On Being an Archivist

Without a doubt, promises of high pay and generous fringe benefits do not lure most archivists to the profession. Why then do we become archivists? In view of the great diversity within the profession, evidently it is not because of any particular external characteristics or interests that we share. Instead, three core attitudes shape the professional life of archivists and draw us to this profession. These are a commitment to service, an ability to search for evidence and meaning in the documentary record, and a rich appreciation of the passing human scene.