What are...Archives?
What are archives? What is archives? Or is it an archive? The Society of American Archivists breaks down the definition of archives into 3 different parts of speech, and then offers further definitions based on each part of speech. The three distinctions are single noun, plural noun, and adjective.
Archives as a singular noun:
As a singular noun, archives can have different meanings.
- All of the records from one creator or all of the records in a collection, or all of the records held by the institution. This can also be a collection of digital records and/or surrogates.
- An organization that collects records, or the department within an organization that collects them.
- The Archives (with “the” and capitalized “a”) can be the official collector of an organization’s records.
- The building that holds the records.
- The profession of administering, managing, organizing, preserving, and promoting the discovery of records.
Archives as a plural noun:
As a plural noun, archives refers to records of enduring value that are being preserved. The creator or source of the records may be a person, family, or organization.
Archives as an adjective:
Something that relates to archives, as defined above. The adjective “archival” may also be used.
What about archive?
“Archives” is generally preferred over the term “archive” in the United States and Canada, even when referring to a single noun.
Learn More:
National Archives and Records Administration: What’s an Archives?
Society of American Archivists: Dictionary of Archives Terminology