That We Shall Truly Deserve the Title Of "Profession"

The Training and Education of Archivists, 1930-1960

The founders of the Society of American Archivists faced tremendous challenges as they attempted to standardize archival practices through educational programs. They grappled with problems that still plague us. When the National Archives was founded, standardized training was seriously discussed. Samuel Flagg Bemis was appointed to chair the first SAA Committee on Education and Training. Beginning in 1939, American University offered courses in archival administration, but no attention was paid to the needs of manuscript curators. During the 1950s some archivists questioned their professional status and identity and proposed certification and rigorous SAA membership requirements. Their proposals were not implemented. Since a considerable number of archivists are trained historians, it is surprising that we have neglected to examine our own history before embarking on solutions to the lack of standardized education for archivists.