Perspectives on Archival Resources: The 1985 Census of Archival Institutions

Abstract

This article is a report on the first comprehensive survey of the resources, responsibilities, and activities of archival repositories in the United States. After placing the study in the context of past surveys of archivists and institutions, and describing its design, the article characterizes the findings on five basic resources common to all archives—money, staff, holdings, facilities, and users. Summary tables permit comparisons of the responses to key survey questions across eight types of archives—federal, state, local, academic, religious, business, special subject, and museum. The author concludes with recommendations for improving future studies.