A trauma-informed approach to managing archives: a new online course

Emotional responses in archival work

Building on previous work investigating the impact of exposure to (a) records with traumatic potentialities and (b) interactions with donors and community researchers whose suffering is documented in the archives, this study sought to better understand emotional aspects of archival work. Using a diary research methodology, 15 archivists engaged in diary keeping for approximately four months. What emerged was a broad set of events and experiences that triggered a wide range of emotional responses arising from archival work. This included: pre-existing emotional states and characterological traits; emotional exchanges in the workplace with colleagues and others; emotional demands of the work (including emotion work and emotional labour); team and leader interactions arising from group tasks and leader behaviour; and organizational policies, climate, resources and demands. This broader set of interactional factors forms the foundation on which traumatic and other troubling events are encountered. Future research must consider the nature of archival organizations and interactions within them that contribute to the overall working experience. In addition, archival organizations need to take responsibility for creating a culture that demonstrates respect and appreciation for workers, acknowledges the interpersonal challenges of the work, and provides supports for archivists who are shouldering the challenges.

Emocje, afekty, archiwa i selekcja. Ekscytujące drogi nowej humanistyki

Artykuł jest próbą wprowadzenia do polskiego obiegu naukowego i spopu­laryzowania teorii i założeń prezentowanych do tej pory głównie w litera­turze anglosaskiej, a dotyczących tematu afektywności (czy też emocjonal­nego aspektu) archiwów. W wyniku jakościowej analizy dotychczasowych badań oraz tekstów teoretycznych wskazano cztery obszary tematyczne, oferujące szczególnie ciekawe perspektywy dla badaczy i archiwistów: afekt i selekcja archiwalna; afekt i wykorzystanie archiwów; afekt i opis archiwalny; archiwa i trauma. Szczególnie wiele miejsca poświęcono war­tościowaniu dokumentacji i pozycjonowaniu archiwisty w tym procesie. Podjęto również próbę odniesienia tego typu badań do koncepcji nowej humanistyki. Emotion, affect, archives and selection. The exciting paths of the new humanities This article attempts to introduce and popularize in Polish academia the theories and assumptions, which have so far been presented mainly in the Anglo-Saxon literature on the subject, of the affectivity (or emotional aspect) of archives. Through a qualitative analysis of existing research and theoretical texts, four thematic areas were identified that offer particularly interesting perspectives for researchers and archivists: affect and archival selection; affect and archival use; affect and archival description; and archives and trauma. Particular attention has been given to appraising documentation and positioning the archivist in this process. An attempt is also made to relate this type of research to the concept of new humanities.

Building a trauma-informed community of practice

This paper calls for a global community of practice to support people to enact trauma-informed practice in the archival profession. Building on the literature around archives and affect, decolonising spaces, and centring communities, it proposes trauma-informed practice is implemented in archives, and a community of practice be established to support those doing the work. It recognises the emotional labour of many in the archival field, and furthers conversations held at the Archival Education and Research Institute 2019 where the value of a community of practice was evidenced. The community of practice would bring together communities, academics, researchers, practitioners, volunteers, users, donors, and anyone with an interest in improving archival theory, education and practice to support trauma-informed approaches in archives, and support those undertaking the work. It ends with a call for co-creators of a trauma-informed community of practice.