Statement on Culturally & Racially Insensitive Materials
Working with archival material requires us to acknowledge the past on a regular basis. Some archival materials may represent positions, cultural norms, and values that are no longer, or never were, acceptable. Individuals might come across insensitive and socially unacceptable descriptions and depictions within our older materials.
However, archives have a responsibility to maintain the historical integrity of the material and should serve as a means of accountability.
Similarly, there may be instances in which material has been described in an insensitive and socially unacceptable manner during acquisition or processing. Archival descriptions are not fixed documents and should be reviewed regularly and updated as needed.
It is appropriate to bring problematic descriptions to the attention of the archivist or librarian if you feel comfortable doing so.