Why We're Here

In his 2005 book, Why Study the Past? The Quest for the Historical Church, the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams writes:

The very effort to make any kind of historical narrative can be seen as a sort of act of faith, faith that massive disruption does not in fact destroy the possibilities of understanding, and thus a shared world across gulfs of difference. It is a point we shall need to come back to – the idea of history itself as a moral or spiritual undertaking which gives us grounds for assuming it is possible to share a world with strangers. (page 10)

In this vivid way Archbishop Williams describes how an institution such as Disciples of Christ Historical Society becomes a ministry of reconciliation through providing avenues to the Christian past.

How exactly does the historical information we provide fit into this bigger picture or, for that matter, into the Society’s mission? It begins with the material we store on the shelves – the data: books, pamphlets, periodicals, audio/visual materials, documents, biographical files, organizational files, congregational files, collections of personal papers, and the official archives of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). This data rests on the secure, cool, dark, humidity-controlled shelves in the stacks area of the Historical Society (and of the local Iron Mountain Records Management Center) awaiting the library and archives staff to bring it into the light of day and render it meaningful information for our researchers and patrons. Information is our stock in trade; it is the most valuable commodity of the services we provide.

Our patrons – scholars, ministers, missionaries, church administrators, congregational historians, Sunday School teachers, genealogists, hobbyists and other interested individuals – take the information we provide and develop it into knowledge. This knowledge can take many forms – books, articles, sermons, lectures, lessons, dissertations and theses, academic papers, congregational histories, websites, family histories – but no matter the format of the finished product it contains knowledge. The final result that is gained from the process is the wisdom that comes from the knowledge as it is circulated in various ways. This wisdom, or understanding if you prefer, translates to the entire community and we all benefit from the recognition of our shared heritage of faith.

The methods we use to preserve the data and disseminate the information that will ultimately become knowledge and wisdom are continually evolving. Change is the one constant factor in the world of archives, libraries, and museums. Much of the change has been initiated by the introduction of information technology into all aspects of our work. Technology has raised the expectations of our constituencies and increased the variety of ways in which we can present useful information.

Our methods of description and control of all collections, both electronic and non-electronic, are being developed to the point where information is accessible to the user without regard to the particular physical form that information might take. The world of research and scholarship has become increasingly inter- and multi-disciplinary and less concerned with whether the information sought is in books, periodicals, pamphlets, photographs, or videotapes. Access to information of every kind is moving toward being part of a “seamless web.” It is increasingly clear that service to research is optimized when there are no artificial restrictions on the particular form that information takes. Our methods of providing access to information must respond to this change in approach.

In this brave new world we will no longer be seen so much as librarians, archivists, or curators– but as information providers or information specialists.

This development is reflected in our online information technology systems, particularly in providing useful information on the Internet. But though it seems as though the ground is constantly shifting beneath us the basic goals remain: providing useful information and improving methods for providing it, building public advocacy for our programs, and balancing the imperatives of preservation and access.

Preservation and access – they present the eternal dilemma. They are equally deserving obligations and yet they are in direct opposition to one another. Because every time a document or book is used, or accessed, it dies a little bit. And yet there is no point in preserving the collections if access will not be provided to them. We must preserve these books and documents so that they will survive for future generations to access.

What do we need in order to effectively provide the information that will bring the various chapters of the Stone-Campbell story to the world?

We need staff members to provide meaning to archival collections by arranging and describing them in user-friendly ways. We need staff members to classify and catalog books, pamphlets, and periodicals so that our patrons can locate the resources they seek. We need support for the preservation measures that will prolong the life of books and documents. We need to enhance our public services and outreach programs so we can reach new under-represented constituencies. We need to continue to develop the information resources provided on our website.

We need new exhibits that interpret the experiences of groups that have been overlooked in our historical studies. We must give a voice to ethnic and racial minorities, the oppressed, and the dispossessed. This means being more pro-active in our approach to providing services. We must reach out to those who have not been aware of our mission and bring them into the fold. It is no longer enough to simply wait for those who come to us.

These dreams will require a lot of support, much of it financial. The specific plan for accomplishing these important goals is outlined in detail in the Global View. But I thought we should begin by looking at why Archbishop Williams and we feel that it is worthwhile to embrace such an undertaking.

Sara Harwell
Vice-President for Information Services
May, 2006