Tales of Archival Terror!
Record of the Month! As the days grow shorter and a slight chill sets in, many of us wistfully think of witches, ghouls, and things that go bump in the night. The month of October, with the ancient holiday of All Hallows’ Eve has long been associated with macabre tales and ghostly fables that terrify. In that tradition, this month we are featuring tales of archival terror! Below are two true tales to make any archivist or lover of historical objects tremble with fear... The Storm! Image courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Central Library ‘Twas a dark and stormy day in the year 2018; the archives staff had just settled into a newly renovated facility. Despite the weather, the staff continued with their work conducting research, fulfilling record requests, and digitizing records. Late in the day, the winds began to howl and the clouds swirled and darkened. A flash and thunderous rumblings signaled that a tempest was brewing. The rains fell in sheets drenchi