ABSTRACT
Preservation
of Archival materials is very important and very essential for prolonging of
information and knowledge form one generation to another. This study discusses
the methods of preserving Archival materials. The work is arranged in chapters
for easy understanding. The chapters contained in this work are form one to
five. The work does not only stop with the protection and safe-guarding of he
archives from authorized access and loss resulting from water and fire but the
provision of sophisticated and special storage building and also the control of
the surrounding in which the records are kept. The cause of damages and
deterioration of the Archival materials which includes chemical, physical and
biological agents were also discussed. Interview method was used in the study,
where some of the staff were interviewed to know how they preserve records
(materials) and also the durability and effectiveness of the preservative
measures in their Archives. Observation method was applied also to see how the
materials were arranged and what they (staff) use in arrangement. At the end of
this work, additional possible solutions will be suggested on how to preserve
the materials
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page
Approval page…………………………………………………………
Dedication
……………………………………………………ii
Acknowledgement
………………………………………...………iii
Abstract……………………………………………………...............…iv
Table of
content ……………………………………………………
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction …………………………………………………….1
1.1
Historical background of the study…………………………
1.2 Statement of the problem……………………………………
1.3 Objective of the study……………………………………
1.4 Research Question ……………………………………………
1.5 Scope
of the study…………………………………………
1.6
Significance of the study
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 ITERATURE
REVIEW
2.1 Conservation and preservation
2.2 Cause of deterioration of Archival materials.
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Research
Methodology……………………………
3.1 Research Design ………………………………………
3.2 Population
of study
3.3 Sampling procedure
3.4 Instrumentation
3.5 Organizational structure
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0
Preservation Analysis and
discussion of finding
4.1 Data preservation
4.2 Interview with Chief Archivists
4.3 Interview with Head of processing Base unit
4.4 Interview with the Binder
4.5 Interview with the reprographer
4.6 Interview with the Head o Research room.
4.7 Data Analysis
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION
AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Summary of findings………………………………………
5.2 Conclusion ………………………………………..……
5.3 Limitations of the study…………………………………
5.4 Suggestion for the further Research
References…………………………………………………………
Appendix
A………………………………………………………
Questionnaire …………………………………………………….
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
The practice of keeping record is as old
as civilization itself we would know little about civilization and ancient
kingdoms but for the fact that records of Archaeologicla evidence of written
record the discovery of the manuscript of the Hebrew torah in the temple is
good example form biblical times. The Romans Emperor Justine (527-565 AD) has
been quoted as issuing a decree to this governors in every province to set
apart a public building to store their ecordsa. As a matter of fact, the
measure of a nations civilization has always been judged by the pride. It place
on its written records which from the raw materials of it history many
individual does not know the important of preserving records of the past
history until when hey are in need of it, this behavior is not peculiar to
Nigeria alone but has prevalled in every country where people have not been in
the habit of taking adequate care of their records, despite this archival
centers have sprang up. Where ever it is realized that to destroy record is to
destroy the very source form which reliable history could be written.
Archives have been defined as those
records of any public private institution which are adjudged worthy of
permanent preservation for reference and research purposes and which have been
deposited or have been selected for deposit in an archival institution,
Archives is also repository for an organized body of records produced or
received by a public, semi-public institutional or business entity. In the
transaction of its affairs and preserved by it or its successors. People some
times refer to Archival institution “As Archives”.
The institution and Administration of
Archives may be traced from autiquity Archives and Archival administration as
they are understood today, dates from the French revolution. The establishment
of the Archives departmentales in 1796 and Archives National in 1989, there was for the first time a unified
Administratiion of Archives that embarked in existent repositories and records
producing public agencies, they are responsible for the care of its documentary
heritage. Another result was the principle of accessibility of Archives to the
public.
The united Nations and the several
internatioanal organizations maintain Archives. The internaitoanl council on
Archives was founded in 1948 by professional Archivists. Meeting paris under the help of
UNESCO. Membership is open to all professional Archivists and to representative
of:-
1.
Central Archival
directorates or administration.
2.
National and
international regional association of Archivists.
3.
All Archival
institution.
The science of records controls has to face at least
three central issues such as
1 The determination of types of removed from agencies
of origin.
2 The time of disposition
3 The manner of disposition.
Practice varies but
elimination usually occur before transferring records from the agency of
origin. The Archival materials include all books, maps, papers, photographs and
other documentary materials other Archival materials include motion pictures,
sound recording, photographic records and computer records micro copies are
determined by special legislation as a practical medium for making additiaonl
copies of warfare as preservation against normal deterioration or damage for
use in international exchange.
The function of any
Archival institution. The world over includes records disposition,
arrangaement, description, publication, reference services and preservation of
all the functions record.
Preservation of
Archival materials does not stop with safe-guarding he Archives form losses
resulting form fire and water. It includes also the provision of special
storage buildings the control of the environment in which the records are kept,
provision of conservation workshops and laboratories and well trained staff for
conservation and restoration of activities.
In Nigeria these
functions seems to have suffered prolonged neglect, due to miss guided actiosn
and priorities misplacement, the term preservation has been defined as all
measures taken by an archival to his archieves from deterioration. Preservation
is aimed at preventing damages to the Archieves or restoring documents that
have been damaged. According to Kelthpellia, and Meelia conservator constitutes
two aspects conservation and restoration. Conservation is aimed at preventing
measure taken to protect our Archives against diseases. It includes telling
such steps as good house keeping or maintaining hygiene.
Restoration on the
other hand means taking correction measures for strengthening weakened or
brittle documents. When deterioration has set in on paper restoration is the
only way to revive the documents and make it useable and serviceable. The
history or preservation is as old as he invention of the art of writing, before
the invention of writing, the primitive mam had learnt to make impressions on
the walls of his caves such drawing provided useful research information for
the archives.
Ancient Egypt were the first to develop the
art of writing to record his dally activities record his social, economic physical
and cultural as well as communications with others in distant lands and to
records natural charges. The use of day of metal back leaves, parehments,
papyrus, vellum, and paper. Some of those old form to written are still in else
in some parts of the world despite the invention of paper. The felt still
remain that all these materials were subjacent to rapid deterioration owning to
national ageing and prolong stay and as a result of adverse weather effects and
environmental factors such humility, light, insects heat and vermin’s.
However for this preservation, different
measures are adopted such as wrapping the materials with clothes using
preventice and preservative oil and storing them in cylindrical tubes. The
problems of preservation of document have increased tremendously as a result of
the predominant use of paper in printing and writing.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
OF NATIONAL ARCHIEVES ENUGU
The pioneering efforts of DR. KENNETH .O. DIKE a prominent historian and scholar led to the
establishment of the Nigerian records office, now called the NIGERIAN
NATIIOANAL ARCHIEVES in 1954 with headquarters at Ibadan. His survey and report of non-current
official records of Nigeria
were accepted by the colonial government on 1st April 1954 he was
appointed the supervise of records to preserve and organize the records of Nigeria.
The
Nigeria records office as it was first called was place in the Federal Ministry
of education in 1957, and in the same year it become a division in the federal
ministry of information till 1979, when it was again transferred to the newly
ereelted ministry of social development, youths, sports and culture.
The
National Archives right form the beginning has established its branches at Enugu and Kaduna.
The Enugu
office was opened in 1952, the development now have two repositories bult with
part of he U.A.C independence gift to the chief. The Archivist is Mr. UWAKWA
ORIJI. There are many sections in the National Archives Enugu, they are as
follows:
1 Processing
unit
2 Bindery
/ repairing section
3 Reprographic
section
4 Research
room
5 Library
section
PROCESSING UNIT
This is where Archives start, the staff
in this section will search for records and these records are in form of books,
maps, papers photograph and other documentary materials. Records record of any
public or private institution which is adjudged worthy of permanent
preservation and conservation.
After the survey of the materials the staff will
inform the office that has those record to tie and keep them, provision should
be made and how to carry those materials to the Archival institution. Now the
material acquired is in Archival custody. After acquiring sorting follows. The
material are now order. Listing and classification of these records is another
stage. Then these records are prepared for easy identification. During the real
processing, then the records are based and labeled to know the contents of each
box. The box will be in stock and are placed in the shelves, now open for use
because the physical and intellectual control has been done.
MR: DENNIS OKE is in charge of this processing base
unit. He is an Archivist grade 2.
BINDERY /
REPAIR/SECTIONS
In this section in the National Archives Enugu, the
main preservation is done and maintained. The melteriells brought into the
institution are examined to know the ones that are weak. The weak ones are sent
to the buidery and repair section, materials brought into this section are
examined again by the staff in charge to know the type of repair that will last
longer. Millily the traditional repairs and rebined of documents is mostly
done.
The
traditional methods is where baking flour that is in form of paste is used ot
rub on the paper mostly writeups nad
pasted to it he write-ups. The flour paste serves as an adhesive to the paper.
Rebuilding
of document is where give is rubbed on the spine of the text. In this section
they bind books, rebuild books magazines and even projects for outsiders. Some
of the machines in use in this section include:
1 Blocking machine: Is use for giving title
ot the books and is
2 Polor: use for cutting of papers.
3 Nipping pressing; Is used to give pressure
to the book after binding
4 Backing machine: Is used to give conceive
and convex shape to the books.
5 Typing machine: Is used for printing
letters of the alphabet on the books.
MR.
C.C. ONURAL is in charge of this section and is a Higher Technical Officer.
REPROGRAPHIC
SECTION
This section performs three functions to help it
preserving materials. The first one is microfilming which means reproduction of
documents; 33mm film is what they use. Microfilming is used to preserve the
records, in that large volumes of records will be minimized to contellin in
smell fum. It is easy to remove or evacuate in case of flood and fire outbreak,
it saves the life span of the original copy, if photo production is another
every of preserving the records; this is where old photographs of personalities
are produced. As the photographs become old and brittle they are photographed
to produced another one.
The
type of machine used in the reproduction of these old photograph nad maps is
called genography machine photocopying is another medium of preservation, it
help to produced the Archival materials
in many copies.
RESEARCH ROOM
The reason for this section is to
provide reference materials and assistance to researchers, because researchers
are not allowed to go to the shelves or document boxes by themselves alone to collects materials, as a researchers,
you introduce yourself to the security at the inquiring drop your bag and write
your purpose of coming.
LIBRARY SECTION
The National Archival library is not like the
academic school or public libraries; it is only a departmental library that
preserves books and not Archival materials the library preserve, acquires and
stores wide varieties of books and publications of government. The books are
not catalogued rather they make use of register catalogue. The library helps
users and researchers in their references works. Books are acquired through
authors write-up and donations. The librarian in charge of this section is MR.
CHRISTIAN UZOR, he is the librarian.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROLEM
THE INVESTIGATOR IS TRYING TO LOOK UNTO
i The condition of storage to the Archival
materials.
ii The problem of absolute equipment for preservation.
iii The
cellibers of staff that are supposed to work at the Archival materials
iv The
kind of paper and other materials used in the preservation of Archival
materials.
The preservation Archival materials have
suffered prolonged neglect, due to misplacement of priorities. Many problems in
he field of preservation and repair apply to all countries advice, but there
are at addition many specific problems concerning each individual country,
which depend upon the climate, the condition of storage degree of deterioration
of holdings the kind of paper and he calibers of staff and the restoration
workshop.
1.3 OBJECTIVE
OF THEY STUDY
The investigator
wishes to
i Find out he methods of preserving
Archival materials in national Archives Enugu.
ii Examine the problems associated with
preserving Archival materials
iii Discover the causes of deterioration of
Archival materials Archival Enugu.
v Recommend measures that will help to solve
the problems.
1.4 RESEARCH
QEUSTIONS
1 What are he causes of deterioration of
Archival materials at the National Archival Enugu?
2 What are the materials deteriorate.
3 What are the problems associated with
preserving Archival materials at the National Archival Enugu?
4 What are methods of preserving Archival
materials at the National Archival Enugu?
5 What recommendations would help to solve
he problems associated with preservation of Archival materials at the National
Archival Enugu?
1.5 SCOPE OF
THE STUDY
This study will only focus on the
preservation of Archival Enugu, belt it is uppposed ot cover wider extents, not
only preservation but also administration to archives but due to financial
constraints and time factors, the investigator could not make it.
1.6 SIGNIFICNACE OF THE STUDY
This study will help those that keep records to know
the modern and improved in preservation method and also ginger those that make
use of Archival materials to know how to
manage keep, preserve and conserve their material and or documents properly.
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