CA Collection Development & Appraisal 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'deaccessioning' in archival practice?
- Adding new materials to a collection
- Removing materials from a collection and transferring or disposing of them (Correct answer)
- Digitizing physical records
- Creating a finding aid for uncataloged items
Correct answer: Removing materials from a collection and transferring or disposing of them
Deaccessioning is the formal process by which a repository removes materials from its holdings through transfer, return, or disposal.
Question 2: Which principle requires that records from different creating entities not be mixed together in archival arrangement?
- Original order
- Chain of custody
- Respect des fonds (Correct answer)
- Aggregate description
Correct answer: Respect des fonds
Respect des fonds holds that records from different creators must be kept separate to preserve their contextual integrity.
Question 3: When evaluating the 'informational value' of records, an archivist primarily considers:
- The physical format and media type
- The data about persons, places, subjects, or phenomena contained in the records (Correct answer)
- The administrative role of the creating office
- The chain of custody documentation
Correct answer: The data about persons, places, subjects, or phenomena contained in the records
Informational value relates to the unique data or facts within records that are useful for research beyond the creating agency's purposes.
Question 4: A 'sampling strategy' in archival appraisal is used to:
- Test digitization equipment quality
- Retain a representative portion of high-volume routine records (Correct answer)
- Survey donor collections before acquisition
- Measure storage space requirements
Correct answer: Retain a representative portion of high-volume routine records
Sampling allows archivists to preserve a representative subset of voluminous routine records while discarding redundant copies.
Question 5: Which element is typically NOT included in a deed of gift agreement?
- Donor contact information
- Restrictions on access or use
- Disposition of unwanted materials
- Detailed subject description of every item (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Detailed subject description of every item
Deeds of gift cover legal transfer terms and conditions but do not typically include item-level subject descriptions, which are developed later in processing.
Question 6: What is 'custodial history' in the context of archival appraisal?
- The record of institutions that have held the materials (Correct answer)
- The financial valuation of a collection
- A description of conservation treatments applied
- The original filing system used by the creator
Correct answer: The record of institutions that have held the materials
Custodial history documents the chain of possession of archival materials from creation to the present, supporting their authenticity and integrity.
CA Collection Development & Appraisal 2
What is 'deaccessioning' in archival practice?