FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ARCHIVES     

What are Archives for? 
Archives are repositories that collect, arrange, preserve and make available records of historical value. 

What is the difference between Archives and Museums? 
Archives collect two-dimensional records, including manuscripts, photographs, maps and architectural drawings.
Museums collect three-dimensional artifacts and artwork. 

Why are there so many rules in Archives? 
Rules in Archives exist to protect the fragile documents. Gloves protect the collection from the oil and dirt on your hands.
Purses, notebooks and notepads are locked away to prevent theft. 

What is an Archivist? 
A professional archivist is a person, typically trained and educated in archival studies, who selects, manages, describes, and preserves records of historical value. 

How do you become an Archivist? 
Professional archivists require a Master's degree in either Library Science or History from an accredited university.

In either program, the student studies archival management, preservation, reference and research methods. 

What is the difference between Archivists and Librarians? 
Librarians work with published materials in open stacks which generally cover a large field of information.

Archivists work with original records that have limited access.

What does an archivist DO all day? 
In the course of a day, GTHC staff handles any of the following tasks: 

Answering reference letters  Arranging maps, photos or manuscripts  Assisting researchers and scholars  Transcribing or conducting oral histories  Weeding collections of duplicate material  Rehousing old collections into new folders  Soliciting new collections  Maintaining its budget  Ordering archival supplies  Ordering Texas history books  Indexing articles from the newspaper  Processing photo orders  Representing the Rosenberg Library at regional and national organizations.

Galveston and Texas History Center, Rosenberg Library, 2310 Sealy Avenue, Galveston TX 77550
Voice (409) 763-8854 ext. 127- Fax (409) 763-0275

GTHC WebTeam GTHC, Rosenberg Library.