From Polders to Postmodernism: A Concise History of Archival Theory

Citation

Bunn, J. (2009), "From Polders to Postmodernism: A Concise History of Archival Theory", Records Management Journal, Vol. 19 No. 3, pp. 253-254. https://doi.org/10.1108/09565690910999265

This volume provides a well‐written and excellent summary of the development of archival theory from the end of the nineteenth century until the present day. It discusses the multivariate contexts, which have contributed to and framed this development and the tension between objectivity and subjectivity played out within it. Indeed the negotiation of this tension, as reflected in particular, in ideas about appraisal, is a major theme throughout the book.

The main body of the work consists of a chronological account which is structured into four periods; consolidation, reinforcement, modern and questioning. The first three of these periods are defined by reference to particular works; respectively, the so‐called Dutch Manual of Muller, Feith and Fruin, Sir Hilary Jenkinson's A Manual of Archival Administration and T.R. Schellenberg's Modern Archives: Principles and Techniques. The last period is defined by being less defined and reference is made to the work of a number of individuals: Brien Brothman, Carolyn Heald, Eric Ketelaar, Heather MacNeil and Terry Cook.

In constructing his account, Ridener pays necessary and critical attention to the contexts within which the development of archival theory has taken place. Such contexts are discussed in general terms in chapter two, where the emphasis is placed on three specific contexts, namely paradigms, technology and historiography. Later, in his conclusion, he elaborates on “four key factors that have, over the past 120 years, affected the creation, content and focus of each archival paradigm to emerge', these being “geography, history, historiography and technological change” (p.153).

The shift in emphasis between objectivity and subjectivity is also well handled. The use of appraisal theory as a barometer of changing attitudes in this regard provides a clear and simple expression to the argument. Nor are its implications for the professional role neglected as Ridener writes of the change from “passive keeper of records” to “active, intellectually engaged, and challenging creator and custodian of cultural memory” (p.130). He also assigns indicative roles to each of his four periods, namely records organizers, professionals, records selectors and records questioners.

It is in this connection between theory and professional identity that I think the importance of this book lies. Knowledge of archival theory and its development should not be seen as merely of marginal interest to the practitioner. Ridener writes of the emphasis that the questioning period has placed on “creating a contemporary archival praxis, the confluence of theory and practice” (p.102). Theory can no longer be seen as solely the domain of a few theorists and irrelevant to the rest of us.

At the start of the volume, Ridener seeks to answer the question “Why study archival theory”. His argument, that we have to be able to understand and communicate our ideas, if we are to stand any chance of engaging with others and contributing those ideas to “a broad cultural discourse” (p. 5) has me, at least, convinced. Nor am I the only one, as Terry Cook writes in his Foreword to the volume “Theory thus matters. Theory defines us. Theory motivates us. Theory explains us” (p. xix). This volume is an accessible and thought‐provoking introduction to this important subject. I would strongly recommend it to anyone working in the field.