Dr. Sleep: The Archive as a Psychoanalytic Experience

 In our recent class discussions, we touched upon how archives and archivists are portrayed in cinematography and literature. Recently, I watched the film "Dr. Sleep" (2019), based on Stephen King's novel of the same name and directed by Mike Flanagan. While the movie is a sequel to Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" (1980) and seemingly unrelated to the themes of our class, I found a scene that became my favorite.

In the fictional world of the film, some individuals possess a privileged mental power that allows them to enter the minds of others and review their memories. In a memorable scene, a character intrudes into another's memory. This space is depicted as an archive, with boxes organized by series. Penetrating this space and accessing the information it holds bestows significant power and control of one over another.

After contemplating this scene from "Dr. Sleep," I have been reflecting on archives as repositories of the collective memory of peoples, human groups, and nations. In the movie, the psychic makeup of the characters is presented as an archive. Similarly, when a researcher seeks primary sources to create a historical narrative, they must turn to the archive. Hayden White compares the work of the historian and the psychoanalyst, noting that both engage in "reemplotments" of past events; documents from the archive enter into a dialogue with the present, akin to a patient revisiting their memories and recoding them.

This conception of the archive as a psychoanalytic experience is also reflected in certain literary texts, especially those attempting to reconstruct the memory of traumatic events from the past. In these instances, the archive preserves collective trauma as an ongoing and painful experience. Prior to this moment, I had not considered the emotional and affective dimensions of the archive. In these fictional texts, an individual can be profoundly affected by what they discover in the archive and the "reemplotment" their narrative produces. Thus, the archive does not solely belong to the realm of Cartesian research but can have psychic consequences. Some should be warned that entering them is done at their own risk.

Outreach of the Franciscan Historical Archive of Zapopan, Mexico.

 In the article “Preoccupied with our own gardens”: Outreach and archivist”, the author analyzes the challenges of the social reach of archives. He uses the example of the discovery of letters from a feminist found by a doctoral student among the shelves of an archive. The impact of this discovery overshadowed the fact that the letters had always been preserved in the archive, but no one knew of their existence.

This situation leads the author to reflect on the challenges of projecting the archive to the community and society in general. The most traditional way to promote the archive is through temporary exhibitions; however, as Erickson states, exhibitions have the disadvantage of having limited social reach as they are confined to a specific space and time, requiring users to travel. During our class on Thursday, November 16, we brainstormed some other options for archives to connect with the community. Among the options mentioned were public presentations, workshops, brochures, guides, media features, displays, publications, etc.

My personal research has primarily involved working with archives related to some branch of the Catholic Church. These archives, being the product and property of a religious institution, often pay less attention to outreach, as their existence would initially be for the internal use of the institution.

Nevertheless, in recent years, I have observed a gradual but progressive change in the presence of the Franciscan Historical Archive of Zapopan in the community. In 2024, the 500 years of Franciscan presence in the New World will be celebrated. This significant event for the order has prompted the archive, which preserves a large number of documents dating from the arrival of the first Franciscans with Hernan Cortes to more recent times, to undertake various outreach strategies resulting in a greater local and international presence.

As a researcher and user of this archive, I can highlight among the most impactful and far-reaching elements, the international conferences that started during the COVID-19 crisis entirely virtually and have continued in a hybrid format in the following years.

These international conferences, all focused on celebrating the 500 years of the order's arrival, have propelled the archive's presence internationally. The use of technological tools such as conference platforms made it possible for a much larger audience to participate and, at the same time, exposed the archive's holdings to a broader range of researchers and potential users, as in my personal case. These conferences also brought the role of the archivist closer to users by creating a network of researchers and archivists through social media and emails, allowing researchers abroad, or even those in Mexico outside the region of the archive, to remotely explore the collections.

Another key element in the archive's outreach, as discussed in class, is the use of social media. In the case of the Franciscan Historical Archive, they remain more active on the Facebook platform (https://m.facebook.com/p/Archivo-Hist%C3%B3rico-Franciscano-de-Zapopan-AHFZ-100063655328010/). On this platform, they constantly post interesting data about the collections they preserve, as well as virtual exhibitions, conferences, publications, etc.

I have chosen to refer to the case of the Franciscan Historical Archive of Zapopan because it seems to be an example of the efforts and challenges faced by archivists, as mentioned by Erickson in his article. However, I must acknowledge that, unfortunately, despite efforts for greater archive promotion, these efforts often remain incomplete in the face of other challenges the archive faces, such as a lack of personnel leading to slow remote user response and a slow digitization process that hinders remote access to collections.

Reflections on the Challenges of Digital Archive Preservation

    The assigned readings prompted me to reflect on the challenges facing the preservation of digital archives. This reflection has arisen from personal experience. As a child, my parents always stored memories of my childhood in some tangible format. Photo albums and notebooks filled with clippings from significant events in a child's life were predominant, along with audio or video recordings on cassettes to a lesser extent. During my youth, I witnessed the transition between two worlds — one that is gone and will never return, and a new one, so commonplace today, yet so novel back then.

    During my first experience abroad, communication with my mother was still via postal mail. I witnessed the birth of email while living in Canada, where it was still restricted to university use in my home country. From that youthful era, I retain my travel diary and some letters my mother saved. However, all those communications I began having via email have been lost forever. Nowadays, memories of my children are all in digital format. Sometimes, I feel that these memories, so precious to me, are more fragile than the photographs taken by my parents. I have witnessed the rapid and constant change in formats and technologies for information preservation.

    In light of my personal concerns about how family memories will be better preserved in the future, I have formulated some ideas about the challenges faced by digital archives, especially those without tangible support. Unfortunately, I could not participate in Thursday's class, but I share some of these ideas in this blog in a prose-like manner, although some might be better suited as questions.

    At the forefront of the challenges of preservation is the rapid advancement of technology. The dynamic nature of file formats and digital technologies quickly renders both hardware and software obsolete. This complicates the reading of old files with current technologies, requiring constant vigilance and proactive measures to ensure continuous accessibility.

    Physical storage media, once fundamental for data preservation, now face an inevitable path to obsolescence. Hard drives, CD-ROMs, and tape units succumb to the passage of time, demanding a fundamental shift toward new storage media. Migration to these modern media is not just advisable but imperative to avoid the imminent threat of data loss.

    The diversity of file formats and standards introduces a layer of complexity in the form of interoperability issues. The lack of standardized norms can result in cryptic and unreadable files over time. Focusing on standardized approaches is essential to mitigate this risk and maintain the accessibility of digital files.

    In an era permeated by digital connectivity, the spectrum of security threats looms over digital files. From viruses and malware to ransomware and sophisticated cyberattacks, the arsenal of potential dangers is vast. The loss of data due to such cyber threats underscores the critical importance of fortifying digital files with robust security measures.

    Contextual information, encapsulated in metadata, provides the narrative thread that weaves through digital files. Preserving this contextual richness over time emerges as a significant challenge, as metadata is susceptible to loss or corruption. Meticulous management and archival practices are imperative to ensure the enduring legacy of digital records.

    As we discussed in the class on November 2nd, the dynamic landscape of privacy and copyright regulations introduces an additional layer of complexity. Adapting to legal changes and ensuring proper rights management are integral components of the long-term preservation strategy for digital files.

    The sustained effort required for digital preservation demands continuous investment in technology, personnel training, and other critical resources. The scarcity of funding and resources emerges as a potential bottleneck, underscoring the need for unwavering support to ensure the success of long-term preservation initiatives.

Ethics and Colonial Archives in Latin America

During our last class session, we discussed two cases regarding the ethics of archives. The article on Amerindian materials held by institutions not belonging to these ethnic groups was the one that made me reflect on the historical situation of archives in the context of colonial Latin America.

Despite the growing interest in recent years in the preservation, study, and repatriation of colonial archives to the communities and nations to which they belong, through international policies and agreements to promote ethics in the management and repatriation of historical archives, the situation is far from optimal.

I recall some unethical situations that colonial Latin American archives have faced (which, to some extent, still persist, particularly in archives related to the recent history of dictatorships in some Latin American countries, especially those documenting torture, disappearances, or atrocious acts against individuals, communities, or the civilian population). I would like to enumerate some of these ethical cases:

1. Plundering of archives: During the colonial period and thereafter, there were practices of plundering archives by colonizers and foreign governments. These archives often contained valuable information about the history and culture of indigenous and local communities.

2. Manipulation of history: In some cases, colonial archives have been used to manipulate or distort history in order to justify conquest and colonial rule. This has contributed to the perpetuation of Eurocentric narratives and the suppression of indigenous and local perspectives.

3. Restriction of access: Throughout history, access to colonial archives has been restricted, making it difficult to research and preserve the history of Latin America. This has sometimes been done to protect political or economic interests.

4. Document theft: Colonial archives often contain documents of great historical and cultural value. In some cases, documents have been stolen and smuggled for sale on the black market, resulting in the loss of valuable heritage.

5. Lack of document restitution: Despite efforts to recover stolen or plundered documents, many of them have not yet been returned to their rightful owners or to their home nations.

While the cases I enumerate do not have a direct connection to the reading studied in class, they serve to expand the crucial reflection on ethics in the preservation and accessibility of repositories, as well as on the ethics in their use by researchers or state power apparatuses.

Class presentations

In our class this week, I had the opportunity to listen to my classmates present their insights on various Finding aids from different archives and repositories. This experience was extremely interesting. Firstly, I got to learn a bit about my classmates' research interests and why they need to consult archives. Seeing such a rich diversity of research projects made me think about how necessary it was for all of us to take this class. Gradually, as we progress in the course, or at least in my case, I feel more confident and aware of how archives function. This makes me a more effective user of the sources and resources offered by various archives.

On the other hand, my classmates' critical observations of the different finding aids have been very enriching; I could understand how each archive organizes (at least on their website) the contents of their repository. Some provide an introductory presentation that includes their collection development policy, while in others, like the case of Brown University, their collection development is not so evident.

I also find it curious how each archive organizes its metadata. The case presented by my classmate Claire, about the Historical Society of Philadelphia, was a particular case. The organization of metadata in such an old archive like HSP can be a bit confusing for a novice archive researcher, and as my classmate pointed out, the links in the finding aid could sometimes be misleading.

Other finding aids offer a panoramic view of their collections, which, in my opinion, is more user-friendly for the researcher. It was also useful to learn about how each archive presents access for researchers, especially information regarding opening hours and service charges.

Finally, a finding aid that I consider highly valuable for researchers are those that, succinctly, guide the researcher in the use of the finding aids before starting to navigate the catalogs. This brief guide is of great value because, as has been mentioned, the way each website is organized is not the same for every archive.

Blog 5: Preservation and conservation

 Yesterday's class allowed us to reflect on two basic yet powerful words in the world of archives: preservation and conservation. The line between these two disciplines can be thin, and in many cases, archivists transition between them without feeling a significant difference. However, both terms refer to distinct subjects.

"Preservation" refers to the protection of archival materials. It aims to reduce chemical and physical deterioration to minimize information loss and thereby extend the life of cultural materials.

On the other hand, conservation is the discipline that deals with archival material that has suffered some form of deterioration or damage. In many cases, it is necessary to employ chemical and physical techniques to ensure the restoration of materials as closely as possible to their original form. This work requires training in functions that are sometimes very different from the typical duties of archivists, including knowledge of chemistry, paper techniques, ink, binding, and more. If a document, for example, has suffered significant damage, it may be necessary to involve conservators outside the regular archive staff. However, if the damage is minor, the archivist often has the opportunity to carry out the restoration process on-site.

Of these two concepts, I consider preservation to be the more important one because a well-preserved document will clearly not require restoration, thus preserving its original integrity.

For this reason, it is necessary to consider fundamental measures in the area of preservation. During the class yesterday, we reviewed the most relevant macro-level preservation measures, including:

• Appropriate temperature and humidity levels.

• Training of archive personnel in document handling.

• A pest-free environment.

• Adequate budget for storage supplies.

Following these macro-level guidelines can help mitigate the risks posed by external elements such as air pollution, mold and moisture, excessive heat and light, as well as rodents or other insects.

Lastly, humans can be the most dangerous element when it comes to the proper preservation of materials. This ranges from mishandling of archives to theft or removal of materials, which, once outside the physical space of the archive, may disappear forever.

Behind the scenes tour of the Special Collections Research Center

 

This week, our class consisted of an exciting visit to the Special Collections Research Center at Temple University. This visit was organized at just the right moment in the course's content development. Firstly, it allowed us to examine in situ the concepts we have been developing in the seminar, especially those related to the internal administration and organization of an archive, which, moreover, houses a very extensive collection. 

I was also very interested in hearing the comments and explanations of Mr. Josue Hurtado, who kindly guided us through the intricacies of the building, a place that very few people have access to. Likewise, exploring the building was a unique experience. I had never before had the opportunity to be in such a modern archive. The storage system is controlled by a sophisticated system that links the database to the physical location of the materials. When we started the visit and were still in the room set up for researchers to work with collection materials, I was reminded of Umberto Eco's novel "The Name of the Rose," set in a medieval Benedictine monastery. Just like in the repository of the SCRC, the monks had access to manuscripts in the scriptorium, but the vast collection of texts was housed in the great tower. In the case of the SCRC, the tower is underground, and the collection is moved, as in a science fiction story, by a robot. What would the monks of the 13th century think if they could see the evolution of their profession?

Secondly, the visit to the SCRC allowed me to gain a better understanding of the collections held by the archive. Without a doubt, I am now very curious to explore the ancient archives and manuscripts in more detail. I am very grateful for this visit of such high academic value, and I feel better prepared for the upcoming visit I will make to the archives of the Catholic Church.