Assessing Power Dynamics in Multigenerational Archives David Benjamin , University of Central Florida Alison Clemens , Yale University Elena Colón-Marrero , Computer History Museum Rosemary Pleva Flynn , University of North Dakota Mary Manning , University of Houston Jessica C. Neal , Hampshire College Kelly Revak , Library of Congress Jill Severn , University of Georgia Helen Wong Smith , University of Hawaiì Linda A. Whitaker , Arizona Historical Society (Retired) R esearch on age diversity in archives remains much less developed than research on race and gender diversity. Age diversity is often excluded from conversations about diversity and is an overlooked aspect of our intersectional identities. In any organization, multigenerational diversity among employees affords the benefit of seasoned experience and knowledge com-bined with tech-savviness and innovative approaches. However, the intersection of age with other aspects of identity (e.g., race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexuality) also creates barriers. Exploring age diversity in the archival profession and its relation to workplace experiences is an essential step in understanding how age affects archivists, our work, and how we build meaning-ful intergenerational relationships with our colleagues. There were 255 survey responses. The respondents’ ages ranged from their 20s to 70s, with the largest percentage in their 30s and 40s. Experience levels ranged from less than one year to more than thirty-one years, with the largest percentage from those employed in the archival field for eleven to twenty years. We refer to both survey respondents and session participants as “respondents.” Throughout this article, we have used the respondents’ word choices when directly quoting them. In our discussion, we use “younger” and “older” when we are discussing Continued on page 16 >> Beginning with a Panel Session and Survey The authors of this article created a panel entitled “Young, Old, Seasoned, Green: Assessing Power Dynamics in Multigenerational Archives” at the 2019 Joint Annual Meeting of SAA and the Council of State Archivists. Our primary goal was to create multi-generational and cross-cultural dialogue related to power dynam-ics regarding age and experience in the archival workplace. We used the following questions to guide the session’s conversations: t What challenges/opportunities do multigenerational archival workplaces face? t How do age and experience relate to other aspects of diversity and power dynamics? t How is institutional knowledge transferred? After the session, we emailed a follow-up survey link to archives groups, principally SAA’s sections and regional archives organizations, to reach a broader audience. The survey included the above questions, plus the following: t What else do we need to know about age and experience levels to build an optimal multigenerational profession? t Personal reflections: We invite you to share a personal story, reflection, or anecdote related to any of the above. January/February 2021 ARCHIVAL OUTLOOK 13
Archival Outlook January/February 2021: Page 13
