History 305
Course Outline

What follows is a rough structure which can and probably will undergo some alteration as we go along.  This outline is intended to serve as a guide.  Please check often for updates.  As the course title suggests, most of the tasks will be of a practical nature.

Section One -  The Archivist and the Historian

January 20 - What we aim to accomplish; how we intend to organize to do this.  (distribution of Exercises)

Lab -   January 24 - Discuss "the Archivist and the Historian" readings (Ham et al and Bridges et al)
January 25 - Archives vs. Manuscripts  (discuss results of Exercises)
January 27 - Archives History  (discuss Birdsall and Duchein readings)


Section Two - The Skills of the Archivist

Lab -   January 31 - No Lab
February 1 - Arrangement, Description, Reference, archival basics
                          (discuss Carmicheal workbook, Thibodeau, Desnoyers)
February 3 - Arrangement, Description, Reference, reprise
                          ("rediscuss" Exercises and Carmicheal exercises, discuss Toledo Blade articles)

Lab -   February 7 - No Lab
February 8 - Processing - How to get started and getting started
February 10 - Work Day - getting hands dirty with Himes


Section Three - Getting Started on Charles Francis Himes

Lab -   February 14 - Work Lab - still getting hands dirty
February 15 - Who is Charles Francis Himes?  (Himes bios)
February 17 - Who did you say Charles Francis Himes was?  (Himes bios)

Lab -   February 21 - Work Lab - getting dirtier still
February 22 - Preservation vs. Access
February 24 - Work Day - organizing like crazy

Lab -   February 28 - Photographs and "other stuff"
February 29 - Photographs and "other stuff" (Part 2)
March 2 - Work Day - any questions?

Lab -   March 6 - Work Lab - any more questions?
March 7 - Archival Appraisal - What to keep?
March 9 - Work Day - eye on the prize


SPRING BREAK
Section Four - Producing the Archivist's Goods

Lab -   March 20 - Work Lab - reacquainting ourselves with our goal
March 21 - Work Day - starting a Finding Aid
March 23 - Work Day - continuing a Finding Aid

Lab -   March 27 - Work Lab - the Finding Aid, yet again
March 28 - The Archivist, the Historian, and the Record
March 30 - The Archivist, the Historian, and the Record (Part 2)

Lab -   April 3 - Work Lab - finishing up our Finding Aid

Section Five - The Historian's Craft: A Life of Charles Francis Himes
                        (Planning, Writing, Editing, and Producing)

April 4 - class period reserved for research
April 6 - class period reserved for research

Lab -   April 10 - lab period reserved for research
April 11 - class period reserved for research
April 13 - class period reserved for research

Lab -   April 17  PUBLICATION DAY (first draft of Himes paper online)
April 18 - cleaning up details for publication
April 20 - cleaning up details for publication

Lab -   April 24 - cleaning up details for publication
April 25 - discussion of research and project outcomes
April 27 - final thoughts (final draft of Himes paper online)