Top Ten Tuesday: What are Archives Good For?

1. Archives document our rights and hold governments accountable.
   
2. Use of original materials provides users a tangible link to the past that can create an emotional connection for the user.
   
3. Archives contain first person accounts that document historical events.
   
4. Archives contain materials that document the lives of historically underrepresented groups.
   
5. Archives contain materials that document the use and transformation of our environment over time.
   
6. Archival materials contain information about past events that can be used by citizens, business, and government to support their business functions.
   
7. Archives provide documentation of events when that information is lacking in government records, such as birth date or place of residence.
   
8. Archives preserve the history and records of grassroots organizations that might otherwise be lost.
   
9. Archival material can have evidential value that provides information about the origins, functions, and activities of their creator.
   
10. Archives can be used by educators at all levels to teach across all disciplines.