According to Lynn Millar in The Story Behind the Book: Preserving Authors' and Publishers' Archives, the term "archives" has three main definitions in the common vernacular:
- The word archives (usually written with a lower case a and sometimes referred to in the singular, as archive) refers to the permanently valuable records—such as letters, reports, accounts, minute books, draft and final manuscripts, and photographs—of people, businesses, and government. These records are kept because they have continuing value to the creating agency and to other potential users. They are the documentary evidence of past events. They are the facts we use to interpret and understand history.
- An Archives (often written with a capital A and usually, but not always, in the plural) is an organization dedicated to preserving the documentary heritage of a particular group: a city, a province or state, a business, a university, or a community. For example, the National Archives and Records Administration in the United States, Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan, The Coca-Cola Company Archives, and The Archives of the Episcopal Church are all responsible for the preservation and management of archives.
- The word archives is also used to refer to the building or part of a building in which archival materials are kept, i.e., the archival repository itself.
HOW WE ARE GOING TO CELEBRATE ARCHIVES MONTH IN THE BDC
- Each of our October programs has or will feature specific archival collections. For example at Bernie Schein's book talk we showed photographs of 1960s Beaufort from the Lucille Hasell Culp Collection. At Dr. Wise's program last week, we showcased some Civil War photographic collections. At the upcoming Daufuskie Daze Author Book Talks, we will exhibit some of our images and materials about that sea island and education in Beaufort County.
According to the National Parks Service, "more than 80 million Americans are believed to be actively searching for more information about their ancestors. This explosion of interest in family history is due, in part, to the advent of the Internet. An ever-growing number of institutions, libraries, and individuals in our nation and others are collecting, preserving, and sharing genealogies, personal documents, and memorabilia that detail the life and times of families around the world."
On a daily basis, BDC staff is available to talk with budding as well as experienced family historians about the resources we have and the support we can provide for digging up the dead (figuratively speaking of course. Exhumation permission is a function of the Coroner's Office.) If you're able to give us a heads up, we are generally better able to assist you.
The Library provides access to the Ancestry Library Edition database in all our physical locations. While you must research your topics inside one of our buildings on one of our public computers to gain access to ALE (ALE isn't available through the Library's Wi-Fi), you can send the documents and images you find directly to your e-mail for access later. BDC staff will be happy to show you how to use ALE and all its features and tools as time permits. If you'd like some concentrated one-on-one help you can schedule an appointment for one of us to help you. Email bdc@bcgov.net or call 843-255-6468 to make the arrangements.
You can also attend the Genealogy 101 sessions held at Bluffton Branch and St. Helena Branch Libraries for some one-on-one help from reference librarians. See the Library calendar for details.
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