Manual for Religious Archiving and Recordkeeping

[PatShufeldt]

Manual for Religious Archiving and Recordkeeping, by Jeannette Bergeron. (Columbia, S.C.): South Carolina State Historical Records Advisory Board, 1999.

This 102-page book, no longer available in print, is available as a free PDF file at the following location:
http://www.state.sc.us/scdah/shrab/churcharchives.pdf

This manual deals with policies and practices for Christian church setting, using examples from the experience of one church. It is a practical manual of tips and guidelines for small budgets, developed with funding from a grant awarded to St. Michael and All Angels' Episcopal Church, Columbia, SC, to care for its rapidly expanding documents collection. That congregation, although founded in 1957 and relatively new by church standards, realized that its records had already become voluminous. The author has served as consultant to several church projects across the state which were funded by the State Historical Records Advisory Board. Working with her on the project were members of the church's volunteer archives committee, which included a professional genealogist, several practicing librarians, and charter members of the church.

Although the guidelines this publication offers include some information specific to South Carolina congregations, it provides an excellent overview for religious organizations to use in setting up and operate an archives program and conducting the daily management of their records. Consider downloading and printing a copy as well as distributing copies of the PDF file itself to key members of your archives team.

Congregations will need to supplement Bergeron's 1999 guidance with other sources which cover digital preservation. As more of our congregations have moved toward digital photo, video, audio and print document storage--and formerly printed publications are replaced by websites and email news distribution--these other formats become increasingly important parts of our archival activities.

Need a MARC record for this publication to add to your library catalog? Contact me for further information.

Pat Shufeldt
Westminster Presbyterian Church Library
Greenville, SC
and
Foothills Presbytery Resource Center
Simpsonville, SC