Archival Education in North American Library and Information Science Schools

Abstract

American archival education at the graduate level developed gradually throughout the twentieth century. In the past decade, however, its development has accelerated, and firmer foundations were built in graduate library and information science (LIS) programs throughout North America. Our findings indicate strength and individualization in graduate level archival education programs, a dramatic increase in full-time, tenure-track faculty, a growing number of course offerings often eclipsing the LIS offerings in an archival student's course of study, and the nascent development of degrees acknowledging the archives and records field. Despite the substantial growth of archival education within the LIS schools, there is confusion or lack of understanding about the archival field by these schools as well as a lack of commitment by archival professional associations to advocate for specific changes in archival education.