Archivist

Preserves and organizes historical documents, photographs, and records for future generations.

Did you know?

The Vatican Apostolic Archive (called the Vatican Secret Archives until 2019) has about 85 km of shelves, with documents going back over 1,000 years.

History: Judge which letters and records are worth keeping for future historians.
Research Methods: Catalogue documents so researchers can find exactly what they need.
Computer Science: Scan old photos and papers and store the digital copies safely.
Languages: Read and describe records written in other languages or in faded old handwriting.

Hilary Jenkinson: English archivist whose 1922 "Manual of Archive Administration" shaped how archives are kept.

Pick a theme, like their childhood home or school. Write five questions in time order.
Make them open questions that need more than yes or no, like "Can you describe the house you lived in?" Don't suggest the answer.
Before you start, explain what the recording is for, and that they can skip any question or stop at any time.
Ask one question at a time and listen without interrupting. Silences are fine.
Afterwards, write a short summary: the three most surprising things you learned. Keep the recording private.

Historians and archivists record, summarise and store interviews like this so that ordinary people's memories become part of history.

Also try: Write a museum label for an old object.

USA, UK, France, Italy, Germany