 1998 AABC conference session titled "Diversity in Documentation: Cultural Communities and Record Keeping".
1 Eve Moseley, "Sources for the 'New Women's History," American Archivist 43 (Spring 1980): 180.
2 Gabrielle Earnshaw, "Preserving Records Bearing on the Experience of Women in North America: The Women's Archives Movement and its Significance for Appraisal for Acquisition," (Master of Archival Studies Thesis, University of British Columbia, 1994): 34.
3 Ibid., ii-iii.
4 Veronica Strong-Boag, "Raising Cleo's Consciousness: Women's History and Archives in Canada,' Archivaria 6 (Summer 1978): 75.
5 Earnshaw, 1994, 99.
6 Ibid., 99.
7 The Canadian Women's Movement Archives collection is now held at the University of Ottawa, Morriset Library.
8 Earnshaw, 1994, 72-73.
9 Ibid., 3.
10 Susan Hart, "Archival Acquisition of the Records of Voluntary Associations," (Master of Archival Studies Thesis, University of British Columbia, 1989):1.
11 Ibid., 57.
12 Jian Xiang Liu, "The Potential for Acquisition of Ethnic Archives: A Case Study of Five Chinese Organizations in Vancouver, British Columbia," (Master of Archival Studies Thesis, University of British Columbia, 1993): 104.
Jana Buhlmann is an Archivist with the National Archives of Canada.
Reprinted from the AABC Newsletter, Fall 1998, Vol. 8, No. 4.
© 1998 Archives Association of British Columbia