ABSTRACT
Archives and their role within the library have been perceived quite differently by administrators, other librarians, and archivists. Archives and other “special collections” have been cast by some as the jewel in the rich information crown of the sophisticated research library. This “jewel” was thought to bring sometimes a sense of completion and maturity to the library program. During the affluent days of the late sixties and early seventies, administrators seeking prestige and stature in the scholarly community, recognized the genuine contributions to research that an archives could make. Rich in unique and rare primary source information, the archives were seen as adding the final lustre to the “compleat” research library and announcing its scholarly maturity.
