Arrangement & Description Flashcards

Which content standard is the primary guide for describing archival materials in the United States?

Answer: Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

DACS is the content standard adopted by the Society of American Archivists as the primary guide for creating archival descriptions in the U.S.

Which archival principle holds that records from the same creator should be kept together and not mixed with records from other creators?

Answer: Respect des fonds

Respect des fonds is the principle that records from a single creator (fonds) must be kept together, distinguishing them from records of other creators.

What does EAD stand for in the context of archival description?

Answer: Encoded Archival Description

EAD (Encoded Archival Description) is an XML-based standard used to encode finding aids so they can be shared electronically and searched online.

What is the highest level in the standard hierarchy of archival description?

Answer: Collection or Fonds

The collection or fonds is the highest level of archival description, representing the whole body of records from a single creator.

What is a finding aid in archival practice?

Answer: A document describing archival materials and guiding researchers to them

A finding aid is an access tool that describes the content, context, and structure of archival materials, enabling researchers to locate relevant records.

What does the principle of 'original order' require an archivist to do?

Answer: Maintain the order in which records were kept by their creator

Original order requires preserving the arrangement established by the records creator, as it reflects the creator's activities and provides evidential context.

Under DACS, which descriptive element conveys the volume and physical nature of the materials in a collection?

Answer: Extent

The Extent element in DACS records the quantity of archival materials, typically expressed in linear or cubic feet and number of containers or items.