Richard J. Cox
Professor
University of Pittsburgh
School of Information Sciences
Archival Studies

Welcome to my homepage. At this site you will find information about the University of Pittsburgh's graduate archival education program, my research interests, statements on crucial professional issues, and other matters of concern to me about the archival profession.

I am the lead educator in the University of Pittsburgh School of Information Sciences' Archival Studies Specialization. My current research interests include various aspects of the history of archival studies and recordkeeping, the management of electronic records, evidence and accountability in recordkeeping, archival appraisal, the public awareness of archives and records in the modern information age, the administration of records and public policy, and archival ethics.

I hope you find this site of use to you and welcome comments and communications about any aspect of its contents and the management of archival records.

For a sense of my perspective on all matters archival, I recommend a glance at my blog, "Reading Archives," where you can find descriptions of new or recent scholarly and other publications concerning (broadly) the nature and importance of archives in society (and so I am just sending out this message to all of you -- you can ignore if you wish). You can find this blog at http://readingarchives.blogspot.com/ Without question, there is more analysis of archives, the archival profession, and the archival mission than ever before. Although it is questionable that there is at present broad public comprehension about what archivists do or even how archival holdings are formed, few would argue with the notion that the public and scholarly perception is improving (but certainly at a glacial rate). What most certainly can be agreed is that it is essential to adopt a broad and systematic (as systematic as possible) regimen of reading across disciplines and through both scholarly and popular venues in order to gain any useful understanding of archives. With this blog, I am offering, as regularly as possible, critical observations on the scholarly and popular literature analyzing the nature of archives or contributing to our understanding of archives in society. I am not commenting on basic practice manuals, technical guides, or best practice reports; these I will continue to describe in my monthly column published in the Records & Information Management Report, a technical report I edit and that is published by M.E. Sharpe.

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

EDITOR, RECORDS & INFORMATION REPORT

PUBLICATIONS EDITOR, SOCIETY OF AMERICAN ARCHIVISTS

MY MARYLAND ROOTS (AN EXTENDED ESSAY ON ARCHIVAL WORK AND HISTORY)

PUBLICATIONS


POSITION PAPERS AND PAPERS PRESENTED

CONSULTING

RESEARCH

Functional Requirements for Evidence in Recordkeeping

ARCHIVAL STUDIES PROGRAM

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The course syllabi provided here are for all the courses in the Archival Studies Program, not just those taught by Dr. Cox.

SYLLABI (most recent term taught is provided)

If you have any further questions, please feel free to e-mail me at rcox@mail.sis.pitt.edu. Otherwise, you can reach me at the following:

Richard J. Cox
Professor, Archival Studies
Chair,Library & Information Science Program
Chair, Library & Information Science Doctoral Studies
School of Information Sciences
University of Pittsburgh
648 LIS Building, 135 N. Bellefield Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
TEL: 412/624-3245
FAX: 412/648-7001