The whole concept of archives confuses me. If you think about it, everything could be considered an archive. Most people assume archives are documents found in dusty old museums or in the basement of some community high school. While these statements are true, archives can be so much more than just boring documentations.
The definition of an archive is “a collection of historical documents or records providing information about a place, institution, or group of people”. While numerous of these archives are documents, there is also a vast majority of other historical records that are not documents. For example, things like notes, essays, and even text messages are considered archives. All three are collections that provide information about a place, institution, or group of people. Notes and essays provide information about schools, which are institutions, and describe the study habits of groups of individuals; the students. In addition, text message analyzation describes the social habits of groups of people during a certain time period, which is the present. In the future, society could possibly see text messages as an outdated source of communication, and use them to study the way friends and family talked to one another.
Art is considered another archival art form. Of course, classic paintings by Picasso and Van Gogh are archives; their paintings have made huge historical influences and will continue to make these influences on future generations. Although these artworks are phenomenal, small artistic contributions can be considered archives as well. Things like graffiti, hand-print paintings made in kindergarten, and even small scratches on a desk can be considered archives. All three can be studied in order to make statements in regards to the population of the current times. Through these analyzations, archive researchers can make assumptions of societal patterns.
These are just a few examples of specific archives. Obviously, there are so many more things in the world that can be considered archives. Plaques on buildings, the buildings themselves, even trash is an archive. Almost everything can be an archive if you’re willing to take the time to notice and study it. That’s the beauty about history, everyday we mark our mark even if we don’t seem to realize the effect we have.