The Use and Availability of Environmental Activism Collections in Academic Archives

This study seeks to reveal the current state of environmental research in academic special collections and archives, with an emphasis on materials associated with environmental activism. The use and availability of archival environmental activism collections were assessed in a two-fold process. The use of such collections was evaluated through a citation analysis of related research articles published in Environmental History, the premier scholarly journal in the field of environmental history. The citation analysis reviewed the prevalence of archival collections sourced, and examined citations by repository type and material type in order to gain insight into the kinds of items used by scholars. Additionally, academic archives with significant collections related to environmental activism were surveyed. Though not extensive, this overview highlights the availability of relevant materials for scholars. The evolution of environmental research collections and the implications for archival repositories and their patrons will be addressed