What is an Archives?
Archives is a collective noun, correctly used in the plural. It can have three possible meanings: the materials comprising the collections; the place or building housing the collections; and the agency maintaining the administration of the collections. Primarily archives collect and maintain historical records and manuscripts. Archivists catalog these historical materials by respective “collection” and not by subject as is typical at libraries. As archives are made up of unique, one-of-a-kind materials, their use is more restricted than library material. Use of the Center’s archival holdings is by appointment only and done on-site under the supervision of the archivists.
