Abstract
This article reports on the findings of a survey issued to Canadian archivists regarding their understanding and experiences of secondary trauma. As exploratory research, the article summarizes findings of the survey and identifies emerging themes based on qualitative analysis of the open-ended questions. Emerging themes relate to the difficulty of defining what constitutes a traumatic record; working with donors and researchers; the effects of organizational culture and archival professional norms; the impact of precarious labor on experiences of trauma; and the role of archival education programs and professional associations in preparing and supporting archivists to work with difficult materials. The article concludes by outlining an agenda for future research.
Recommended Citation
Sloan, Katie; Vanderfluit, Jennifer; and Douglas, Jennifer
(2019)
"Not 'Just My Problem to Handle': Emerging Themes on Secondary Trauma and Archivists,"
Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies: Vol. 6, Article 20.
Available at:
https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/jcas/vol6/iss1/20