Saint Jerome

Saint Jerome is celebrated for his work translating the Bible into Latin, creating the Vulgate. This translation was revolutionary, bridging linguistic and cultural divides to make sacred texts accessible to a wider audience. Jerome’s work reminds us of the power of language to unite and inform, but it also highlights the challenges inherent in translation—how to preserve the original meaning while adapting it for a new audience.

According to the Catholic Church, he is the patron saint of librarians, scholars, translators, and archivists. He is the second-most voluminous writer in ancient latin Christianity (goals). He also has a really great hat.

Language barriers remain one of the most significant obstacles to information accessibility. Archivists, like translators, play a critical role in breaking down these barriers. This involves not only literal translation but also cultural interpretation—making materials intelligible to diverse audiences. For example, projects like the Endangered Languages Archive preserve linguistic records of communities at risk of losing their native tongues. By digitizing and sharing these materials, archivists ensure that knowledge can transcend geographical and cultural boundaries.

Translation in archives also highlights ethical considerations. How do we present materials in ways that respect their cultural origins while making them accessible to a global audience? Jerome grappled with similar questions, balancing the need to maintain the sanctity of religious texts while adapting them for a Roman audience. Today, archivists face these challenges when preserving oral histories, folk traditions, or materials from colonized regions. Projects like the Digital Himalaya archive, which shares ethnographic and linguistic data from Himalayan communities, reflect how archivists continue Jerome’s mission of thoughtful, respectful translation.

Archivists today, like Jerome in his time, are scholars and stewards of knowledge. They sit at the intersection of preservation and discovery, ensuring that other scholars can expand and contribute to their fields with thoughtful, well-organized access. Jerome’s work reminds us that the pursuit of information often involves crossing boundaries — be they linguistic, cultural, or temporal — and archivists carry this legacy forward in their daily work. By acting as translators of both records and ideas, archivists bridge gaps in understanding, making historical and cultural materials accessible to diverse audiences.

Archivists also play a crucial role in shaping scholarly and public discourse. Their work informs research in countless disciplines, from history and anthropology to art and science. As collaborators in institutions of scholarship, archivists ensure that rare and valuable materials are not only protected but also contextualized and made meaningful for current and future generations.

I find Saint Jerome's example deeply meaningful as I navigate the complexities of translation and cultural exchange in my own studies. His example highlights the importance of identifying shared values and moral lessons while respecting cultural uniqueness.