Course talk:ARST573/Faith Based Archives

Hi Kelly,

You've done a really good job organizing your wiki page. I love all the images, there are some great linking, and the structure makes sense and flows very nicely. I noticed one awkward sentence in your history section: "However faith-based archives from other communities have existed along side the more mainstream faith-based archives." Overall, great work!

Hi Kelly,

I will echo a lot of what people have already said here, love the topic, it's interesting and different. I think you have picked the exact topics to cover for this archival area, and also look forward to what you have to say for the "contemporary issues" section. Minor grammatical stuff, and just note that in one or two spots you say "faith based" instead of "faith-based." Three is indeed the magic number, and one more case study would make me feel better. Cool topic!

Best,

V

Hi Victor,

Thanks for the feedback. I'll work on grammar as I edit my wiki. As I've mentioned to others, I'm trying to diversify my case studies, I've gone with four to try to keep it within scope.

Kelly

Ms. Kelly,

first of all, I am torn: I love your Wiki, yet I hate that it makes mine look so paltry and desperate. Thank you for going above and beyond and adding not one but two more case studies (I don't know how you do it: spoiling us while making us look bad for not putting in the same effort); within the context, you've done a great job providing us with very diverse example, and I definitely feel like I am getting a fulsome picture of your topic. Your case studies are really fleshed out and I like them a lot!

One thing I am wondering about: do you think "Challenges" and "Contemporary Issues" would be better wedded instead of separate islands? I kind of feel that they are similar enough (privacy concerns could definitely be in the "contemporary issues" section) to do so that it would make for more cohesion in this part, which is also one of your Wiki's strengths might I add.

With your images, it is a very well-balanced Wiki in terms of looks, and a nice and easy but highly informative read. Looking forward to reading this on Saturday morning

Take care,

V

Hi Victor,

Thanks for the feedback. I've taken your suggestion and moved privacy concerns to the contemporary issues section as it fits better there. I have thought about combining the two sections. I kept Challenges and Contemporary Issues separate so far because I felt the subject matters were intellectually different e.g. lack of professional staff, storage and training vs. issues such as scandals or non-traditional communities. I've struggled to find the the proper heading titles. I could put something "Practical Challenges" and "Contemporary Archival Issues" to better reflect that.

Kelly

Hey Kelly !

So your page looks amazing! the last time we talked about it you weren't sure how much information there was but this all looks really great and I have learned a lot!! the only suggestion I have was under the case study bit. You list the title of the archive and then go right into History which is another title of a section, to me it just looked a little strange to see two titles right on top of each other. i might consider taking the history title out, I understand that is what the section is about but I am not necessarily sure its necessary.

Hi Morgan.

Thanks for the feedback. I too think the Case Study titles work a little awkward. However, I kept them to make navigating the page easier as the subsection header appears in the table on contents. I might put more spacing between the headers under case studies to break up the section a little more.

Kelly

Hey, Kelly!

I definitely like it so far. It has a tight focus, and good information, that can lead to a great wiki. Now pardon me while I give advice that contradicts what I just said.

I don't know what the literature for faith-based archives looks like beyond what we read for class. Is it worth it, for you, to add sections for outreach, history web presence, and other typical archival topics? I think the wiki could benefit from it. I also think, however, that due to the peculiarity of faith based archives, those particular topics may not exist in scholarly writing. Something to consider in the still-early stages, I suppose.

Good luck!

Hi Rosie,

Thanks for the feedback. I've tried to include a little about outreach, access and other archival topics in my case studies. The literature on faith-based archives (at least in North America) isn't that current and there is little about outreach. The TNA's Religious Archive Group has done a lot more current and relevant work on typical archival practices in faith-based archives. Archival websites also talk about their outreach as well. I'm hoping this will come across a bit better in the case studies.

Kelly

Kelly,

Oh my gosh, you added a lot! The page is really impressive! I adore it, it's very broad, and you obviously worked hard on it.

A couple of general notes: I noticed some minor grammatical errors, nothing serious. Also, I noticed your Native American section is still blank. It's an important topic, and a big one. I'm kinda torn between wanting you to cut it (for your sanity), or filling it out (for the strength of the page). It's definitely a rabbit hole situation, and if you're wavering, I'd suggest just giving a short blurb.

Everything else is very strong. You're doing well.

Good luck!

Hi Rosie,

Thanks for the feedback. My page has a lot of spelling/grammer errors, correcting those will be the last step! I finally finished the section on First Nations which kind of morphed into a section on social justice and the TRC. If you or others have any thoughts on it I'd like to hear them.

Kelly

I just read over the section, it looks super good! You're doing great, and make sure to do some last edits!

Hi Kelly,

This is a beefy page already and you've set yourself up to go into a lot of detail on a really complicated topic. Well done!

• You mention in your introduction that faith-based archives range in size and scope. I think mentioning some examples either in your introduction or early in your history section could be helpful to bring that wide range into focus. Where are faith-based archives? Where have they been kept previously? Where do they get transferred? Are they always in the custody of faith professionals? I think the relationship between where faith-based archives are kept/by who and the material itself is an important one in this context. Apologies, you may already have plans for your introduction, but I think it's a little thin as it stands—but maybe this would be a good jumping off for building it up, and communicating the complexity, diversity, and great interest in these archives from the very get-go.
• I'd like to know more about untrained archivists doing archival work in faith-based archives. Maybe this could fit into the history section (maybe you already have it planned out) or the 'lack of resources' subsection. I think it's worth noting that priests, for example, have been responsible for record-keeping (historically and present-day). Who does/has played the role of archivist in religious communities?

Hi Amy,

Thanks for the feedback. I've added a bit more to my introduction and the history section. If you have any thoughts on this, I mention and later explore both the Hindu Archive Project and JAHSENA in my case studies but I mention the archives of the East London Mosque in the introduction as an example of small in-house archives but I don't have a case study for it. I'm not sure about this, just because there is no follow-up. I will explore the issue of where religious archives are kept a bit more in the "Custody of records" section.

I've included more about religious officials in the lack of resources subsection. I've included one example of a Methodist archivist and I might include more later.

Kelly

I think those added details work really well!

Hi Kelly, Great job - I really like your organization of the topic and the sections that you've developed so far. I too am going to echo previous comments and suggest that you broaden your scope to include some faith based archives outside of North America. As mentioned, hyperlinking would enhance your wiki but I'm sure you were planning on this. In terms of your sections, you may want to consider amalgamating the 'Case Studies' Section and the "Contemporary Issues" section which currently includes 'legal case studies' as a subsection. If you want to keep a contemporary issues section on its own then you may want to move the 'legal case studies' subsection into the 'Case Studies' area. Up to you though - it does seems like there is some overlap in these subject areas at moment which you may want to re-organize somehow. Look forward to reading more!

Hi Kaitlin,

Thanks for the feedback. I've been working on the organization of my wiki. "Legal Issues" was a poorly worded place holder on my part. I've moved my discussion about non-traditional communities to contemporary issues and placed a more specific place holder for the section I'm currently writing (First Nations). Hopefully this will provide better organization.

Kelly

Hi Kelly, Your wiki has come along really nicely! I like how you've re-organized it and it looks great. Looking forward to seeing the First Nations section when it is complete. To echo a previous comment, I would recommend expanding your discussion on privacy issues as it seems to be such a key challenge for faith-based archives, but I understand that this may be a challenge in terms of finding material. I would also recommend linking the privacy wiki to this page since privacy is such an important issue. Also, I would recommend maybe stating in your overview that while you examine a range of faith-based archives, you geographically limit your wiki to faith -based archives in North-America and the U.K. A small thing I noticed while reading through (more out of interest than anything else), where in Nova Scotia is the Shambhala Archives?

Hi Kaitlin

Thanks for feedback. I've added the smaller suggestions you pointed out. I also added a bit more to the privacy section as well. It could stand to be longer but there's not a lot out there.

Kelly

Hi Kelly,

I really enjoyed looking over your page! I found it really interesting that you had some info about the various uses or religious archives - especially as a way to incorporate some of the issues/ trends around whether a religious organization keeps their records private or opens them to the public.

One thought I had apart from re-iterating the suggestion about diversifying your page (though I know you've mentioned to me not a lot has been written about faith-based archives outside of Christianity or Judaism), was that I think a deeper discussion about the privacy issues that come out of the discrepancies between religious law and civil law could be useful, because it's so specific to faith-based archives and also touches on some bigger issues in the profession.

Hi Christie,

Thanks for the feedback. I agree with the inclusion of more faiths. The Canadian and American literature is lacking in this regard although many such archives exist. To make up for this I'm using more British sources (The TNA Religious Archive Group has done a lot of good work in this area) I've included a Canadian Buddhist Archives in my case studies as well. I am expanding my discussion both on privacy and the limited access to religious archives. You are correct, it is a unique challenge of faith-based archives. I also hope to discuss how religious archives often exist outside the archival community for a variety of reasons.

Kelly

Hi Kelly,

Your article is coming along well, especially your case studies! One more suggestion: Some more links and pictures might make it more interesting!

Christie

Hi Kelly,

love this topic. Suggestions: -need a reference for the fact that majority of faith-based archives are Christian/Jewish in Canada and USA. -you mention the range of material in the holdings for your introduction, but perhaps you might add as your first section a "Definition" heading, and then "Types of materials" to expand further on "administrative records, bird, marriage/death records...etc" --I just think these are really important aspects of faith-based archives and when people access your page they may ask "What does a Faith-Based Archives hold that is different from "regular" archives/what makes their materials unique?!" I know that's that I asked when introduced to this subject. -I think your subheadings for Uses/Challenges are spot on, good job! Contemporary Issues/Challenges could be somehow merged? or the two headings could be nearer to each other.

Jessica

I know your page is still in progress so these can just be reminders !

Hi Jessica,

Thanks for the feedback. I like your organizational suggestions. I'll probably move my "Case Studies" section to the bottom once I've finished writing it for better flow as you suggested. I'll bit about types of holdings. Some faith-based archives keep religious artifacts which require special care and consideration.

Kelly

Hi Kelly,

I just linked your page under my "See Also" section thanks to a pod-member's advice. This is a really interesting topic and I'm excited to see how you progress with it. I'm sure you just haven't gotten to it, however I hope that you plan to include some pictures and links to outside pages that provide more detail about the different faiths you mention.

I was wondering if there is any sort of legal benefits that faith based archives could bring to users? I know in the early modern period Jews often preserved their records for this reason, but is this still applicable to today's archives? Also, if it would be of any help to you, I do discuss Christian and Jewish archives briefly on my page and cite a source for Jewish archives that discusses in detail archives from the 20th century.

Hi Morgan,

Thanks for the feedback. I do have some pictures for the wiki page. I should have those up once I figure out the correct copyright tag. As far as legal uses go, many modern faith-based archives do keep records for legal reasons although it is not usually one of the reasons they discuss. Most of the discussion is in academic literature. I've lumped "legal" in with administrative right now but I might separate them out later. I do plan to link to your page (as well as several others) once I figure out where to put them. I'm planning to include a brief history of religious record keeping and might put them there or in the "See also" sections. Any thoughts on this are welcome.

Kelly

Sounds great! Can't wait to see what pictures and further info you add.

In regards to the linked pages, I think under a "See Also" section would work really well.

Hi Kelly,

You've got a pretty good layout for this topic so far, I thought I'd suggest a wider range for your case studies (perhaps include some from Europe or the US as well as Canada). Additionally, some history on the development of recordkeeping in a religious context would also be helpful, though of course that would vary depending on the religion.

There were a few proof-reading issues in here too which you can look over, but the main one I'd point out is consistency in "faith-based archives" versus "faith based archives." Just make sure you are doing the same one throughout the page.

Hi Kelsey,

Thanks for the feedback. I think including more case studies form other countries would strengthen the page, so far I've kept to Canadian examples. As far as the history of religious record keeping, I'm working on developing a brief history however I don't want to generalize too much. Some other wiki pages have more in-depth information on the history of religious record keeping which I will link too.

Regards,

Kelly

Hi Kelly, I like that you've broken it down with uses and challenges. Echoing what others have said, it'd be great to see more about non Christian/Jewish examples. You touch briefly on Wiccanism but there are also other large faith groups such as Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Tao etc. and it'd be really interesting to hear about their institutional recordkeeping/archiving. Heck, even something like the church of the jedi could be interesting if there was any information on their archival practices out there!

You might also consider the challenge of a church (etc.) depositing records into a public archives and how there might be differing ideas about access/privacy etc. Church records have been really useful to genealogists as well which might be worth mentioning.

There are a few small typos/grammatical errors throughout the page - I won't point them out, just suggest a thorough proofread at the end of the assignment.

Hi Adena,

Thanks for the feedback, I agree about including non Christian/Jewish examples. I've included a Canadian Buddhist archives as my third-case study and I'm working to include more examples throughout the wiki. A lot of work on non Christian/Jewish and their relationship to the archival community has been done by the TNA. Since my original focus was North America, all my case studies are from North America but I feel that's limiting in some regards. I've considered 1-2 more case studies of British faith archives that are examples of both other faiths but also non-traditional archives (e.g. digital archives) I will be including these examples as I expand my wiki but if you (or anyone) has thoughts on including more case-studies to broaden the scope of examples included I would like to hear them.

Regards,

Kelly

Forgot to include this in the original comment but thanks for pointing out genealogists. They're not discussed in the literature much but many faith-based archival websites include information for genealogists and I'll include a section about them under "Uses"

Hi Kelly,

Your page looks like it is coming along well. I am especially interested in the Non-Traditional Communities section (I am a bit biased as I am writing on LGBTQ archives!). I also look forward to reading the Contemporary Issues section. I think a discussion of the TRC and the Anglican Diocese (per Melanie Delva's talk) would be really interesting in this section.

There are a number of minor errors of a proofreading nature, which you probably plan to do later, along with hyperlinking. I am not sure if you are planning on doing more than the two case studies you have listed, but adding a third might give your page a bit more breadth.

Best, Hannah

Like Hannah said, some minor grammatical things you will certainly pick up with your future revisions. I would also point out that the reference heading seems to be missing missing above your footnotes. Perhaps something is missing in the code? Otherwise looking good overall and look forward to seeing more.

-Eric

Thanks for point that out Eric. I'm still working on the coding but I fixed some stuff for now.