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An Archival Revolution: W. Kaye Lamb and the Transformation of the Archival Profession

2006; Association of Canadian Archivists; Volume: 60; Issue: 60 Linguagem: Francês

1923-6409

Terry Cook,

Library Science and Information Systems

W. Kaye Lamb, fourth Dominion Archivist of Canada, 1948–69, as well as its first National Librarian and a prolific historian, ignited an archival revolution in the country. Rejecting many of the ideas of Hilary Jenkinson and most of the approaches of his predecessors, Lamb knew he was establishing in Canada a “new profession” for archivists and a new kind of archives. His revolution to modernize archivy had three major thrusts: enhancing total archives by augmenting more systematic and comprehensive appraisal (and destruction) of records, embracing archival government records and establishing records management, and significantly expanding researcher services and public programming. All were driven by his desire for “keeping the past up to date” to meet the pressing cultural needs of the country, and to support the postwar creation of an efficient modern state. The archives that Lamb inspired – and his ideas underpinning them – form the backdrop for much of the intense debate of the past three decades about the nature of the archival profession and its functions. Understanding Lamb’s ideas thus sheds light on the profession’s present and future directions, as well as celebrate one of its historical giants. This study is based on Lamb’s own writings and personal papers, including first-time access to an extensive unpublished memoir of his archival career. RESUME W. Kaye Lamb, qui fut le quatrieme Archiviste federal du Canada de 1948 a 1969 ainsi que le premier Bibliothecaire national et un historien prolifique, a dechaine une revolution archivistique au pays. Rejetant plusieurs des idees d’Hilary Jenkinson et la plupart des approches de ses predecesseurs, Lamb etait conscient d’etablir au Canada une nouvelle profession pour les archivistes et une nouvelle vision des archives. Cette modernisation a eu trois principales directions : mettre l’accent sur les archives totales en renforcant l’evaluation (et la destruction) systematique et exhaustive des documents, s’attaquer aux documents d’archives du gouvernement et y etablir la gestion des documents et, enfin, etendre de facon significative les services aux chercheurs et le programme public. Tous ces projets etaient soutenus par le desir de Lamb de « garder le passe au gout du jour » afin de satisfaire les besoins culturels pressants du pays et de soutenir la creation apres la guerre d’un etat moderne efficace. La vision des archives inspiree par Lamb – et les idees qui sont sous-jacentes – forment la toile de fond de l’intense debat dans les trois dernieres decennies sur la nature de la profession d’archiviste et ses fonctions. Mieux comprendre les idees de Lamb permet donc de jeter la lumiere sur le present de notre profession et ses directions futures ainsi que de celebrer un des ses geants historiques. Cet article est fonde sur les ecrits et les documents personnels de W. Kaye Lamb, entre autres sur un memoire non-publie sur sa carriere historique auquel l’auteur a pu aceder pour la premiere fois.