The Archivist
If anything stands out in your mind from the past five or ten years, surely it has to be
Nicolas Cage’s portrayal of Benjamin Franklin Gates in the movie National Treasure and its sequel. While I would take great pleasure in discovering a map on the back of one of the most profound documents of all time by putting lemon juice on it or improbably surviving multiple near-death experiences that would have killed the average Joe as Gates did, I would prefer to assume the role of the woman behind Ben Gate’s fictional plan: Dr. Abigail Chase. This character, played by Diane Kruger, assumes a head position in the National Archives of the United States, working with some of the most important documents in all of history.
Whether it was Nicolas Cage’s flowing hair (see The 18 Most Important Hairstyles of Nicolas Cage’s Life) or the film’s mediocre reviews, National Treasure ignited some sort of burning desire inside of me to work in the National Archives. Following a traumatic family trip in first grade to a toasty Colonial Williamsburg where all I wished to do was go back to the hotel and swim, I somehow managed to turn my life around and appreciate history. Ladies of Liberty, Letters to Jackie, and Infamous Scribblers are just some of my most beloved history books. The Barnes & Noble history section is my favorite meeting place. So with such a love for past, why not work closely with the documents that were present as history was made?
According to the Society of American Archivists, “the primary task of the archivist is to establish and maintain control, both physical and intellectual, over records of enduring value.” While they are responsible for safeguarding such documents, they must make them available to the public. Personally, I see archivists as the link between generations. In order to move forward, we must first understand our past.
The National Archives and Records Administration of the United States was established in 1934 as an independent federal agency and houses some of the most notable documents and recordings in the world. I am a proud member of the National Archive’s email list. And whenever visiting Washington, D.C., I refuse to leave that city until I have stepped foot in the National Archives. I love how the Corinthian pillars and the statues of the Future and Past guard the home of the most defining moments in American history.
Yes, the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence all read the same as they did the last time I visited. However, I still find a new sense of inspiration every time I look at those documents.
Archivists are so vital to society that there is even a high federal office for them. The position of Archivist of the United States is currently assumed by David Sean Ferriero. Before being named the tenth Archivist of the United States, Ferriero served as Director of the New York Public Library and the Librarian and Vice Provost for the Library Affairs, while also working for 31 years at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Not all archivists must focus their work on historical documents. For example, as in this May 2012 Smithsonian.com article, some choose to debate film medium vs. digital medium. The range of topics of research and records is endless, allowing archivists to work in multiple fields. They combine the art of archiving and another passion.
I would see myself working in the National Archives, the mecca of American history, and possibly becoming the Archivist of the United States. (Go big or go home, right?) Sharing the rich history of America with future generations while being in close contact with the past would never leave me with a dull moment.
