A short thread about #ArchiveSecrets:
Archives have an ambivalent relationship with secrets and secrecy. For some people, the romantic view of archives as harbouring historical secrets is part of their appeal.
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But archives are also about openness, transparency & accountability. We don’t want archives to be hidden gems, but very visible gems – something for everyone to explore, enjoy & learn from.
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Sometimes, though, archivists do have to keep secrets. Protecting other people’s rights & wellbeing mean that we can’t always make records available. These closed records are not secret forever but their full contents are secret for now.
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Many people who visit archives love opening a box & seeing what’s inside. You probably won’t uncover a great secret, but you might just find something that will change your view of the world, or of yourself.
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I enjoy "thinking inside the box" too. Now (like many others) separated from "my" collections during the current lockdown, I really miss them. But don’t tell anyone that: it’s a secret!
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