Archives in the Great PNW

To some people, understanding what archives are and what the people who work in them do isn’t widely understood. To help clarify some misconceptions about archives and archivists let’s discuss the things people may think archives are. A common misconception about archives is that archives are a place where old things are stored. If I were to assign a point value to this idea on a scale from one to ten, I would say that this only scores one point, meaning that they only account for one thing of what an archive is responsible for maintaining. There are several main practices and principles that archivists follow daily. These include deciding which collections to accept into the archives and managing those records using a record inventory system. Archivists protect records from deterioration by placing them in folders and boxes that extend their lifespan. They organize materials into coherent collections and create indexes for researchers. Most importantly, they provide access and referen...

Ted Carlson Papers  Scope and Content Note: This collection includes the outgoing and incoming correspondence, newsletters, and other ephemeral materials related to the academic and professional career of Eric Theodore "Ted" Carlson from 1944 to 1946. Most of these materials consist of personal and professional correspondence. Also included are newsletters and military documents. These letters and documents reflect his time as a student at Iowa State College and his military service in the U.S. Army. After completing his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, he began his career at the Monsanto Chemical Company in Dayton, Ohio, where he worked as a laboratory engineer on the Manhattan Project.  These letters illustrate the relationship between Carlson and his parents, as well as provide insights into their lives. The other letters originate from various colleagues and acquaintances of Carlson, highlighting activities during the late World War II period while also of...