ACA Statement on America’s Ongoing Crises and the Archives Profession, June 5, 2020

To the members of the Academy, our fellow archives and cultural heritage practitioners, and our larger archives community, 

The Academy of Certified Archivists Board of Regents stands with our community of professionals to actively work against historical exclusions in the archives and in the archives profession. The Academy strongly believes that the profession’s future depends on our ability to accept change and to re-imagine our spaces, our approaches, and our culture. 

A key function of the Academy’s members and leadership is to participate in the definition and advancement of professional archival education, concepts, and issues and constantly review, update, and reconsider the core competencies for archival work. In 2019, the Academy took action to develop a Cultural Competency Domain for archival certification highlighting and working to promote and celebrate the ongoing work in the profession to end discriminatory practices that have motivated archival collecting for generations. We will be highlighting the work of those changing the narrative of history and community in the archives: gender, anti-racism, disappeared populations, historical erasure, and colonially-focused collection, description, appraisal, and education. 

We support the end to exclusionary practices in archival collection and management. We will actively work with our communities as part of our efforts to create a diverse, inclusive, knowledgeable and active profession that recognizes and promotes the importance of cultural competency, of active work to redefine the scope of our profession, and to ensure all are, and feel, welcome. 

Included here is a new document, “Resources for Archivists: Black Lives Matter, Anti-racism, and Emotional Labor” started by the Board that contains links to resources, sites, and statements in support of national protests against state violence and in support of the people. We hope this document can be, and will become, a resource for all of us who are working to change the face, complexion, and future of our profession. We encourage our members to read, review, and add to the document.

ACA Statement and Resources for Archivists: Black Lives Matter, Anti-racism, and Emotional Labor

Respectfully,

The ACA Board of Regents