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From a turn-of-the-century love letter…to an old map that settles a modern property dispute,

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important records of the past are collected and preserved in archives.

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They are organized and cared for by archivists.

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Archivists patiently sort historically valuable paper, objects, film and electronic records,

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deciding what's worth keeping and what’s not.

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The work may require researching the items to verify their origin and value.

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Strong organizational skills are essential.

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Archivists must be able to catalog the items so that they can be easily located.

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They create and maintain computer databases, and create film and digital copies of archival materials.

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Most archivists also have a public outreach role, coordinating and leading tours and classes.

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Although usually quiet, the workspace can be crowded with stored materials.

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The job may require bending to lift heavy boxes and climbing ladders to reach high shelves.

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Archivists usually specialize in a particular area of history.

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They may work for museums, libraries, even corporations

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…anywhere records and related items are saved.

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Employers look for graduate degrees in history or library science,

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along with experience working with historical materials.

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Certification by the Academy of Certified Archivists can give you an edge.

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This is a job that goes far beyond simply keeping track of old documents.

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Archivists are vital guardians of fragile and often irreplaceable history.