Archival Administration: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Program Overview

Archival Administration equips professionals to safeguard historically significant records and ensure their enduring accessibility for research, legal compliance, and cultural documentation. This program emphasizes the systematic identification, stewardship, and preservation of materials with lasting value, preparing graduates for leadership roles in libraries, museums, government agencies, and private institutions.

• Appraisal and Collection Development: Learn criteria and methodologies for evaluating records based on historical, legal, and cultural significance to determine which materials warrant long-term preservation.
• Information and Records Management: Master principles for organizing, classifying, and maintaining both physical and digital records throughout their lifecycle to ensure integrity and accountability.
• Archival Preservation: Study techniques for stabilizing and protecting fragile materials, including climate control, conservation practices, and disaster preparedness for physical and digital collections.
• Access Systems and Metadata Standards: Develop expertise in creating structured systems—such as cataloging and digital repositories—that enable efficient discovery, retrieval, and use of archival holdings.
• Management of Electronic Records: Address the unique challenges of digital preservation, including file formats, migration strategies, authenticity verification, and long-term storage solutions.
• Archival Outreach and User Services: Gain skills in engaging diverse audiences through exhibitions, public programs, and digital platforms to increase awareness and utilization of archival resources.
• Legal and Ethical Issues in Archival Practice: Examine privacy laws, copyright regulations, access restrictions, and professional ethics governing the handling and disclosure of sensitive or restricted materials.