ETSU is offering a new and unique graduate curriculum in archival studies to train individuals in the management of historic records and collections.
ETSU is one of only a few universities and colleges in the United States that offers the archival studies specialty which is usually offered by universities in the form of individual courses or as a concentration within other degree programs such as library science.
This graduate program is unique for Tennessee and the region and will fulfill a recognized statewide and national need for trained archivists.
“So, really what we hope is that the program will draw from outside of ETSU’s normal regional area,” said Dr. Marie Tedesco, interim director of the master of arts in liberal studies which is housed in the Division of Cross-Disciplinary Studies in the School of Continuing Studies.
Norma Myers, assistant director and curator of the Archives of Appalachia, said people find their way into archival work through different courses of study that do not always include the necessary archival education.
Many times, individuals in smaller cultural institutions and archives are assigned to oversee collections they are not trained to care for.
She said Tennessee had not had the archival “training programs” needed.
Tedesco said students not interested in pursuing a master’s degree but needing archival training may pursue the graduate certificate in archival studies which requires only 18 semester hours of study.
Students interested in the master’s program can pursue the cross-disciplinary, archival studies concentration within the master of arts in liberal studies program.
“The unique thing we have is the master of arts in liberal studies. That is not that common at universities,” Myers said.
The interdisciplinary graduate program allows students to design an individualized course of study.
Archivists, like those in other professions, are having to come to terms with technology.
Myers said her job has been “radically” changed by the advent of technology and the Internet. In the past, people would visit the Archives of Appalachia in person and request information.
Now most submit questions and requests via e-mail and expect “instant answers.”
Tedesco said people now expect and want all records and information made available through the Internet.
Despite statements to the contrary, she said we will never live in a paper-free society.
There will still be a need for archives and museums where people can see the original document.
She said many documents are too old and fragile to handle, and the cost and amount of work involved in making every collection available through the Internet would be prohibitive.
“That is never going to happen. Never,” Tedesco said.
Another issue facing archivists involves copyright laws.
Tedesco said a frustration for researchers is that not all audio and visual documents can be sent via the Internet and copies can’t always be made.
Myers said it is important to preserve the historic records for present and future generations.
“It is one thing to read about a civil War battle in a history book, and it’s another to read a letter or a diary that describes it in a first-hand account,” Myers said.
For information about the program, call 439-4223. E-mail inquiries should be sent to tedescom@etsu.edu.

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