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Re: Archives: plural or singular



I've been wondering this myself and expected it to be brought up as part of the "archive" vs. "archives" discussion. When writing, I've tried to write in a way to avoid having to choose between "archives is" and "archives are." But when talking, I've found myself going back and forth. Please reply to the list or share direct replies to the list. Thanks!
 
Laurie
 

Laurie Langland
Project Archivist
Layne Library, Dakota Wesleyan University
1200 W. University Ave.
Mitchell, SD 57301

-----Original Message-----
From: Susie R. Bock [mailto:bocks@USM.MAINE.EDU]
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2002 7:19 AM
To: ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU
Subject: Archives: plural or non plural

I am curator for a collection which was established before I arrived. It was named the African American Archives of Maine. It is collection of collections, personal papers, etc. documenting African Americans in Maine. I recently drafted a brochure for the Archives and throughout I treated it as a singular noun, thus "The Archives was founded..." as opposed to were. The faculty scholar for the Archives, quoting the English Dept. as her authority, thinks we should use plural verbs. I checked the 1992 A Gossary for Archivists, Manuscript Curators, and Records Managers, but it does not offer any advice.


Does anyone have an authority to cite or an opinion?


To me it seems logicial that is is singular because traditionally an archives is the body of records of an organization. And in this case it is a body of material around a particular subject.




Susie R. Bock

Head of Special Collections

University of Southern Maine Library

314 Forest Ave.

PO Box 9301

Portland, Maine 04104-9301

207-780-4269

207-780-4042 (fax)