"Dear Mary Jane" by John A. Fleckner [favorite article of April P. Akins]

Name: April P. Akins

Title: Student

Institution: University of Tennessee Knoxville

Title of Influential American Archivist Article: “Dear Mary Jane: Some Reflections on Being an Archivist”

Author(s) of Article: John A. Fleckner

Volume and Date: 54:1 (Winter 1991)

How has this article influenced you as an archivist?

After reading John Fleckner’s article, “Dear Mary Jane: Some Reflections on Being an Archivist,” I have a renewed confidence in my decision to work in archives and special collections when I complete my M.S.I.S. in the spring of 2014. After eight and half years in public safety and with a master’s degree in Social Work, I have a calling to seek justice and equality for all members of society. Fleckner points out “if we are successful as archivists, the historical record will speak for this past in a full and truthful voice.”  (Fleckner, 13)  We, as archivists, not only set high standards for ourselves in understanding and preserving historical records, but society expects us to meet these standards in order to serve future generations. We have to approach each record with a critical eye for detail and organization without personal judgments or else we influence and alter the record. Taking on these standards encompasses my calling to seek justice and equality for all members of society. In this effort I know that “our allies are those who struggle to understand and protect the past for the benefit of the future.” (Fleckner, 13)

The way Fleckner describes the archival profession and community in this article satisfies my sense of longing and belonging. I have been on a journey to find my professional place in this world and through my educational and practical archival opportunities I have found my home among “a community of colleagues who share not just a common occupation but a common set of values and commitments.” (Fleckner, 12)  Through professional conferences, organizations, social media accounts, blogs, and scholarly communications, I have become a part of this community and I want to have the opportunity to preserve our rich heritage for future generations through both archival and digital preservation efforts.

From Fleckner’s first letter to Mary Jane to the last, I felt a sense of pride knowing that I am going to become a part of such an elite profession. The overview of the profession as being “part science, part art, and—when done properly—part showmanship, our ability to quickly understand and evaluate the record—especially when it is old, large, or complex—is a unique facet of our craft,” (Fleckner, 11) provides me with a better understanding of how far I have to go in my knowledge and skills in order to be successful as an archivist. With the community of professionals by my side I look forward to forging my way in this new profession and passing down my knowledge to future generations of archival students and professionals. “…Who knows better than archivist that our pasts—personal and communal—are never left entirely behind.” (Fleckner, 10) We all have a place in this world and I have found mine with the help of so many influential professionals, including Fleckner, in the archives field.