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Behind the Wall: The Archivist and the Researcher

The title, "Behind the Wall: The Archivist and the Researcher," is intentionally antagonistic. It conveys the often felt and sometimes spoken reality that confronts many researchers who approach diocesan archives. Diocesan archives are often closed to researchers and special permissions are needed to gain access. Perhaps a better analogy is a castle or fortress, surrounded by a moat with a drawbridge that must be lowered in order to gain entrance. Diocesan archives are not the same as university libraries or historical societies where manuscript collections are open and available. Current records of a diocese are active records, containing administrative records, finance records and personnel records. Questions regarding access and availability have always been part of the diocesan archives structure. For more than 20 years, I have been a researcher and an archivist. As a certified archivist and certified records manager, I have held the position of archivist at both the Diocese of Baton Rouge and the Archdiocese of New Orleans. I have dealt with access policies, reference, and use of diocesan archives at both institutions. I have visited, conducted research, held workshops, advised, and consulted for other dioceses. Access is always the key to who may use the records. While preparing for this panel discussion, I looked back at a paper entitled, "From Both Sides of the Fence: Research Experience Shaping Archival Access," that I gave at the 2006 Society of American Archivists conference. It reminded me of the ongoing saga that has faced diocesan archives over the past 35 to 40 years and the changes that have taken place in many of these archives. These changes are direct results of several factors, including hiring of professional archivists in dioceses, the first publication of the ACDA guide for bishops, chancellors, and archivists (informally known as the O'Toole