Presentation

Deep Processing: Emotional Labor in the Archives

Authors: , ,

Abstract

Archivists are familiar with the messy and overwhelming processes of creating order from chaos. But how do we navigate the attendant emotional functions required to collect, organize, and steward historical records? In particular, what interpersonal and emotional challenges inform our work? In this roundtable, three archivists working in two different institutional contexts—the university and the historical society—dig deep into effective labor in the archives. Informed by recent scholarship on grief, empathy, and pastoral care in the archives, the panelists will reflect on professional experiences requiring them to engage in shared emotional processing. Topics will address death and dying, engaging with emotionally difficult archival material, and conducting education and outreach around hoarding, value, and disposal. Panelist presentations will leave generous room for robust conversation from which we hope to develop an edited volume on the topic.

Keywords:

How to Cite: Fox, H. , Scaggs, D. & Glogower, A. (2023) “Deep Processing: Emotional Labor in the Archives”, MAC Annual Meeting Presentations. 2023(1).