Archives Are Not Neutral

While conventional wisdom holds that archivists should refrain from taking subjective stances in their work, there have been increasing calls in the field to recognize that the historical record from which archives are drawn is far from neutral. How can we expect archivists to remain objective when engaging with politically fraught materials that are potentially held within institutions founded on principles that do not reflect current societal values?  CCAHA Director of Preservation Services, Dyani Feige, discusses the importance of recognizing that our own positions impact the work we do in collections fields.   

This webinar addresses Goal #3 of the FAIC’s Held In Trust Report on Diversity, Equity Inclusion, and Accessibility—to cultivate more equitable, diverse, and inclusive recruitment, advancement, and work environments. 

About the speaker: 

Dyani Feige works with libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural organizations to conduct needs and risk assessments, assist in disaster planning, and help develop policy and planning documents for collections. She also develops and presents education programs on preservation and conservation concerns. 

Dyani is a member of the Society of American Archivists (SAA), the American Library Association (ALA), the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference (MARAC), the Delaware Valley Archivists Group (DVAG), and the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums (MAAM). She is a recognized Digital Archives Specialist through SAA. 

Before joining the staff of CCAHA in 2010 as Preservation Specialist, Dyani worked in the Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives. She has also worked in the New York Public Library’s Preservation Division; for the Conference Board; and in the Special Collections & Archives at Kent State University. Dyani received her MS in Library and Information Science with a Certificate in Archives at Pratt Institute and her BM in Music Business from New York University.