The archive I will be exploring and discussing is the renowned Internet Archive, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to providing free access to millions of books, videos, music, and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Founded by Brewster Kahle in 1996, the Internet Archive’s mission is to offer ‘Universal Access to All Knowledge.’ By building a comprehensive digital library of Internet sites and preserving a vast array of digital content, the Archive ensures that important cultural artifacts remain accessible to the public for free. In addition to its focus on archiving digital content, it maintains an active blog to provide updates and insights on its collections and projects. Furthermore, its Archive-It service allows institutions and individuals to contribute to and manage collections of archived web content. Due to these features and the Internet Archive’s commitment to preserving a wide array of digital content for public access, I chose to examine this archive to evaluate how it either supports or contradicts Marlene Manoff’s and Kate Theimer’s ideals of an archive.
It is challenging to define what an archive truly is amidst contrasting ideals. According to Marlene Manoff in “Theories of the Archive from Across the Disciplines,” archives are not just repositories of information but also sites of power, memory, and identity construction. She views archives as dynamic spaces where users actively engage with and contribute to the creation of knowledge. This perspective highlights archives as interactive environments where individuals interpret materials, shaping narratives and understandings that emerge from archival records. This view emphasizes that archives are not static repositories but dynamic spaces that invite user engagement and participation in constructing knowledge. Similarly, Kate Theimer claims that “an archive is the repository for the historical records of its parent organization,” further supporting the claim made by Manoff that archives are repositories of information. However, within this statement, and Theimer’s stance aligning with traditional archival principles, Manoff and Theimer differ in the sense of inclusivity and interactive spaces within archives.
With regard to the Internet Archive project I’ve examined, after considering both perspectives, I’d say Marlene Manoff’s views align most closely with this archive. The Internet Archive is an extensive repository spanning millions of pieces of information with the ability to foster interaction among individuals. Although both ideals have similarities and differences, each argument contributes valuable insights that shape my understanding of what constitutes an archive. For instance, Kate’s point that an archive is meant to have a specific topic related to its parent organization, which I completely agree with. This is because if the archive tries to encompass all types of information, it would resemble more of a library than an archive. Similarly, Manoff’s argument about an interactive space and outside contributions to an archive is compelling because it allows for multiple perspectives to converge.
Now, what do I personally think an archive is?
Before reading the articles, when I think of archives, the first word that comes to mind is ‘history.’ Archives contain historical documents (personal papers, journals, manuscripts), historical photographs (portraits, maps), historical videos (films, music, documentaries), historical artwork (portraits, paintings, posters), and much more. What they all have in common is their connection to the past; they are repositories of historical information preserved in an archive, accessible to the public.
However, after reading the articles, I’d say my original thinking of an archive was far too limited. I now see archives as spaces encompassing all information, both past and present, recognizing that present information will eventually become historical. Archives serve as repositories centered on specific topics that can continuously expand. When I say they ‘continuously expand,’ I mean they not only acquire new information, documents, photographs, artwork, and videos, but also evolve through interactions with this content, shaped by diverse perspectives and ideals.
This expanded view sees archives not just as static repositories of historical artifacts, but as dynamic environments where knowledge is continually shaped and enriched.
Works Cited
Manoff, Marlene. “Theories of the Archive from Across the Disciplines.” Portal (Baltimore, Md.), vol. 4, no. 1, 2004, pp. 9–25, https://doi.org/10.1353/pla.2004.0015.
Kate Theimer, “Archives in Context and as Context,” Journal of Digital Humanities 1, no. 2 (2012). https://journalofdigitalhumanities.org/1-2/archives-in-context-and-as-context-by-kate-theimer/ ↩︎
Hello Abraham,
Your blog presents a compelling exploration of the idea of the Internet Archive and its alignment with the theories posed by Marlene Manoff and Kate Theimer. The Internet Archive, with its mission to provide universal access to all knowledge, indeed embodies a dynamic and inclusive archival space, reflecting Manoff’s perspective on archives serving as interactive environments. Your analysis highlights the ever-evolving nature of archives, moving beyond static repositories to spaces where users engage with and contribute to knowledge creation and advancement. You mention the contrasting ideals of Manoff and Theimer, particularly regarding the inclusivity and specificity of archives. A question I was grappling with while reading your post was as follows: How should the Internet Archive balance the broad scope of its collections with the need for focused curation? In other words, do you believe this vast inclusivity ever dilute the depth of its individual collections or rather does it enrich the archive by providing a more comprehensive cultural context? Excited to hear your thoughts.
Best,
Aidan
Your blog post on the Internet Archive is detailed and insightful. You give a clear description of the organization, including its history, mission, and services. This sets a strong foundation for your analysis. The way you integrate Marlene Manoff’s and Kate Theimer’s theories on archives is well-done. You compare and contrast their views effectively and relate them to the Internet Archive’s practices. Additionally, your personal reflection on how your understanding of what constitutes an archive has evolved adds depth to your post.
However, there are a few areas that could be improved. First, while you compare Manoff’s and Theimer’s definitions, it might help to explicitly state their primary arguments at the beginning of the analysis section. This will give readers a clearer framework before diving into the comparison. Second, the quotes you use from Manoff and Theimer are relevant, but integrating them more smoothly into your narrative could strengthen your argument. For instance, introduce a quote by summarizing its significance and then reflect on how it applies to the Internet Archive.
While you align more closely with Manoff’s view, acknowledging any strengths in Theimer’s perspective as they relate to the Internet Archive could provide a more balanced evaluation. This will show a nuanced understanding of both perspectives. Also, highlight specific examples of how users interact with the Internet Archive. Mention features like the Wayback Machine, which allows users to view archived websites, or Archive-It, which enables institutions to manage their own collections. These examples will illustrate Manoff’s idea of archives as dynamic spaces.
Consider discussing potential future developments for the Internet Archive. How might it continue to evolve in line with Manoff’s and Theimer’s theories? This forward-looking perspective can add a thought-provoking dimension to your post. Overall, your blog post is well-crafted and demonstrates a deep engagement with the topic. Addressing the suggestions above could further enrich your analysis and provide readers with a more nuanced understanding of the Internet Archive’s role in the digital age. Great work!
Your work on this was very expansive and beneficial to contributing to the conversation of what an archive is and what it should do. I completely agree that the internet archive is more akin to a library rather than an archive due to the lack of centralized topic. There was also a lot of evidence as to what works you were referencing and which points specifically you thought were relevant to your post. As a result, I think you did a great job at elaborating how this archive does well and how it falls short still. I believe it would be interesting in your post to see what works you would like to replicate from this project in your own archive, but that is my main critique of your post! You did a great job of elaborating your point and each of the points about the archive that you state, I agree with completely. I think the archive could do better if they listed themselves as a series of archival projects that have more centralized tags.
Hello Abraham Hernandez, thanks for providing your understanding on what archives means to you. I really resonate with your statement that describes the utility of archives for past and present historical preservation. As part of a major that does not involve technology, Media Studies, and the use of the internet as a tool of digitalization, at the beginning of the course it was completely new the idea that online archives might help historians, scholars, among other people interested in a certain topic to complement their research ideas and arguments.
After reading your comments, I was able to open my perception of archives and its utility; especially with the digital project you introduced that has millions of pieces of information, making this digital project key important in the educational development of future generations of scholars. The only thing I might address in your post will be the weakness of your digital project, I was convinced that this is a great project that has been utilized for many users, however, the lack of constructive feedback makes me think that this project can fall into a generic digital project, taking the interesting of delving through it.