Robert J. (Jeff) Jakeman
Associate Professor
History Department
Auburn University

Established in 1973, the Auburn University archival studies program is open to history M.A. and Ph.D. students as a minor field of study. A three-course sequence of graduate seminars provides aspiring archivists with both an understanding of the historical role of records and archives in society and a knowledge of the fundamentals of contemporary archival theory and methods. A 400-hour internship at a cooperating repository exposes students to contemporary archival practice. Archives students must meet the admission requirements for the history graduate program and must fulfill the same requirements for graduation as non-archives history graduate students, including a thesis or dissertation. A limited number of graduate teaching assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis each academic year. There are also frequent opportunities for part-time archival work at local repositories. The faculty member responsible for Auburn's archival studies program is Robert J. (Jeff) Jakeman, Associate Professor of History.

Courses Offered:

HIST 0647 (5 quarter hours). Seminar on Archives and Records in Society. Examines records, record keeping, archives, the archival profession, and the development of archival theory and methods from a historical perspective.

HIST 0648 (5 quarter hours). Seminar on Archival Theory and Methods. Examines appraisal, selection, arrangement, description, reference, access, preservation, outreach, and advocacy.

HIST 0649 (5 quarter hours). Seminar on Archival Issues and Management. Examines the management of archival agencies and selected archival issues.

HIST 0650 (10 quarter hours). Archival Internship. Full-time internship at an archival agency.

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

Objectives of the archival studies program at Auburn University:

• to provide students with an understanding of contemporary archival theory, methods, and practice
• to provide students with an understanding of the history of records, record keeping, archival institutions, and the archival profession in Western civilization, with particular emphasis on the United States
• to familiarize students with the body of archival literature
• to provide students with meaningful opportunities to obtain archival experience through for-credit internships and part-time employment at cooperating archival repositories

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Professor Jakeman's primary research interest in the field of archival studies is in archival history. He is currently beginning a book-length centennial history of the Alabama Department of Archives and History, established in 1901 as the first government-funded archival agency in the United States.