Absence of archival plans should not be read as proof of intent

Evidence

The tendency of modern academic historiography to accord absolute primacy to archive materials over what is dismissed as “secondary” needs to be subjected to critical scrutiny. The absence from the archives of the east of the Peninsula of any plan on Ferdinand’s part to convert his local Mudejars there comes to be interpreted as firm indication of the king’s intentions not to convert them. That seems to me to give too much weight to negative evidence. — L. P. Harvey, Muslims in Spain, 1500 to 1614, 415 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Jarrett was trained as an archivist and in this same letter he cited the International Council on Archives (ICA) Code of Ethics, published in 1995, which states, “Archives and archivists should observe faithfully and apply impartially all agreements made at the time of acquisition, but, in the interest of liberalization of access, should renegotiate conditions in accordance with changes of circumstances.” He added that “no such agreements” had been provided by Harvard that would “more than meet the criteria of documents of dubious origins” for which the ICA provides a “clear, unambiguous ethical mandate.” — Tamara Lanier, From These Roots, 1227 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: A legislature’s omission of a known exception signals deliberate intent to exclude it — Henry M. Hart, Jr. and Albert M. Sacks, The Legal Process: Basic Problems in…, 1872; Ambiguous legislative history does not justify abandoning its use — Lawrence M. Friedman and Grant M. Hayden, American Law: An Introduction, 519; Absence of archival evidence can mislead historians about intentions — L. P. Harvey, Muslims in Spain, 1500 to 1614, 415 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Absence of archival evidence can mislead historians about intentions #corroborates (0.92) — L. P. Harvey, Muslims in Spain, 1500 to 1614, 415
• Professional archive codes treat undocumented holdings as having dubious origins #complicates (0.78) — Tamara Lanier, From These Roots, 1227