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Abstract
The RSA Footnote2 celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2004 after completing an extensive archive project. Simultaneously the Society reviewed organisational objectives to re-establish effectiveness. A strategy for archive user services was designed in line with organisational change. Based on the concept of institutional usefulness, a formal but flexible user-oriented programme emphasising relevance, efficiency and economy was created. This article explores tensions between the intrinsic value of archives and the practicalities of making them accessible within an organisational framework, in this case exacerbated by the organisation's financial position; and demonstrates how an in-house archive service can contribute to articulating an organisation's agenda for change.
Notes
[1] The author acknowledges and thanks the following people for their comments on earlier drafts: Dr David Allen (previously Archivist, Suffolk Record Office, Ipswich), Richard Allen, Victoria Killick (Archivist & Records Manager, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) and Susan Palmer (Archivist, Soane Museum).
[2] The organisation was originally named the ‘Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce’, and was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1847 under that name. In 1908 Edward VII granted permission to adopt the prefix ‘Royal’. Pre-1908 the title was abbreviated to ‘Society of Arts’, post-1908 to ‘Royal Society of Arts’. In the 1980s the acronym ‘RSA’ replaced previous titles. In this article the organisation will be referred to as the RSA, the Society, or the organisation.
[3] Some of this article is derived from an unpublished Master's dissertation entitled ‘A strategy for developing archive user services in the context of the RSA’ submitted to the School of Library, Archive and Information Studies, University College London, 2001.
[4] ‘Application by the RSA to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a grant towards the archive project of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce’, 3.
[5] The terms access and reference are used according to McCausland's definition of access as ‘terms and conditions of availability of records’, and ‘reference’ as ‘facilities and services … enabl[ing] the researcher to use the archives and its records once access to them is approved’. McCausland ‘Access and Reference Services’, 273.
[6] Shipley was a philanthropist and drawing master from Northampton. For a comprehensive biography on Shipley's life and activities see Allan, William Shipley. Founder of the Royal Society of Arts. A biography with documents.
[7] Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine, Proposals for raising by subscription a fund to be distributed in Premiums for the promoting of liberal arts and sciences, manufactures, &c/[Anon].
[8] The competitions were known as the Premium Award Scheme. By 1757 six committees presided over the following categories: Agriculture, Manufactures, Chemistry, Mechanics, Colonies and Trade, and the Polite Arts. The Scheme operated until the mid-nineteenth century.
[9] Annual Report, RSA, 7.
[10] Penny Egan, Executive Director: interview with the author, 11 July 2001.
[11] Before commencement of the HLF project only 1 per cent of the collection was catalogued, with only about 10 per cent of its holdings listed or indexed.
[12] The HLF grant was made in 1997 and totalled £656,312 of the projected £897,922 costs. Remaining costs were raised through partnership funding from the Eranda Foundation (£170,000), Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 (£40,000), Mercers’ Company (£15,000), Radcliffe Trust (£15,000) and numerous individual donors.
[13] The strong rooms have an approximately capacity of 420 linear metres, of which 190 linear metres is mobile shelving.
[14] See http://www.rsa.org.uk/Library/index.asp, launched in February 2003.
[15] RSA Archive: statement of objectives, RSA, 1999.
[16] ‘Application to the Heritage Lottery Fund’, 14.
[17] Each is an innovative organisation, disseminating results of research, encouraging debate through publication, collaborating with other scholarly/professional bodies, offering a system of grants/awards to support or reward further research and training, maintaining a Fellowship, and furthering interests via a Programme of public lectures and conferences.
[18] For example, the Royal Institution realised it inadequately informed the public of its current operations, specifically its laboratory work. An objective of the archive is now to increase the organisation's visibility and actively inform on current activities and future plans as well as its prestigious history.
[19] Wilsted, ‘Establishing an Image: The Role of Reference Service in a New Archival Program’, 50.
[20] Joy McCarthy: Interview with the Author on 17 July 2001.
[21] Joy McCarthy: Interview with the Author on 17 July 2001.
[22] Cook, The Management of Information, 40.
[23] Oetting, ‘Wearing someone else's shoes’, 32.
[24] Whalen, Reference Services in Archives, 3.
[25] Cook, The Management of Information, 235.
[26] Oetting, ‘Wearing Someone Else's Shoes’, 31 – 2.
[27] This is the case with the Royal Historical Society where the volume of external and internal inquiries is so low, around three per month, and consist mainly of requests for photocopies from journals.
[28] ‘Strategy Review for the RSA. Qualitative Research with Fellows and Opinion Formers’.
[29] ‘Strategy Review’, 4.
[30] Geoff Botting, Programme Director: Interview with the Author, 16 July 2001.
[31] ‘Strategy Review’, 141 – 5.
[32] Jon Kudlick, Head of Fellowship: Interview with the Author, 12 July 2001.
[33] The business side of the RSA, providing an infrastructure of professional conference facilities and catering.
[34] Geoff Botting, Programme Director: Interview with the Author, 16 July 2001.
[35] Penny Egan, Executive Director: Interview with the Author, 11 July 2001.
[36] Handy Understanding Organisations, 180.
[37] Egan, Penny, Executive Director: Interview with the Author on 11 July 2001.
[38] The manifesto has five challenge areas: Encouraging Enterprise; Moving Towards a Zero Waste Society; Developing a Capable Population; Fostering Resilient Communities; Advancing Global Citizenship.
[39] From 42 members to 11.
[40] In real terms this translated to an increase of approximately 25 enquiries per month (to around 50 per month) from when the catalogue was available online and an increase of 48 enquiries per month in the month before the anniversary (to approximately 100 enquiries a month).
[41] Most recently the RSA has contributed to an exhibition on Hans Schmoller celebrating 70th anniversary of Penguin Publishing; an international exhibition in Ireland related to the bi-centenary of artist James Barry and an exhibition on sculpture at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
[42] Accounts from 1994 – 95, prior to the budget show actual expenditure at £19,500 while today actual expenditure totals £157,000.
[A1] History, Records and Collections Panel, now Library, Archives and Records Committee.
[A2] Around £13,000.