15
th
International Congress on Archives
Owens
www.wien2004.ica.org
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investigation of memory, is in essence, the investigation of human identity. Without memory, be it individual or
societal, we are left with a tabula rasa, or erased memory. Memory is a format of tracing bits of perception and
is one coherent means of defining identity. LeGoff argued a generation ago that history is as accurate or
subjective as is human memory. All the more reason to respect history!
Paul Fussell's The Great War and modern memory
signicance of memory. Published in 1975 Fussell was instrumental in the reformulation and reinterpretation of
memory. Fussell analysed the diaries and narratives of those soldiers in the rank and file during World War I; he
made extensive use of archival records at the Imperial War Office and other archival institutions
another and distinctive voice in the transmission of societal memory.
This talk examines the parallels between human memory, societal memory and the archival institution.
It is a series of personal reflections based upon nearly thirty years of employment within the archival
community. Underlying this discussion of memory is the continued necessity that the archivist must focus on
the care and nurturing of archival institutions, so that society and civilistation do not suffer from collective
amnesia, but continue with the modus operandi of transmitting memory. The archivist, with each professional
decision, is involved actively in the preservation of information and most importantly of "memory" itself.
Human memory is fragile. It is susceptible to damage and malfunction. It is a formation of the
individual experiences of the person who is engaged in the creation, storage and dissemination of memories. In
the same way, the human species has actively maintained societal memory through the creation and use of many
media, not only of archives. These institutions are as fragile as human memory itself. These are susceptible to
damage, be it outward destruction; internal factors of poor, or lack of preservation activities, and by the
destruction due to ill-informed and non-professional staff. The destruction and mismanagement of archives may
result in neurological seizure and breakdown.
The Archives is an instrument of communication. Writing is a continuation of the transmission of oral
communication.
human voice. The archival institution is truly a mnemonic device interplaying in the role of social memory.
One function of using memory is to make sense of the past. Tools within the archival institution assist in the
interpretation of order. Not all memory is stored within archives, but it is one technological tool to assist in
interpreting and in comprehending former events. Accessing memory assists in the process of perceiving the
past. All awareness of the past is founded on memory. Through recollections we recover consciousness of
former events, distinguish yesterday from today, and confirm that we have experienced a past.
Memory grounds us in our identity. A dearth of memory results in a separation of meaning; it results in
a formulation of personal and societal amnesia; it is a form of death. But, memory confirms personal
experience. When we have loss of identity, we have loss of awareness. Memory inspires us. It brings us recall.
Archives also ground us all in our identity. We need only to view the national archives of the majority of the
countries of the planet to know that these institutions are respected places of cultural and national significance.
These are memorial institutions which provide identity and confirmation of identity for the nation. They provide
inspiration. They provide recall. Even if a citizen has never undertaken active research within an archive, this
same person is likely to acknowledge that the archives contain and preserve the written treasures of one's
collective group.
Memory is pervasive. Most human and social action is underlined by memory. We need other
4
Fussell, Paul. The Great War and modern memory. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1975.
5
Fussell, Paul. The Great War and modern memory. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1975, pp. 337-353.
6
Martin, Henri-Jean. Trans. By Lydia G. Cochrane. The history and power of writing. Chicago: University of
Chicago Press, 1994, p. 332.
7
Lowenthal, David L. The past is a foreign country. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1985, p. 193.
