Processing Archives: What Goes on Behind the Scenes?

By: Yulia LazarevLIS 698 – PracticumDean Tula Giannini

Pratt Institute

Gained practical experience as a processing archivist at the Burke Library, Columbia University.

Processed the Evangelical and Ecumenical Women’s Caucus collection.

Updated and complete a finding aid.

Project Identification

Primary Assignment: to act as a processing intern and complete a finding aid for the Evangelical and Ecumenical Women’s Caucus collection.

Inventory survey of unprocessed boxes recently received. Move folders to appropriate series boxes. Organize the files in chronological order. Update the front matter.

Nature of the Work

Finding aid

Finding aid

Remove staples, rubber bands, and paper clips.

Place photographs into mylar sleeves. Photocopy newspaper clippings and

acidic papers onto acid free paper. Place folders into archival (Hollinger)

boxes.

Preservation

Member Directory Private addresses and home phone numbers. Contains personal email addresses.

Contains membership forms with private information. Checks and vouchers.

Ethics

Processing Materials Do not read materials just skim, to get an idea. You need to be thorough but quick. Remove duplicates (keep at most 2 copies).

Finding Aid When writing a finding aid you need to be clear and direct. Say exactly what is in the collection. If at the folder or item level, find ways to condense the list

so that it does not run. Have Fun!

Conclusion