|
|
What archives exist in Montreal? Which of them can the public access?
Most archives are publicly accessible although some rules apply. Religious institutions do not usually make their archives freely available. Archives in private companies often house confidential information therefore access is limited. Appointments are required, because the information must be taken from the shelf ahead of time. Important to remember that museums such as the Fine Arts Museum have archives to compliment their acquisitions. Most public archives are part of the Group of Archivists of the Region of Montreal (GARM) founded in 1982. It consists of 18 Montreal area institutions currently acquiring private archival funds in different areas of specialization.
What is the mandate of the Concordia archive? What type of documents do you keep and/ or look to acquire?
Concordia University's teaching programs are what generate most document types. An acquisition committee makes the final decision regarding appropriate material. The different departments account for the varying types of documents. From jazz to theatre images, it also houses the odd artifact such as a Concordia varsity team jacket.
What types of material does an archive house?
Archives keep things that can be labeled documents. Papers, photos, and films fill shelves staked high with boxes. Keeping in mind the weight of the documents, height will depend on the facility. Grouping documents into boxes makes it easier to store them, but more importantly it makes sense for consultation purposes. When researching one is often looking for associative information and rarely a particular document. Concordia's archive occupies one story and is located below a science laboratory; it is not the ideal situation. A false ceiling has been created to ensure nothing will leak through such as water from a tap left running. Despite the low height, staff are required to work in pairs to access the top shelf as most boxes are heavy.
Do you know any examples of industrial archives?
The only example of a large-scale archive devoted to industry that comes to mind is located in northern France. It honours the textile industry, whose products France once imported successfully all around the world. Created in a political move, unfortunately its stunning collection is not open to the public. A local example is the Musée des ondes Emile Berliner, a memorial to sound. Its main function is a that of a museum, but it also houses an informal archive. The protocol for storage in an archive is not strictly adhered to due in part to the nature of the museum. Its situation would be similar to that of an archive of industry, for artifacts would likely be part of the collection. Items are sometimes inseparable from their accompanying documents. Ribbon cutting scissors from an important ceremony are kept with the program announcing the occasion.
Are collections found in one single large room, on multi- levels, with mezzanines? What is preferable?
Provided collections can be kept at the same mean temperature, they can be kept in a single room. If proper procedures are followed with regards to sprinklers, there is no danger of the spread of fire. Many French archives separate their archive into smaller compartments in hopes of containing sustainable damage. However this compartment-type setup is to no avail, for they often practice poor conservation methods. Concerns over preservation management are the subject of many conferences and publications in the archival field. Nancy Marelli's Implementing Preservation Management: a how-to manual for archives, published through the Réseau des archives du Québec, intends to inform the profession about the exponential risk and consequences associated with their facility. Architects and engineers involved in the building of archives have trouble understanding an archive's needs. HVAC systems need to be relatively huge compared to the average office building and/or factory. Concerns regarding budget are difficult to separate from the archive's needs. Conferences are organized to help archivists understand what compromise implies. Exponential benefits are possible when documents are stored according to preservation guidelines.
Based on your visits to archives around the world, and France in particular, how do Canadian practices fair?
Canadian practices and guidelines fair well in the field. They are similar to those of the United States, publications are often interchangeable. European standards though just as demanding are less often met by archives. Conservation Environment Guidelines for Libraries and Archives are published by the Canadian Council of Archives for use by all professionals involved in an archive building. Guidelines are established based on the facility's size; quality of environment is then calculated based on equipment, practices, and relative humidity. A good example of meticulous practices are those of the new Archives Nationales du Québec de Montréal. Their new facility on Viger Avenue opened its doors just over a year ago in January 2000. The design by architect Dan S Hanganu incorporates three older buildings as well as a new structure strictly for storage. It is well regarded by both archivists and architects alike. Top |
|
emily beauregard ebeaur@po-box.mcgill.ca |