Re: [ARSCLIST] Archive/Archives

[Peter Hirsch <punto@xxxxxxxx>]

Though this analysis terrifically logical and might as well be right, it 
does not agree with the common usage by archivists (I am not working as 
one at the moment, but have done so in my spotty past from time to 
time). An archives can be concerned with a single corporate body or 
subject ("The Steven C. Barr Archives", the "Memphis Blues Archives,. 
etc.).  I see archive clumsily used as a verb a lot, but it doesn't have 
much currency as a noun. Note that this does not apply to the real 
world, just the archives zone.

There is no reason you need to care about this or that there would ever 
be any confusion if you used archive instead of the more officially 
sanctioned archives and I am sure I am guilty of picking a mighty nit 
here, but facts are facts. Take em or leave em.

My best,

Peter Hirsch
stevenc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Mike Richter" <mrichter@xxxxxxx>
>  
>
> > The report "Copyright Issues Relevant to Digital Preservation ..." uses 
> > the word 'archives' as a singular, typically in a phrase such as
> >   a libary or an archives ...
> > That's a construction new to me and not reflected in the OED. It seems 
> > unlikely to be a typographic error, so can someone explain the 
> > distinction between 'archive' (singular) and 'archives' (singular)?
> >
> >    
> AFAIK, an archive (singular) is a collection of either a certain
> type of object (i.e. my 78 archive) and/or documents which apply
> either to a single topic or are connected to a single common
> thread (i.e. an institutional archive). ArchiveS (plural)
> indicate what might be better described as a collection of
> collections...and in some cases is used to indicate that
> something (usually a created work) is so outdated as to
> belong to the past and placed in some repository of things
> ancient and obsolete,,,
>
> Steven C. Barr
>
>
>