Processing is a task requiring intellectual work and craftsmanship. It is often more of an art than a science. The processor serves as an intermediary between the creators of the papers and their users. To process a collection means to arrange the papers in some logical way and then to describe the papers’ arrangement, their contents, and their research potential so that users and staff members can find specific material when it is needed.
Plan before taking action and be transparent about decisions.
Ideal level of processing is not the same for all collections or even within collections.
Only do enough work to make collections useful and intelligible to the user.
Respect the confidentiality of records and respect the rights both of patrons and donors.
Self-care is important and we value the labor that goes into processing collections. Take breaks, talk to others, and ask for and give feedback.
This zine provides an introduction to processing materials in the Department of Distinctive Collections (DDC).
The Processing Manual is a complete guide to arrangement and description of collections within the DDC, from accession to end processing. The following sections are of particular importance:
This document, created by Archives for Black Lives in Philadelphia, contains suggestions and resources for creating more inclusive, anti-racist description.
For writing/citing issues not covered by the Processing Manual Style Guide, refer to the Chicago Manual of Style (available when on the MIT network).