Sorting



  • Once you have determined your priorities for the accession, begin to organize the material physically. Consider the following:

  • Sort archival materials into distinct piles according to the plan you have established.
  • Remove unwanted material, items needing conservation and media items with different storage needs.
  • Replace all removed items (except items to be discarded, such as doodles or duplicates) with a separation sheet. A separation sheet identifies what material has been removed, why, and where it is presently located.
  • Continue to arrange the records until you reach your chosen level of detail, such as series, file, or item.
  • Arrange different media items within the fonds, according to their physical requirements.
  • Throughout, continue to keep notes about your work, indicating what organization you have chosen, what level of detail, and what kind of material has been removed. Continue keeping notes (if applicable) about important subjects, events, or people to include in your description.

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