Research Guides: Research in FSU Special Collections & Archives : Archival Silences

Acknowledging Archival Silences

The Society of American Archivists defines archival silences as "a gap in the historical record resulting from the unintentional or purposeful absence or distortion of documentation." When conducting archival research, it is imperative to take into account the existence of archival silences that can affect the interpretation of documents or leave out certain perspectives entirely, mainly marginalized groups. Keeping these silences in mind and understanding the current limitations facing archives today will allow for more thorough research and careful consideration of your topic.

SAA's Definition of Archival Silence

How Do Archival Silences Occur?

Archival silences may result from documentation having never existed in the first place, being left out of a collection, or being represented from a biased perspective. Consider the histories of groups with oral traditions or restricted literacy, their histories are either nonphysical or nonexistent and therefore can make up a gap in an archive.