CA Foundational Concepts & Principles 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Schellenberg's concept of 'evidential value' in records refers to:
- Proof that a record is authentic
- The value of records as evidence of the organization and functions of the creating body (Correct answer)
- Legal admissibility in a court of law
- The intrinsic monetary worth of historical documents
Correct answer: The value of records as evidence of the organization and functions of the creating body
Evidential value is T.R. Schellenberg's term for the usefulness of records as evidence of an agency's origins, organization, and functions.
Question 2: The principle of 'respect for original order' (Registraturprinzip) requires archivists to:
- Rearrange records alphabetically by creator name
- Maintain records in the order established by the creator (Correct answer)
- Organize records chronologically regardless of creator intent
- File documents by subject heading
Correct answer: Maintain records in the order established by the creator
Original order must be maintained because the creator's filing system preserves contextual relationships between records.
Question 3: What is a 'finding aid' in archival practice?
- Software for locating digital files
- A tool that describes and provides access to archival holdings (Correct answer)
- A database of all known archives worldwide
- A guide for physically navigating a repository
Correct answer: A tool that describes and provides access to archival holdings
A finding aid is any description that provides information about, and access to, archival materials in a repository.
Question 4: In the context of records management, 'disposition' refers to:
- The physical arrangement of records on shelves
- The final action taken on records—either destruction or transfer to archival custody (Correct answer)
- Moving records from one office to another
- The process of digitizing paper records
Correct answer: The final action taken on records—either destruction or transfer to archival custody
Disposition encompasses the actions authorized by a records schedule: destruction, transfer to archives, or other final actions.
Question 5: Which concept describes the unbroken, documented history of custody and control of records from creation to present?
- Provenance
- Authenticity
- Chain of custody (Correct answer)
- Archival bond
Correct answer: Chain of custody
Chain of custody documents who has had control of records over time, helping establish their authenticity and integrity.
Question 6: The 'records continuum' model, developed primarily by Australian archivist Frank Upward, differs from the life cycle model by:
- Focusing exclusively on digital records
- Treating recordkeeping as a continuous, multi-dimensional process rather than linear stages (Correct answer)
- Eliminating the concept of permanent preservation
- Applying only to government records
Correct answer: Treating recordkeeping as a continuous, multi-dimensional process rather than linear stages
The records continuum model views records management as a continuous, integrated process across four dimensions rather than discrete sequential stages.
Question 7: What does 'intrinsic value' mean in archival appraisal?
- The monetary value assigned by an appraiser for insurance purposes
- Qualities that make the original document itself worth preserving beyond its informational content (Correct answer)
- The research value identified by historians
- The administrative value retained by the creating agency
Correct answer: Qualities that make the original document itself worth preserving beyond its informational content
Intrinsic value refers to qualities inherent in the original document—such as signatures, seals, or physical characteristics—that make the original irreplaceable.
CA Foundational Concepts & Principles 3
Schellenberg's concept of 'evidential value' in records refers to: