Archival Analysis
One of the questions which have perturbed man since time immemorial is the desire to know what the future holds. Everyone wants to know what tomorrow will look like and this is especially true regarding health. One way to get a glimpse of the future is by analyzing the past. Through looking at what took place in the past then we can easily predict the future since we will see how people dealt with similar challenges and the resultant effects that ensued afterward. This paper will analyze the UCSF archives and special collection related to the early days of the AIDS epidemic. The main focus will be on the ethical evaluation of the materials presented and how the archive can be improved concerning ethical standards. The ethical evaluation will include analyzing the sources of information, the balance of the information presented, and how the archive can be made better.
Before delving into the ethical evaluation, we need to have a brief synopsis of the archives and the purpose of the collection. The department of Archives and Special Collections from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) library collaborated with the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (GLBT) Historical Society and the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) to digitize, reunite and provide universal access to historical records on AIDS epidemic response. The digitization process included 160,197 pages from three range of archives; handwritten correspondences, typed reports, and printed magazines which were gathered from 35 archival collections then assessed before being disseminated to the public through the California Digital Library (Archive Source). Other items included in the collection are posters, photographic prints, transparencies, and negatives. Having discussed the main features and objectives of the archive, it shall now be easier to evaluate the ethical concerns of the documents used.
One of how the archive is ethically correct can be seen by how it uses a wide range of materials. The material was first assessed to ensure that they did not violate any privacy regulations. This gives peace of mind to the researcher who may seek information from the archive. There is no fear of breaching the privacy concerns and to make matters even better the information is easily accessible as long as an individual can get online. The broad class of information has been categorized according to various standards such as; type of item (whether it is a text or image), the period of publication (with records that date as back as 1980), and the type of information (mobilization against AIDS, Women Aids Network (WAN), among other records) (Archive Source). This helps to prevent confusion and enhances orderliness which is a crucial part of ethical standards. The researcher can easily pick the information that matches with the content he is seeking for and neglect the rest.
The diversity of the materials gives room for comparison which helps to dispel any kind of bias during research. For instance, a researcher may want to consider the relation that existed between mobilization against AIDS and the Women AIDS network. This can be easily done since the number of articles in each of those categories has been outlined thus giving a common denominator that serves as a basis for comparison. The section for mobilization against AIDS has 71 documents ranging from flyers and posters to board meeting reports while the Women AIDS network report has 81 documents within the same range (Archive Source). This gives a researcher a wide breadth of information that is needed for any research process to become successful. It also prevents one-sided evidence since one can draw a lot of information from various sources. Other sections include; AIDS Treatment News Records, AIDS History Project Ephemera Collection, and numerous research papers from credible and authoritative sources. Such depth of information makes the archive to be a primary source of reliable information.
The method used to collect the information also helps to validate the ethical concerns of the archive. One of the ways used to obtain data was through firsthand accounts of the patient experience. This helps the readers to connect with the harrowing experiences which the patients went through. The authenticity of these accounts can be seen from the simple choice of wording, the literary structure, and the manuscripts (although they have been digitized). Other methods include; detailed reports from researchers who spent considerable time in their research with some research for up to three years to ensure that their reports are accurate and consistent (Archive Source). There are also journal entries that give a systematic account of what took place while addressing the epidemic in its early days. The archive has also included advisories from International Health Advisors which helps to prevent the information from being regionally centered in San Francisco alone. Thus, it is evident that the methods of data collection that were used do not contravene ethical principles in any way.
Despite the presence of numerous archive strengths that have been identified, some key weaknesses need to be addressed in the archive to make it better. One major weakness that needs to be handled is the lack of multimedia evidence to back up the information. The archive is fully composed of written material which is insufficient to establish the validity of a report. For a researcher to obtain a clear understanding of the subject being researched about the AIDS epidemic there is a need for full interaction with the text. Full interaction implies the use of the auditory and visual senses. By including recorded evidence of the patients as they narrate their experience it would become more interesting and appear more authentic. The use of videos would also be of assistance to people who have difficulty in reading and searching out for archived documents.
The appearance of the documents is also a matter that needs to be considered by the digital library. The archived documents have an archaic appearance and are not appealing to the eyesight. Although the content is the most important element, the means through which the message is conveyed is also a significant issue. If the appearance is doleful and without taste, then the audience will be naturally inclined to seek another source of information which is more delightful to read. With the advance in technology, the organizers can work to improve the documents that have been provided in the archive. Still, in the same line of appearance, the massive amount of information can be overwhelming to an amateur. Certain pieces of essential information have been deeply hidden by the vast array of data and require keen scrutiny before they can be discovered. This is especially true for the board and conference reports where the minutes were taken and the reader has to deal with unnecessary information.
This leads to the issue of relevance when presenting the information about the early days of the AIDS epidemic. The archive needs to be updated so that the information can relate to the current reality. For this to become successful, the archive should include; a brief background description would help to contextualize the material that has been presented. The reader will have a rough idea of the events and circumstances that transpired during the writing of the document and this will help to create a connection between the reader and the archive. The significant events also need to be given a special place in the archive since they shed more light on the information that has already been provided. These few adjustments will go a long way in improving the quality of service that is provided by the archive.
In conclusion, this paper set out to analyze the ethical standards of the digitized Archive on the AIDS epidemic by the UCSF library. The analysis has described the ethical principles upheld by the Archive such as a wide range of information, credible sources of information, and proper organization of categories. The areas of improvement have also been considered and these include; the appearance of the archived documents, inclusion of multimedia evidence, and updating of the relevance of the texts. I chose to analyze the History of the AIDS project because I desire to know more about the effects of AIDS and it also has a personal connection with me. Through the analysis, I have been able to realize my goal since I have gained a new perspective on the AIDS subject.
Bibliography
Archives Source, and AIDS Project. “AIDS History Project | UCSF Library”. UCSF Library, https://www.library.ucsf.edu/archives/aids/.