n.remediation of practices or data that exclude, silence, harm, or mischaracterize marginalized people in the data created or used by archivists to identify or characterize archival resourcesWick 2020, 206Reparative description, a critical extension of inclusive and equitable description practices, could have been put forward as more of an “emerging trend.” There is a vigorous, ongoing discussion about this very topic in the profession, and the lack of mention in this publication is startling. Perhaps Meissner chose to not include it because it is not universally accepted practice, but I feel that his authoritative perspective on arrangement and description would be uniquely valuable as we consider opportunities for expanding traditional description practices. As theory evolves, the Archival Fundamentals Series has an obligation to make definitive statements and codify practice. This volume could have presented a major opportunity for codifying certain initiatives in socially conscious description, and I am saddened to see the work of so many reduced to an “emerging trend.”Frick and Proffitt 2022, 18There is a balance between urgency and mindfulness; the work of reparative description is urgent and should be a top-level priority, but, by its very nature, it cannot be rushed.adj.relating to remediation of practices or data that exclude, silence, harm, or mischaracterize marginalized people in the data created or used by archivists to identify or characterize archival resourcesCharlton et al. 2020In this session, speakers will discuss programmatic and project-oriented approaches to addressing harmful collection description, specifically inclusive and reparative description work they are conducting at predominantly white institutions (PWIs) as well as the development of resources to facilitate this work.Lyon 2021Across the department, we intend to ramp up reparative description projects, particularly for our nineteenth-century Southern white family papers, because we know that the records of enslavers may be the only remaining documentation of those who were enslaved. We are seeking marginalized, hidden, and silenced voices.Smithsonian Libraries 2021The intern will create 15-20 biographies of Smithsonian women in science to be posted on Smithsonian Institution Archives’ website, as well as complete research about how those women are currently represented (or not) in Smithsonian collections data to help drive current reparative description efforts. The intern will use this research to draft a blog post, as well as contribute to plans for upcoming digital exhibitions about how Smithsonian women in science have fought to pursue their research. ¶ Through this project, an intern will gain applied archival and scholarly research experience, as well as experience developing public history projects, especially digital resources and exhibitions. In addition, they will have the opportunity to research and contribute to reparative description projects to increase the discoverability of women in science in Smithsonian collections data.Frick and Proffitt 2022, 23Recognizing and engaging with communities whose identity and culture are reflected in the collections as equal stakeholders in metadata creation and maintenance is a critical step in reparative description work.Punzalan and Marsh 2022, 45There is increasing energy in this area to undertake reparative description projects via the implementation of culturally responsive metadata and community autonyms and authority terms. Description and processing, where possible, should be collaborative or undertaken in consultation with relevant community members.
