neutrality

Many books piled on top of one another in a pile in front of a bench
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The Illusion of Neutrality

A pile of library books in front of a bench (Unidentified photographer, 2025)
A pile of library books in front of a bench (Unidentified photographer, 2025)
Many books piled on top of one another in a pile in front of a bench
Books in a stack surrounding a vintage desk North Brother Island photo taken by Steven Heller

Books in a pile

Books in a stack surrounding a vintage desk North Brother Island photo taken by Steven Heller

The Illusion of Neutrality 

Dena Miles

In Sam Winn’s article “The Hubris of Neutrality in Archives,” a strong argument is presented regarding the inherent biases that affect the work of archivists. ​Winn contends that achieving true neutrality is not only unrealistic but also a diversion from archivists’ ethical responsibilities in preserving histories.​ She states, “The scholar may swear to his neutrality on the job, but whether he be physicist, historian, or archivist, his work will tend… to maintain the existing social order by perpetuating its values” (Sam Winn, 2017). This acknowledgment of biased archival practices that often go unexamined shows how these biases, shaped by individual backgrounds and societal norms, can lead to the unintentional erasure of marginalized voices.

Winn emphasizes the need for archivists to actively “reprogram internal bias” to include diverse narratives, arguing that historical narratives are constructed rather than naturally occurring (Sam Winn, 2017). This perspective raises important questions about the everyday practices of archivists and the language they use. For instance, here at PVAMU, our school’s historical beginnings are often watered down to suppress further the complex disrespect our campus has faced since its inception. By failing to confront personal and institutional biases, archivists risk perpetuating exclusive descriptions that deny these groups the recognition they deserve.

The article “Archives Are Not Neutral” reiterates this sentiment by emphasizing that archives should reflect the complexities of their communities, advocating for the inclusion of multiple voices in historical records. “The Hubris of Neutrality in Archives” compelled me to reassess the role of archivists in shaping historical narratives. To move forward, it is crucial that we embrace the responsibility to acknowledge biases and actively work towards more inclusive practices. By doing so, archivists can create a more prosperous, more diverse historical record that honors all voices, reinvigorating public history’s role in society.

 

 

 

WORK CITED 

Sam Winn, “The Hubris of Neutrality in Archives,” Medium.com, April 24, 2017, https://medium.com/on-archivy/the-hubris-of-neutrality-in-archives-8df6b523fe9fLinks to an external site.

Article Link
United States National Museum Photographic Laboratory
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History in the Making: The Active Role of Archivists

United States National Museum Photographic Laboratory

United States National Museum Photographic Laboratory, Library Stacks, Lower Main Hall, Smithsonian Institution Building, or Castle, Circa 1912-1913, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Smithsonian Institution. CC0.

United States National Museum Photographic Laboratory

United States National Museum Photographic Laboratory, Library Stacks, Lower Main Hall, Smithsonian Institution Building, or Castle, Circa 1912-1913, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Smithsonian Institution. CC0.

Archivists do much more than just keep old stuff safe. Sure, preserving documents is still a big part of the job, but it’s only the beginning. Today, we realize that archivists are actually key players in how we understand history. They’re not just neutral caretakers; they actively shape the stories we tell about the past. Think about it: what gets collected, how it’s organized, and who gets access—these are all choices that archivists make, and they have a huge impact. They’re practically performing history every time they create a finding aid that guides researchers or put together an exhibit that brings the past to life for the public. Even more than that, archivists are involved in making history by working with communities to document their stories, especially those that haven’t been told before. They challenge the usual narratives and make sure everyone’s voice gets heard. So, archivists aren’t just preserving the past; they’re actively involved in shaping how we see it, what we remember, and what it all means.

Sam Winn’s “The Hubris of Neutrality in Archives”

Sam Winn’s “The Hubris of Neutrality in Archives” challenges the idea of the archivist as a passive, objective keeper of the past. He argues that archivists are active participants in creating our understanding of history. It starts with preservation—but it’s not simply saving everything. Archivists make choices about what’s worth keeping, and those decisions, even if unconscious, shape the historical record. Then comes performance—how materials are organized, described, and presented influences how we interpret them, almost like the archivist is staging the past for us. Finally, Winn contends that archivists are even producing history, especially when they collaborate with communities to document untold stories and challenge established narratives. Essentially, archivists aren’t just handling the past; they’re actively involved in constructing it. Winn’s key message is that we need to ditch the myth of neutrality and recognize the immense power archivists hold—a power that demands honesty, self-awareness, and a commitment to inclusive storytelling.

Archival neutrality and the active role of archivists resonate with current events

Winn’s ideas about archives aren’t just theoretical; they connect to real-world issues happening right now. Take the Black Lives Matter movement, for example. BLM has shown us how history can be twisted to erase Black experiences and keep racism going. Winn’s point about archival neutrality is key here. He shows how archives, by choosing what to keep and whose stories to tell, can actually contribute to that historical erasure. But on the flip side, we’re also seeing how “activist archivists” are pushing back against this, working hard to document BLM protests and preserve the stories of Black activists, making sure their voices are part of the historical record. It’s a direct response to the problem Winn highlights, showing how archives can be a tool for change, not just a dusty room full of old papers

Sam Winn, “The Hubris of Neutrality in Archives,” Medium.com, April 24, 2017, https://medium.com/on-archivy/the-hubris-of-neutrality-in-archives-8df6b523fe9f

 

An early 1900s photograph of Kirby Hall and the administration building at PVAMU
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The Establishment of Preserving History : A Connection to Archival Data

What is Archival Data?! 

Archival Data is referred to as existing records or documents that has been either collected , preserved , or stored for future reference or research . This reference or data may come in various forms , the information that was collected in usually used for a purpose other than the current research and is stored in a long term preservation database.

Learn more
  This is an old photo of Prairie View in 1876 . This is a visual representation of what archival data could look like . Without this connection we would have no idea how much the university has grown .
  This is an old photo of Prairie View in 1876 . This is a visual representation of what archival data could look like . Without this connection we would have no idea how much the university has grown .

Why is an Archivist Important? 

Archivist play a pivotal role in preserving , performing and producing history by actively engaging in the collection and development of historical records that have been recorded over a period of time . An archivist role is important due to the complexity of gathering information in a way that it may be used 100 years from now . This crucial role of providing access to historical records and documents is a vital component for understanding significant events in the past. Their work ensures that valuable information remains available for future generations in order to educate and inspire cultural heritage. 

Connection to Reading :Anahi Ponce, “Counter Archives and Archives of Resistance,” Not Even Past, 

The reading titled “ Counter Archives and Archives of Resistance  “, Not Even Past, by Anahi Ponce is a reflection of the work of Dr. Carolina  Villarreol’s work. Dr. Villarroel is a scholar, archivist and the director of research for Recovering The U.S Hispanic Literary Heritage Project. Dr. Carolina Villarroel’s work with the Recovering the U.S. Hispanic Literary Heritage Project exemplifies this role. She collaborates with students at various educational levels, training them in digital archiving techniques to digitize maps, newspapers, and other materials dating from the colonial period up until 1960. This initiative not only preserves historical documents but also empowers students to become contributors to historical preservation. notevenpast.org Archivists like Dr. Villarroel emphasize the importance of creating spaces for communities to document their own histories, addressing gaps where certain narratives have been omitted or erased from traditional archives. By establishing counter archives and archives of resistance, they ensure the preservation of materials that rarely make it into conventional archival spaces, thereby enriching the historical record with diverse perspectives. In essence, archivists are not just custodians of historical documents; they are active participants in shaping the historical narrative. Through their efforts in preserving marginalized histories and training others in archival practices, they perform and produce history, ensuring a more inclusive and comprehensive understanding of the past.

NOTES [1] Anahi Ponce, “Counter Archives and Archives of Resistance,” Not Even Past, March 31, 2022, https://notevenpast.org/counter-archives-and-archives-of-
resistance/ [accessed January 6, 2025].

[2 ]https://www.techtarget.com/searchdatabackup/definition/data-archiving

A woman reaches out her hand in an archives towards a stack of books
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Archivist Performing, perserving, and producing history!

This picture represents an archivist placing history in libraries that will be accessible to students. (University of Warwick, Melissa Prior)

What is an archivist?

An archivist is a qualified professional who is responsible for managing and organizing records and materials based on historical, cultural, and institutional values.(Ashikuzzaman, 2024). They ensure that historical information is stored properly so they are accessible to generations to come. Information includes artifacts arranging and cataloging collections and ensuring each item is documented properly. With the help of archivists, historians are able to properly receive information that will be able to benefit their research. Normally a bachelor of science degree in history library science and archival studies can start a career of being an archivist,

Preserving History

Archivists preserve history by maintaining documents, photos oral history, and digital materials. The way archivists preserve history is by ensuring these materials are properly documented by holding conversations and making sure they have proper storage conditions to keep materials for future generations. Archivists communicate with institutions, organizations, and different individuals. The decision process that determines what should be archived is very crucial and tedious because it will determine the legacy and the history that will be preserved for future generations to come. They began observing the item’s cultural, historical research, and administrative value. Then they began observing whether or not the it has a historical significance or cultural significance.

Performing History

Performing history allows these historical sites to be displayed. Archivists host public programs, and exhibits, and help guide researchers’ narratives as they continue to discover history. With the help of performing history, allows history to come to life with the help of the things that have been archived. Things like museums and documentaries allow history to be publicized in multiple different ways.

Producing History.

Although archivists do not write history they continue to further the growth of history for historians and researchers. Archivists play a major role in the production process because they have to go through what should be kept. They also have to make sure to categorize the materials to make sure they will be available for research by historians. All of their background work helps further the research and knowledge so public historians can help execute their plans for their research that will continue to benefit the world of history.

Man standing in a library stacks next to several books
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The Archivists Mission!

Purpose Of Archivist

An archivist is a person/historian who keeps track of historical records and files and allows the public to access these records. In a post by Sam Winn, she said, “We as archivists are individual practitioners called upon to distill the historic record through the inescapable lens of our personal worldviews”(Sam Winn). Archivists are supposed to be trusted individuals who are honest regarding historical records. Some people would change or alter the information, but an archivist’s mission is supposed to relay the truth to different groups of people.

 

An unidentified man standing next to the book stacks [Photograph by Unknown photographer, 2021]
An unidentified man standing next to the book stacks [Photograph by Unknown photographer, 2021]

An Archivists at work

Effects on History

Archivists play an important role in our history. They are the ones who are supposed to gather and keep the information safe and share it with the public. If archivists fail to keep the truth of the history or misplace/overlook a document, it could cause many problems in society. If information is lost or changed history will not be truthful, and you are left wondering again. “Michelle Caswell draws our attention to the phenomenon of “symbolic annihilation‘ in archives, the process by which archivists contribute to the omission or erasure of historically marginalized groups in the archives (Sam Winn).” This is happening right now in the archives. information is being tampered with, and history is not being withheld. Also, archivists have to display/perform history to the public, this means that the history they receive, they have to find a way to reach their audience and share the information in a way that’s going to be heard. ‘If archivists have any hope of contributing to a radically inclusive historical record, we must make a fundamental change (Sam Winn).” Archivists can’t lose sight of the people/society groups, you must have diverse information and be able to relay that to inclusive groups. Archivists are part of history’s foundation. Without archivists, much history would be lost, so their diligence in keeping information, etc, is allowing our history to continue to grow and not get lost over the decades. 

TakeAway

In my opinion having an Archivist is needed for so many reasons. Over the years, when we lacked an Archivist, we had to scrape up the information and really have to uncover the truth, but now that our documents are being kept safe, we can expand our history without any worries. As time goes on, we can still look back fifty years ago and still gather history about out cultural, family etc. I feel if we didn’t have these people to keep our record, all the history we’ve learned so far would’ve been made up or a false narrative because there isn’t any evidence/truth behind anything. The role of an archivist is a big one; without them, we wouldn’t be knowledgeable on many topics. 

Credits

Winn, Sam.”The Hurbis Of Neutrality in Archives.”Apr 24, 2017.