Managing Records: Using Records
Historical Records and the Local Government Historian
by
Robert W. Arnold III,
Julie C. Daniels,
C. Raymond LaFever
Publication #81
2004
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Publication Summary
New York's officially appointed public historians play an important role in preserving and interpreting the history of their communities. This publication suggests ways that such historians can use their specialized knowledge and interests to encourage and support records management and historical records programs that are adequate to the needs of local governments and their constituents. Local public historians can be advocates for the greater and broader use of both governmental and non-governmental historical records, for the preservation of a community's local character, for addressing community needs and for planning for a community's future. While no public historian may have the time or resources to be involved with all the areas suggested in this publication, it may be possible to work on relevant projects selected from each of the major areas discussed.
Local public historians have
three broad roles in serving as advocates for historical records:
- promoting the establishment and improvement of programs for the management
and preservation of local government records with enduring value for
historical or other research
- encouraging the coordinated collection and preservation of non-governmental
historical records by libraries, historical societies, and other repositories
- carrying out and actively encouraging research in such records in order to add to the knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of the community's history.
This publication discusses each of these three roles in more detail, suggesting activities and sources of further assistance, including the Local Government Records Management Improvement Fund and the Documentary Heritage program grants.
