How to Proceed

A Procedures Manual for the Southern Historical Collection and General Manuscripts University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Revision History TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction 1.1. Who We Are 1.2. What We Do 1.3. Basic Premises 1.4. Overview of Processing 1.5. How to Use This Manual 2. Preparing to Process 2.1 Preliminary Research and Survey 2.1.1. Where to Begin 2.1.1.1. Administrative History 2.1.1.2. Historical Context 2.1.2.The Survey 2.1.2.1. On the Lookout 2.1.2.2. Taking Note 2.2. Writing a Processing Plan 3. Arranging 3.1. Basic Premises 3.1.1. If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It 3.1.2. Relative Research Value 3.1.2.1. Priority Level 3.1.2.2. Processing and Control Levels 3.2. The Break Down 3.2.1. Type/Format Arrangements 3.2.2. Activity/Function Arrangement 3.2.3. The Twain Shall Meet 3.2.3.1. The One and Only, Part I 3.2.3.2. Subgroups 3.2.3.3. Series and Subseries 3.2.3.3.1. Sequence of Series 3.2.3.4. Files and Items 3.2.4. Where Should I Put It 3.2.4.1. Correspondence 3.2.4.2. Writings 3.2.4.3. Financial and Legal Materials 3.2.4.4. Subject Files 3.2.4.5. Research Notes 3.2.4.6. Printed Material/Clippings 3.2.4.7. Other Materials 3.2.4.8. Volumes 3.2.4.9. Pictures 3.2.4.10. Audio/Film/Video/Microform/Electronic Media 3.2.4.11. Museum Items 3.2.4.12. Additions 4. Describing 4.1. The "Typical" Finding Aid 4.1.1. Header and Contact Information 4.1.2. Descriptive Summary Including Abstract and Online Catalog Terms 4.1.2.1. Title 4.1.2.2. Creator 4.1.2.3. Extent 4.1.2.4. Repository 4.1.2.5. Abstract and Online Catalog Terms 4.1.3. Administrative Information 4.1.3.1. Access 4.1.3.2. Usage Restrictions 4.1.3.3. Provenance/Acquisitions Information 4.1.3.4. Processing Note 4.1.3.5. Items Separated 4.1.3.6. Related Collections 4.1.4. Biographical or Historical Note 4.1.5. Collection Overview 4.1.6. List of Series 4.1.7. Series Descriptions 4.1.7.1. The One and Only, Part II 4.1.7.2. Correspondence 4.1.7.3. Writings 4.1.7.4. Financial and Legal Materials 4.1.7.5. Subject Files 4.1.7.6. Research Notes 4.1.7.7. Printed Material/Clippings 4.1.7.8. Other Materials 4.1.7.9. Volumes 4.1.7.10. Pictures 4.1.7.11. Audio/Film/Video/Microforms/Electronic Media 4.1.7.12. Museum Items 4.2. Atypical Finding Aids 4.2.1. Additions 4.2.1.1. Separately Maintained Additions 4.2.1.2. Additions to Collections That Have Been Microfilmed 4.2.2. Intentionally Assembled Collections 4.3. Finishing the Finding Aid 5. Housing and Preserving 5.1. Preservation and You 5.1.1. Consciousness Raising 5.1.2. Preservation/Conservation 5.2. Procedures 5.2.1. Outside Assistance 5.2.1.1. Removing Items for Conservation Treatment 5.2.2. What You Can Do 5.2.2.1. Unfolding/Unrolling/Humidification/Flattening 5.2.2.2. Removing Fasteners 5.2.2.3. Handling Highly Acidic Materials 5.2.2.4. Housing and Labeling 5.2.2.4.1. Boxes 5.2.2.4.2. Folders 5.2.2.4.3. Items Separated 6. Finishing the Job 6.1. Location Table 6.2. Feng Shui Your Workspace; Or, Getting Rid of the Detritus 6.2.1. Transfers 6.2.2. Returns 6.2.3. Trash 6.2.3.1. Envelopes 6.2.3.2. Recycling 6.2.3.3. To the Dumpster

Appendices Sensitive Materials Processing Guidelines Technical Services Stylesheet Materials Not Appropriate for Retention DACS Annotated Finding Aid How To... Annotate Chronologize correspondence Humidify and Flatten Preservation Photocopy Research People in the North Carolina Collection Microfilm Remove Items for Conservation Write Collection Overviews and Abstracts Write Series Descriptions Appendix E. Labels