We will focus on the archival functions of arrangement and description. Organizing and cataloging records is a core activity for archivists. They are interrelated and the basis upon which records/information become 'find-able'. A disorganized record group, or an inadequately (or mis-described) group is one in which we cannot find the information we seek. You are learning arrangement and description with Nathan and Kendra. It is the hands-on bit of this class and is extremely important.
Readings:
Start here with definitions:
Arrangement
Description
DACS - Describing Archives a Content Standard
Holmes Archival Arrangement: 5 operations at 5 levels
And in Jimerson,
- Berman's essay on Provenance (pp. 345-360)
- OPTIONAL: Hedstrom's essay on Electronic Records (pp 381-394)
What are the 5 levels of arrangement?
What is the meaning of 'provenance' and why does it matter for archival work?
What is DACS and why does it matter to professionalism?
You have an 2 extra days this week, since I posted these late. Have the responses done by Friday, July 15th.
What are the five levels of arrangement?
ReplyDelete1: arrangement at the depository level – the largest level of division – means that the items are arrangement by where they came from
2: arrangement at the record group and subgroup levels – means that the items are broken down into smaller, but still broad levels
3: arrangement at the series level – means that the items are broken down even more, this entails breaking them down to a place level
4: arrangement at the filing level – means that generally this is where an archivist simply verifies that the items are in their proper place
5: arrangement at the document level – the smallest level of division – means that each document is checked and arranged in a logical order
What is the meaning of “provenance” and why does it matter for archival work?
Provenance in its most basic form is the origin of something, whether a document or a three-dimensional item. It is the “fundamental principle of archives.” It is extremely important to the archivists work because it allows them to find an item that is needed. Based on Bearman and Lytles essay, it is obvious that the definition of provenance and its execution is not as universal as it should be.
What is DACS and why does it matter to professionalism?
DACS is the acronym for “Describing Archives: A Content Standard” and it is important because it helps archivists to search the archives of another institution. Universalism is needed in the archive world.
What are the 5 levels of arrangement?
ReplyDeleteThe five levels of arrangement:
1. Depository: Breaking down archives in general terms and the physical organization of documents by major divisions.
2. Collection or record group: Breaking down materials by division and branch location within the stacks.
3. Series: Breaking down documents into natural series of association within the branch.
4. Folder or filling unit:Breaking down documents into logical order by association that is usually already done by the originating organization.
5. Item:Breaking down the individual documents in the folder for consistency.
What is the meaning of 'provenance' and why does it matter for archival work?
The "principle of provenance" or "des fonds" is the natural order of documents maintained by the originating organization. Archivists respect the original order of a collection of documents. Experience teaches archivists that a workable order for an organization is likely the most suitable structure for storage and accessibility. Money and time also place restrictions on how detailed an archivist's work goes. The way an organization kept its records is important just like the documents themselves.
What is DACS and why does it matter to professionalism?
DACS stands for Describing Archives: A Content Standard. This means that an operating method for all archivists keeps information and accessibility fluid and understandable.
The five levels of arrangement are as follows:
ReplyDelete1. arrangement at depository level-a breakdown of a repository's records into major divisions and housed in the archives [stack areas] based on those divisions. Ex. at NARA at Atlanta the NASA records are housed far away from old tax records.
2. arrangement at record group/subgroup level- breakdown of records from each division into record groups and housed together accordingly. Ex. The Records of the National Park Service is a separate record group from the Records of the Internal Revenue Service.
3. Arrangement at series level- breakdown of the record group into 'natural' series and housed together accordingly. Ex. Interpretation could be a logical series from the record group- Records of the National Park Service.
4. Arrangement at folder level- breakdown of series into different folders given a logical sequence usually already determined by the creator of the records, and then housed accordingly. Ex. Annual Interpretation Master Plans could be a possible folder or [folders] in a series for Interpretation in National Park Service records.
5. Arrangement at item level- arranging individual documents within a given folder. Ex. Placing the documents in the folder into chronological order.
Provenance has been a bit tricky for me to pin down. From what I have read for this week, I have gathered that provenance tells of an organization's history, structure, function, and mission and allows archivists to search files based on what they know about an organization's structure and relationships within the organization. Provenance matters very much to archival work because provenance-based retrieval is the method most widely used by archivists today. From the Jimerson reading this week, it seems as though using this method has left a lot to be desired because it is based on hierarchy and the organizations of today are much more modern and complex, too complex for a simple mono-hierarchical system. However, Jimerson did pose hope with his proposals for change. If archivists could expand and finely develop provenance-based retrieval, then they could develop a system that explain the past of the organization, show how it has changed and developed, explained relationships among the moving parts in the organizations, and could possible elaborate on the future of the organization.
DACS represents Describing Archives: A Content Standard and it is a standard for creating access tools for all forms of archival materials. It is important to professionalism because it understands that all records are unique, but at the same time provides standards to help guide the profession so that some common denominators are present in all archival record groups, series, folders, etc. This allows a fluidity for researchers and archivists.
The five levels of arrangement:
ReplyDelete1. Arrangement at depository level-a breakdown of a repository's records into major divisions and housed in the archives based on those divisions.
2. Arrangement at record group or subgroup level- breakdown of records from each division into record groups and housed together accordingly.
3. Arrangement at series level- breakdown of the record group into 'natural' series and housed together accordingly.
4. Arrangement at folder level- breakdown of series into different folders given a logical sequence usually already determined by the creator of the records, and then housed accordingly
5. Arrangement at item level- arranging individual documents within a given folder.
Provenance: The natural order of something (ex: Documents maintained at an organization in the order they intended)
DACS (Describing Archives): A content standard of operation when maintaining and assessing archives. This is important because it helps maintain understandable archives.
The five levels of arrangement are as follows:
ReplyDelete1. Arrangement at the depository level -- the breakdown of the depository's records into a few major divisions by the broadest commonality among the records. These major grouping of records are usually divided by divisions or branches of the depository organization, and coincides with physically placing these divided records in the best location [stack areas] corresponding with the major grouping arrangements.
2. Arrangement at the record group and subgroup levels -- the further breakdown of the records of an administrative division or branch (as seen in the depository level) into record groups and physically placing the records into a logical pattern corresponding to the assigned division or branch. The record group and subgroup levels should include identification of natural subgroups and their allocation to established record groups.
3. Arrangement at the series level -- the further breakdown of the record group into natural series and the physical placement of each series in relation to other series in some logical pattern.
4. Arrangement at the filing unit level – the further breakdown of the series into its filing unit components and the placement of each component as it logically relates to other components in a sequence that is usually already established by the agency.
5. Arrangement at the document level -- the checking and arranging, within each filing unit, of the individual documents, enclosures and annexes, and individual pieces of paper that together comprise the filing unit and the physical placement of each document in relation to other documents in some accepted, consistent order.
Provenance is the origin and history of an object, or records, that is created and maintained by the owner, or organization that that received the collection. It is important for archival work because it is a system to retain the information of chain of custody, origins, and ownership of items in order to preserve the original context for posterity.
DACS is an archival descriptive standard, meaning that it is a set of descriptive tools that are used in the U.S. and internationally and is applied to records, manuscripts, and materials for consistency in retrieval. It includes descriptions of archival materials and creators of archival materials. DACS matters in professionalism because of the growing convergence of libraries, museums, and archives, an international standard is important for reliable accessibility in the sharing of information.