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 Introduction Who We Are What We Do Basic Premises Overview of Processing How to Use This Manual Preparing to Process Preliminary Research and Survey Where to Begin Administrative History Historical Context The Survey On the Lookout Taking Note Writing a Processing Plan Arranging Basic Premises If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It Relative Research Value Priority Level Processing Levels The Break Down Type/Format Arrangements Activity/Function Arrangement The Twain Shall Meet The One and Only, Part I Subgroups Series and Subseries Sequence of Series Files and Items Separated Material Chunking It Out Control Collection-level control Series-level control File-level control Item-level control Multiple control levels Where Should I Put It? Correspondence Writings Financial and Legal Materials Subject Files Research Notes Printed Material/Clippings Other Materials Volumes Pictures Audio/Film/Video/Microform/Electronic Media Museum Items Additions Describing The "Typical" Finding Aid Header and Contact Information Collection Overview Title Creator Extent Repository Abstract and Subject Headings Administrative Information Access Usage Restrictions Provenance/Acquisitions Information Processing Note Items Separated Related Collections Biographical or Historical Note Scope and Content Note List of Series Series Descriptions The One and Only, Part II Correspondence Writings Financial and Legal Materials Subject Files Research Notes Printed Material/Clippings Other Materials Volumes Pictures Audio/Film/Video/Microforms/Electronic Media Museum Items Finishing the Finding Aid Additions 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 Preservation and You Consciousness Raising Preservation/Conservation Procedures Outside Assistance Removing Items for Conservation Treatment What You Can Do Unfolding/Unrolling/Humidification/Flattening Removing Fasteners Handling Highly Acidic Materials Housing and Labeling Boxes Folders Boxes and Folders for Additions Items Separated 6. Finishing the Job 6.1. Location Table 6.2. Feng Shui Your Workspace; Or, Getting Rid of the Detritus

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