Archivists frequently collect papers from people who have had long and productive careers, but are challenged by aging, infirmity, and the end of life. Closely related is the archivist's work with caregivers, survivors, and heirs. Geoff Wexler explores the often complex legal, ethical, and interpersonal implications involved when confronting issues of aging, death, and the documentary legacies of the departed. Linda Long provides a case study that examines an archivist's relationship to a terminally ill artist, Tee Corinne. An annotated bibliography concludes the article.

Ashenburg, Katherine. The Mourner's Dance: What We Do When People Die. New York: North Point Press, 2002. A survey of rites, rituals, and attitudes surrounding death in various cultures.
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The Mourner's Dance: What We Do When People Die
Binstock, Robert, and Linda K. George, eds. Handbook of Aging and the Social Sciences. 6th ed. Boston and London: AP Professional, 2005. A standard text with essays by experts in the field, plus extensive bibliographies.
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Handbook of Aging and the Social Sciences
Birren, James E., et al., eds. Handbook of the Psychology of Aging. 6th ed. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2007. A good compendium of essays by experts in the field, including an extensive bibliography of specialized works.
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Handbook of the Psychology of Aging
Callanan, Maggie, and Patricia Kelley. Final Gifts: Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs, and Communications of the Dying. New York: Poseiden Press, 1992. Includes numerous illustrative case histories.
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Final Gifts: Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs, and Communications of the Dying
Cole, Thomas R. The Journey of Life: A Cultural History of Aging in America. Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press, 1992. Worthwhile reading for understanding the diversity of attitudes toward aging in the United States.
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The Journey of Life: A Cultural History of Aging in America
Corless, Inge, Barbara B. Germino, and Mary A. Pittman, eds. A Challenge for the Living: Dying, Death, and Bereavement. London: Jones and Bartlett, 1995. A textbook anthology of readings, including good bibliographies. Published in the United Kingdom but relevant to the United States.
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A Challenge for the Living: Dying, Death, and Bereavement
Dychtwald, Ken. Age Power: How the 21st Century Will Be Ruled by the New Old. New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam, 1999. Although somewhat lacking in technical information, this book places age in the perspective of current social and technological trends.
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Age Power: How the 21st Century Will Be Ruled by the New Old
Frieden, Betty. The Fountain of Age. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1993. A noted feminist explores ideas and perceptions behind aging.
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The Fountain of Age
Glaser, Barney G., and Anselm L. Strauss. Awareness of Dying. Chicago: Aldine Publishing Company, 1965. A standard textbook and a bit out of date, but provides good basic information.
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Awareness of Dying
Goodman, Lisa M. Death and the Creative Life: Conversations with Prominent Artists and Scientists. New York: Springer Publishing Co., 1981. Insights for relating to creative people at the ends of their lives.
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Death and the Creative Life: Conversations with Prominent Artists and Scientists
Jecker, Nancy S., ed. Aging and Ethics: Philosophical Problems in Gerontology. Totowa, N. J.: Humana Press, 1992. This collection of essays on all aspects of dying is like a textbook and contains much practical advice.
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Aging and Ethics: Philosophical Problems in Gerontology
Johnson, Peggy. "Grace Under Pressure: Relations with Library Donors." Technicalities 13 (August 1993): 5-7. Useful approaches to donors.
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Grace Under Pressure: Relations with Library Donors
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Technicalities
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13
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5
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7
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Kaiser, Barbara J. "Problems with Donors of Contemporary Collections." American Archivist 32, no. 2 (1969): 103-7. Valuable advice from a seasoned and perceptive archivist.
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Problems with Donors of Contemporary Collections
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American Archivist
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32
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103
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7
)
Kastenbaum, Robert. Our Way: The Final Passage through Life and Death. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 2004. A good cultural history of death and dying in a variety of periods and cultures, from ancient times to the present.
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Our Way: The Final Passage through Life and Death
Kessler, David. The Needs of the Dying: A Guide for Bringing Hope, Comfort, and Love to Life's Final Chapter. New York: Harper, 2007. Good practical advice from a noted expert in the field.
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The Needs of the Dying: A Guide for Bringing Hope, Comfort, and Love to Life's Final Chapter
Kübler-Ross, Elisabeth. On Death and Dying. New York: Macmillan, 1969. A classic and groundbreaking text on the subject. Although many have criticized this work, it is still worth reading as a starting point in research on dying.
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On Death and Dying
Kübler-Ross, Elisabeth, and David Kessler. Life Lessons: Two Experts on Death and Dying Teach Us about the Mysteries of Life and Living. New York: Touchstone, 2000. More of a self-help book for the dying and infirm, but also provides good insight for caregivers and others.
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Life Lessons: Two Experts on Death and Dying Teach Us about the Mysteries of Life and Living
Kübler-Ross, Elisabeth, and David Kessler. On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief through the Five Stages of Loss. New York, London, Toronto, Sydney: Scribner, 2005. Further refinement of the original Kübler-Ross work.
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On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief through the Five Stages of Loss
Kuhl, David. What Dying People Want: Practical Wisdom for the End of Life. New York: Public Affairs, 2002. Focuses on the dying person and her or his needs, but good practical information for caregivers as well.
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What Dying People Want: Practical Wisdom for the End of Life
Lesy, Michael. The Forbidden Zone. New York: Anchor Books, 1987. An imaginative and highly insightful study of people directly involved with death, from an innovative historian and the author of Wisconsin Death Trip, among other photographic essays. This book contains graphic and potentially disturbing narratives.
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The Forbidden Zone
Lustbader, Wendy. Taking Care of Aging Family Members: A Practical Guide. New York: The Free Press, 1986. Focused on family members, but also insightful for caregivers and others.
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Taking Care of Aging Family Members: A Practical Guide
Moody, Harry R. Ethics in an Aging Society. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1992.
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Ethics in an Aging Society
Stevens, Michael E. "Voices from Vietnam: Building a Collection from a Controversial War." American Archivist 64 (Spring/Summer 2001): 115-20. A good case study in collecting papers from survivors.
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Voices from Vietnam: Building a Collection from a Controversial War
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American Archivist
, vol. 
64
 (pg. 
115
-
20
)
Stewart, Virginia R. "A Primer on Manuscript Field Work." A Modern Archives Reader: Basic Readings on Archival Theory and Practice. Washington, D. C.: National Archives and Records Service, 1984, 124-38. Basic information on donor relations, although not specifically focused on aging or dying donors.
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A Modern Archives Reader: Basic Readings on Archival Theory and Practice
(pg. 
124
-
38
)
Tirrito, Terry. Aging and the New Millennium: A Global View. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 2003. A good textbook overview of the subject.
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Aging and the New Millennium: A Global View
Williams, Mark E. The American Geriatrics Society's Complete Guide to Aging and Health. New York: Harmony Books, 1995. An encyclopedia of aging, with information on all aspects of the subject.
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The American Geriatrics Society's Complete Guide to Aging and Health
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