A Historical Footprint: Reflections on a Life in the Archives

A Historical Footprint is a reflection on the concept of a historical footprint that one leaves in life. Russell offers an autobiographical reflection on history and archives through the footprints of his life. Presenting the three meditations that began his thinking about the historical footprint that an individual leaves, he also offers some guidance for oneself and how one manages an archival program through a series of archival aphorisms as well as reflections on the reference and research process for new archivists and records keepers. Included are some of his own RCA Historical Footprints that he wrote bi-monthly for the staff of the Reformed Church in America describing how he conceives of the archival process. He concludes with a transcription of The Archives Man based on Trouble from the motion picture The Music Man.