Norton on Archives: The Writings of Margaret Cross Norton on Archival & Records Management

Detailing every facet of archival and records management, this collection of 30 articles by the distinguished former Illinois state archivist is both a manual and a history of American archives administration. The significance of Margaret Norton, Illi­noisstate archivist from 1922 to 1957,in the evolution and maturation of archives administration in the United States cannot be overestimated. As early as 1930she paved the way toward the recognition of archives administration as an indispensable element of public service entitled to full public sup­port. Never preaching or dictating, she attacked the problems confronting the ar­chivist, diagnosed their nature, and sug­gested how they may be dealt withdoing so with the wisdom that revealed a judicious mind. Dealing with the concepts, principles, and techniques of archival management, these comprehensive essays brought to­gether here thus demonstrate the art of con­verting theory into practice through in­cisive examination and explication of the vast dimensions of the archival profession. Heretofore unavailable or buried in in­accessible journals the essays represent a precious source of material and study for ar­chivists and students of the profession. Miss Norton's essays have a timelessness and a currency that give them continuing value, because the techniques and concerns she ex­pressed during her career have not been superseded in any large part, if at all.Norton on Archivesstands as an important monu­ment to her work, second only to the pres­tigious archives she help build in the state of Illinois.Norton, Margaret Cross is the author of 'Norton on Archives: The Writings of Margaret Cross Norton on Archival & Records Management', published 1975 under ISBN 9780809307388 and ISBN 0809307383.