Chapter 1: A Brief History of Archival Appraisal. In Selecting and Appraising Archives and Manuscripts

Authors

Michelle Light, Yale UniversityFollow

Document Type

Essay

Publication Date

10-2025

Abstract

This chapter traces the evolution of archival appraisal theory and practice in the United States, situating it within shifting technological, social, and intellectual contexts from the late nineteenth century to the present. In this roughly chronological account, the chapter underscores continuity and disruption in selecting and appraising archival records. It highlights the influence and ongoing critiques of Theodore Schellenberg’s evidential and informational values, as well as subsequent expansions by Maynard Britchford and others. It explores transformative moments such as F. Gerald Ham’s call for coordinated documentation, the development of the Black Box model, the rise of documentation strategy, and the essentialist turn toward evidence in the digital era. Attention is given to macroappraisal, functional analysis, and the Minnesota Method as frameworks for integrating multiple approaches. Later sections engage with postmodern critiques, revealing how a focus on power, justice, and pluralism has reshaped appraisal practices. The author emphasizes that understanding the history of appraisal equips archivists to select appropriate appraisal methods for their contexts; navigate questions of value, bias, and representation; and fulfill the profession’s responsibility to select a diverse record of human experience for ongoing preservation and use.

Recommended Citation

Michelle Light, "Chapter 1: A Brief History of Archival Appraisal." In Selecting and Appraising Archives and Manuscripts, edited by Audra Eagle Yun and Chela Scott Weber. Archival Fundamentals, III. Society of American Archivists, 2025.