An Archival Revolution: W. Kaye Lamb and the Transformation of the Archival Profession

W. Kaye Lamb, fourth Dominion Archivist of Canada, 1948–69, as well as its first National Librarian and a prolific historian, ignited an archival revolution in the country. Rejecting many of the ideas of Hilary Jenkinson and most of the approaches of his predecessors, Lamb knew he was establishing in Canada a “new profession” for archivists and a new kind of archives. His revolution to modernize archivy had three major thrusts: enhancing total archives by augmenting more systematic and comprehensive appraisal (and destruction) of records, embracing archival government records and establishing records management, and significantly expanding researcher services and public programming. All were driven by his desire for “keeping the past up to date” to meet the pressing cultural needs of the country, and to support the postwar creation of an efficient modern state. The archives that Lamb inspired – and his ideas underpinning them – form the backdrop for much of the intense debate of the past three decades about the nature of the archival profession and its functions. Understanding Lamb’s ideas thus sheds light on the profession’s present and future directions, as well as celebrate one of its historical giants. This study is based on Lamb’s own writings and personal papers, including first-time access to an extensive unpublished memoir of his archival career.