On the Possibility of a Modern Diplomatics of Records of the Women's Movement.

Using the Master's Tools?

Elizabeth Kata - #gsisc16

Can a method that was developed to evaluate official records from various authorities be valuable in analyzing the records of social movements?

Modern Diplomatics and its Three Parts

Genetic Diplomatics: examines the procedures through which a record

is created and receives legitimacy.

Characteristic Diplomatics: examines the internal form (modes of

address, greetings, etc.) and external form (paper, format, etc.) of a record.

Systematic Diplomatics: categorizes record types, which can be used to

identify the type and function of an individual record.

Genetic Diplomaticslooks at the procedures:

-How is a decision made?

-Who has the authority to make decisions?

-What procedures are followed to create a record and ensure its legitimacy? What are

the steps?

-What does it mean if procedure is not followed?

Template for Program Advertisement with notes on publications to contact and publications which have been contacted. From these notes we can ascertain information about how events were advertised and how far in advance media outlets were contacted.

Procedures - hints in the margins

STICHWORT. Archiv der Frauen- und Lesbenbewegung. G 162 Frauengetriebe. Programm. Dezember 1999.

Genetic Diplomatics - Draft vs. Original (Legitimacy?)

Annual Report without signatures: Draft

Annual Report with signatures of the

managing directors: Original

Both from STICHWORT. Archiv der Frauen- und Lesbenbewegung. G 162 Frauengetriebe. Tätigkeitsbericht 1999.

Characteristic DiplomaticsInternal (“intellectual”) Form: grammatical style (I, we, etc.); self-description; mode of

address; greetings; warnings; use of dates; signature; countersignature; etc..

STICHWORT. Archiv der Frauen- und Lesbenbewegung. G 44 FR HA der ÖH Uni Graz. Uni Graz. Aussendung, 11. 3. 1985. STICHWORT. Archiv der Frauen- und Lesbenbewegung. ZAS. 08-4.2 außerösterreichisch. Flugblatt “Women War and Peace. The Vision and the Strategies.” August, 1994.STICHWORT. Archiv der Frauen- und Lesbenbewegung. ZAS. 08-7 UNO Menschrechtskonferenz. Flugblatt “Invitation to the International Demonstration.” June, 1993.

Characteristic DiplomaticsExternal (“physical”) form: medium used (type of paper, analog vs. digital); format (for

example, folded, size of the paper); script; language; special signs; seals; annotations.

STICHWORT. Archiv der Frauen- und Lesbenbewegung. G 44 FR HA der ÖH Uni Graz. Aussendung, 11. 3. 1985.STICHWORT. Archiv der Frauen- und Lesbenbewegung. G 152 Notruf Innsbruck. Flugblatt “Uns reicht’s.” 1990. STICHWORT. Archiv der Frauen- und Lesbenbewegung. ZAS. 08-4.2 außerösterreichisch. Flugblatt “Women War and Peace. The Vision and the Strategies.” August, 1994.

Feminist and Lesbian Symbolsfrom Femory - a Feminist Memory Game

Characteristic Diplomatics - Special Signs and Symbols

Systematic DiplomaticsI suggest systematic diplomatics of social movement

records could group types by records addressed to

authorities of financial backers, records addressed

to the public at large, records addressed within the

movement, and lastly internal group records.

Systematic Diplomatics - Examples of Document Types

Demands Flier Petition with List of Signatories

STICHWORT. Archiv der Frauen- und Lesbenbewegung. G 152 Notruf Innsbruck. Flugblatt. März 1991. STICHWORT. Archiv der Frauen- und Lesbenbewegung. G 21 Notruf Wien. Unterstützungsliste. 1994.STICHWORT. Archiv der Frauen- und Lesbenbewegung. ZAS. 08-7 UNO Menschrechtskonferenz. Forderungen der Working Group on Women’s Rights.. “Final Recommendations.” June, 1993.

ConclusionWe can use modern diplomatics to better understand and order

the records in our collections, write more informative finding

aids, elucidate group procedures and formal and informal

hierarchies, and increase the accessibility of the records for all

who are interested, thereby further stimulating interest in and

research using our collections.

Thank you!

BibliographyDuranti, Luciana. “Diplomatics: New Uses for an Old Science (Part 1).” Archivaria 28 (Summer 1989).

--“Diplomatics: New Uses for an Old Science (Part IV).” Archivaria 31 (Winter 1990-1991).

--“Diplomatics: New Uses for an Old Science (Part V).” Archivaria 32 (Summer 1991).

Hochedlinger, Michael. Aktenkunde. Urkunden- und Aktenlehre der Neuzeit. Oldenburg: Böhlau, 2009.

Meisner, Heinrich Otto. Archivalienkunde vom 16. Jahrhundert bis 1918. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck und

Ruprecht, 1969.

Pearce-Moses, Richard (ed.). A Glossary of Archival and Records Terminology. Chicago: Society of American

Archivists, 2006. P. 120. (http://www2.archivists.org/glossary/terms/d/diplomatics#.VwkzlCZb88p).