1st Edition
The International Business Archives Handbook Understanding and managing the historical records of business
The International Business Archives Handbook provides up-to-date information and guidance on key issues relating to the understanding and management of the historical records of businesses.
Key features include:
• Chapter contributions from a range of experts in their respective fields.
• Content covering business archive and business history initiatives around the world.
• Practical advice combined with thought-provoking discussion on issues hitherto little addressed.
• Useful quick-reference tables, global case study examples and further reading suggestions.
The handbook is an invaluable guide for students, archive professionals and business historians alike. It is also an important reference tool for business professionals involved in information management more generally.
Editor’s preface
Part I: Business archives in context
1. An introduction to business archives Katey Logan
2. The development of international business Roy Edwards and Kevin Tennent
3. Changes in office technology John Orbell
Part II: The nature of business records
4. Understanding core business records Michael Moss
5. Understanding industry–specific business records Lesley Richmond
Part III: Managing business archives
6. Organisation and objectives Jeannette Strickland
7. Acquisition, appraisal, arrangement and description Richard Wiltshire
8. Preservation Alison Turton
9. Access Alison Turton
10. Digital business archives William Kilbride, James Mortlock and Tina Staples
11. Managing risk Sara Kinsey
Part IV: Using business archives
12. Advocacy, outreach and the corporate archivist Paul C. Lasewicz
13. The business history discipline Leslie Hannah
Index
Biography
Alison Turton has been Head of Archives at The Royal Bank of Scotland Group, UK, for over 28 years. Her previous edited handbook, Managing Business Archives (1991) has served as a major text in the field.
Published book reviews:
"The International Business Archives Handbook is a one-stop-shop for those seeking advice and guidance on managing, processing and showcasing business archives. Broken down into four parts and 13 chapters, the volume successfully maintains a pragmatic approach throughout, drawing on the experiences of both business archivists and business historians to provide a comprehensive overview of the business archive sector in a global context. This practical approach is further complemented by the inclusion of case studies and information tables, which allow the reader to quickly locate information required as needed, or sit down for a more thorough perusal. The handbook has been constructed in such a way that it will be of use to anyone working in the business archive sector, regardless of their skillset [....] An international theme is prevalent throughout the book."
Karyn Williamson, book review in Archives and RecordsEditorial endorsements:
“This book contains the wisdom of some of the world’s best specialists in the field of business archives. They have arduously assembled a wealth of information which makes it easy to set up a new business archive and to nurture it to becoming a useful asset for its sponsors. This book should be compulsory reading not only for archivists but also for business leaders who are interested in managing the continuity of their businesses.”
Alexander L. Bieri, Chair, Section on Business Archives, International Council on Archives“Business archivists are unsung heroes. They are the guardians of the secrets of how capitalist enterprises in the past have driven innovation and created wealth. This impressive volume brings together both professional archivists and business historians to provide a robust and compelling intellectual foundation for the successful management of business archives in the digital age.
