The Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies (JCAS) announces two new publications:
"Tracing Transformations: (Digitized) World War II Correspondence Through the Lens of the Records Continuum Model," written by Milan M. van Lange and Carlijn Keijzer.
Download the article: https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/jcas/vol12/iss1/4/
Abstract: This paper traces the transformations of a historical archival collection of personal wartime correspondence. Most of the records in this collection were created in the context of the German Occupation of the Netherlands during World War II (1940–1945) and/or the War of Independence in Indonesia (1945-1950). The collection was gathered and curated by the NIOD Institute for War, Holocaust, and Genocide Studies in Amsterdam from 1945 onwards and was digitised between 2020 and 2023. We navigate the convergence of past and future transformations of the records and illuminate the intricate web of considerations and decisions of historical preservation, archiving, digitisation, research, and (re-)use. We focus on the initial creators of the records, but also on family custodians, professional record-keepers, and the digitisation project team. We address the implications and impacts of their actions, as they present important considerations in the selection, source criticism, and interpretation of such records as sources in historical scholarship.
We use a simplified version of the Records Continuum Model (RCM) as an analytical framework to enhance our understanding of this complex collection of varied historical 'egodocuments'. By doing so, we evaluate the practical implementation of RCM as an analytical instrument in expanding current practices of source criticism in historical scholarship. We show how different dimensions of mutually interacting dynamic processes add new layers to the context and meaning of historical records, and how 'egodocuments' such as wartime correspondence are not only a reflection of the experiences, perceptions, and emotions of their initial writers, but are also influenced by contemporary cultural and social conventions and time- and location-specific contexts and various curatorial and record-keeping activities through time. To conclude, this paper emphasizes the value of collaboration between historical scholars and archivists and stresses the importance of accountability and transparency in record-keeping practices, both in the historical archive and the digital realm.
"Review of Trans and Gender Diverse Voices in Libraries," written by Adrian Johnson.
Download the article: https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/jcas/vol12/iss1/5/
Abstract: This book review summarizes and discusses Trans and Gender Diverse Voices in Libraries, a compilation of fifty-three individual essays by and for trans and gender diverse people in the library and information science (LIS) profession. Edited by Kalani Keahi Adolpho, Stephen G. Krueger, and Krista McCraken, the 547-page work was published by Library Juice Press in 2023. This review provides a thorough look at each of the book's seven sections, which are designated by professional focus or career stage, and emphasizes and contextualizes the importance of the title within the landscape of LIS literature.
JCAS is a peer-reviewed, open access journal sponsored by the New England Archivists, Yale University Library, and Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
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Sally Blanchard-O'Brien
Marketing & Outreach Associate
Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies
email.jcas@gmail.com
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