Background:

For purposes of classification, archival inventories are defined as the records and papers of government bodies, families, and academic and religious institutions. The material inventories may consist of such items as legal records, business records, government reports and papers, correspondence to or from an individual or institution, maps, news clippings, photographs, etc. Catalogs of manuscripts are defined as lists of the handwritten or typewritten writings of an author or authors. This instruction sheet provides guidelines for the classification of archival inventories and manuscript catalogs.

Procedures:

1. Comprehensive archival inventories

2. Archival inventories limited to a particular topic

3. Manuscript catalogs

4. Documents from an archival or manuscript collection

See also:

Special Topics, Categories of Material, Etc.