Archivist
Archivists acquire, manage and maintain documents and other materials that have historical importance for individuals, organisations and nations. They have an important role in the information society as guardians of the memories and records that shape the identity of various groups and societies.
Archives are held by all sorts of organisations, including local and national government, businesses, academic institutions, museums, charities, professional organisations and hospitals, as well as by individuals and families. They may include books, papers, maps, photographs, prints, films and computer-generated records. A large part of an archivist’s work is related to making information accessible to users, increasingly in digital format. Users include researchers, academics, other professional staff and the general public.
Work activities vary according to individual responsibilities and type of organisation. Many archivists are responsible for other related areas of work, such as records management and archive conservation, although the latter normally requires specialist technical training. The roles of archivist and records manager overlap and are combined in some organisations, especially smaller businesses. Increasingly, records are stored and retrieved digitally.
Tasks typically involve:
Salary data from the Archives and Records Association (ARA) . Figures are intended as a guide only.
You need a university degree in order to be accepted onto a postgraduate course in archives, which is the normal entry route, and the profession is open to graduates of any discipline. Although many archivists have undergraduate degrees in history, degrees in law, classics and English are also quite common. The subject of your undergraduate degree is less important than a demonstrable interest in history and an awareness of the importance of archives as evidence. In specialist scientific archives services, a degree in a science subject may be useful.
Entry onto postgraduate programmes is competitive and you normally need a good honours degree and previous work experience in order to be accepted. Postgraduate study is the normal route for entry to the profession, but you may be able to obtain a post as a paraprofessional archives or records assistant and complete further study in-service or after a period of employment. Entry to employment without a degree or with an HND only is unlikely - most assistants have at least a first degree.
There are six postgraduate courses in archive management that are currently accredited by the Archives and Records Association (ARA) (see their website for an up-to-date list). These lead to a postgraduate diploma, the minimum requirement for employment as a professional archivist, or a Masters degree on completion of a dissertation. Most courses are combined archives and records management programmes. Part-time and distance-learning study options or specialist provision for international work may be available - check details on university websites. Students applying for full-time courses are eligible for funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) or the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) , but not all applicants will receive an award. A career development loan may also be possible, but you may otherwise have to fund yourself.
You need significant voluntary or paid work experience in order to be accepted onto a postgraduate programme. This experience should be in an archives or records management environment, not a library, and must be relevant and of good quality. See the ARA Guidance on Work Experience Placements for more information and a list of organisations in the UK and Ireland that offer voluntary or paid placements to graduates seeking work experience prior to undertaking an accredited postgraduate qualification. The largest archives services are likely to be in local government and universities. Make contacts wherever you can.
Posts at assistant level may also be advertised in the local and national press. Be persistent in tracking down opportunities for experience. It may also be worth contacting organisations speculatively close to where you live. See the ARCHON Directory for contact details of local archive and records management services.
Candidates need to show evidence of the following:
Knowledge of the data protection and freedom of information legislation may also be advantageous.
Student membership of ARA is useful and benefits include access to vacancies, discounts on training, networking opportunities and access to the ARC Magazine .
Competition for jobs is currently fierce and geographical mobility is important as posts are generally spread in small numbers across the UK and Ireland.
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
Continuing professional development (CPD) is an important part of an archivist’s career. Once you are qualified and have at least three years’ experience in the industry, you are encouraged to take the Archives and Records Association (ARA) registration scheme. This scheme allows you to reflect on and develop your practice in the workplace as well as through professional contribution, private study and further courses. You will have the support of a mentor and will need to submit a portfolio and other evidence of your competence. The scheme takes a minimum of three years to complete and on successful completion allows you to add the letters RMARA after your name.
The emphasis on CPD continues throughout your career and you need to keep up to date with new technologies and digital preservation techniques. The ARA runs and participates in a range of events throughout the year. There are also opportunities to attend courses, lectures and seminars coordinated by local and regional groups. Details of many are available from the Archives-NRA List .
As an archivist, you are part of a small professional network, so opportunities for promotion to high-level posts may be limited. The world of archives is varied in its subject matter and its scope and you are likely to experience a variety of roles and environments during your working life. Long-term career prospects are generally good, although a degree of flexibility and a willingness to relocate to a different area may be necessary if you are looking for promotion.
Many people start as assistant archivists. Some progress to senior posts with a more prominent management role. These roles usually involve taking control of budgets, staff and strategy. In central government, promotion is usually internal. There are some opportunities for archivists to move into records management, and in some specialised areas there is the possibility of moving into project management.
Membership of the Archives and Records Association (ARA) is useful for career development and successful completion of the ARA registration scheme allows you to add the letters RMARA after your name.
As your career grows, you may develop a specialist interest, for example archives in education or religious archives. The ARA runs a Certificate in Archive Conservation for those looking to move into or who are interested in this area of work.
It may be possible to move into work as a genealogist, although positions are hard to come by and a regular income cannot be guaranteed. Genealogists are primarily archive researchers who trace and chart lines of descent and family trees using a variety of public and private records, such as court records, original tax books and immigration records. See the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies for more information.
Archivists may also be interested in becoming a historical researcher providing specialist research services to individuals or organisations. Short courses in areas such as palaeography and historical research are available through the Institute of Historical Research (IHR) .
The possibility of movement between fields exists at managerial level. However, due to the growing need to develop commercial activities, senior management positions in large organisations are sometimes filled from outside these sectors by people with substantial business or financial experience. The acquisition of management skills may improve opportunities for progression.
Local government is the most common employers of archivists, followed by central government, the National Health Service (NHS) and universities. Archives are also kept by:
Other major employers of archivists are the large national repositories, which include:
See the ARCHON Directory for a list of record repositories in the United Kingdom and also for institutions elsewhere in the world which have substantial collections of manuscripts.
Search the ARCHON Directory for contact details of record repositories throughout the UK and check their websites for vacancies.
Recruitment agencies rarely advertise vacancies.
Get tips on job hunting, CVs and covering letters and interviews.
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