About The Archives
The ACNP has made a long-term commitment to initiate and fund an archives dedicated to preserving records relevant to neuropsychopharmacology. The International Archives is located at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. The Archives was created to ensure the preservation, centrality, and availability to scholars of these valuable documents.
By placing materials in the The International Archives, you ensure that these important historical records will be safely stored in a central location. All materials will be archived by trained professionals committed to preserving and promoting the history of all aspects of neuropsychopharmacology. The Archives will be protected from deterioration and other hazards.
By concentrating material at the The International Archives at Vanderbilt University, scholarly use of your materials is more likely. As a focal point for the documentary heritage of neuropsychopharmacology, the Archives will encourage scholarly studies that contribute to the understanding of neuropsychopharmacology's place in neuroscience, medicine, and society. Preserving these materials is part of our duty to the advancement of biomedical science.
We encourage psychopharmacologists, members of neuropsychopharmacological societies around the world, and their families to work with us to preserve scientific and personal papers for scholarly and historical research.
To go directly to the Archives website, click here.
Why An Archive?
Some scientists believe that any information of value they have has already been published in the scientific literature. Others think that only the most distinguished scientists should have their papers preserved. Neither of these beliefs is true.
Often the scribble in the margin of a book, or notes on the back of a dinner napkin provide the invaluable link between inspiration and application. Letters, research notes, diaries, lab notebooks, and reports all may cast new light on important scientific developments. Even the most common scientific records and personal notes of every individual scientist contribute significantly to historical study. The more complete and historical those records are, the more complete and valuable is our picture of the whole body of research.
Scholars are interested not only in the outcome of research but in its evolution as well. The complex exchanges of correspondence, and frequent rewrites from the time a paper is submitted for publication to its final acceptance and publication serve to document the scientific process. The materials enable scientists to understand the scope of the problem, trace research through different group interactions, learn how the research was funded, how the investigation was linked to existing theory, and how it was applied. From such documentation, the public also gains an understanding of the process and the ultimate benefits of science.
Back to the top
The Kinds of Materials to be Saved
Scientists and their families should be aware of the many types of materials historians need for scholarly research. Of prime interest are:
| Original Materials, Including: | Audiovisual Materials, career, social, or personal,such as: | Other Important Materials like: |
- correspondence
- lecture notes
- lab notebooks
- diaries
- research notes
- all correspondence relating to any aspect of your scientific life and career
| - photographs
- sketches
- videotapes
- tape recordings
- movie films
| - Newspaper articles and stories about the scientist and/or their research, clinical, professional, or personal activities
- Books and other secondary source publications from a psychopharmacologist's personal library
|
Frequently overlooked are personal records relating to family ties, religious views, and political affiliations. Scholars also gain important information from financial records of grant applications, as well as reviewer's comments on those applications and site visits.
The International Archives at Vanderbilt University has been established to ensure the safety and availability to scholars of these valuable documents.
Back to the top
Transferring Material to the Archives
We are pleased to assist individuals or their families who desire to place materials in the Archives. When preparing to transfer materials, the documents need not be sorted through. It is actually preferable to leave the records in their original sequence, as this sequence provides insight into the habits of the owner of the materials. The professional staff of the Archives have the expertise to sort, describe, and arrange the documents in the most effective way for scholarly use.
Many records of interest to scholars will contain confidential information. Please be assured that the staff of the Archives routinely deals with issues of confidentiality and will comply with all state and federal laws regarding privacy. When requested by the donor, we will place access restrictions on any materials sent to the Archives.
The transfer, itself, is very simple. Contact the ACNP Executive Office to make arrangements. The Archives staff will call you to walk you through the steps necessary to make the transfer.
Back to the top
When To Decide
Wherever you are in your career: beginning, mid-way, retiring, or emeritus, now is the best time to make a decision about committing materials to the Archives. Call, write, fax, or e-mail the The International Archives to let us know of your decision. We will work with you to ensure that your files and records are transferred to the archives when you no longer need them. We will send you the appropriate forms and arrange for payment for shipping all materials. Your action will assure that your records will be available for scholarly study.
Call, write, fax, or e-mail us if you have questions. We are pleased to answer them and provide assistance in securing safe transfer of your material.
Back to the top
For More Information
For further information, please contact the archives as follows:
The International Archives
American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
545 Mainstream Drive Suite 110
Nashville TN 37228
Phone: 615-324-2360
Fax: 615-324-2361
E-mail: acnp@acnp.org