Hello all
Re Caroline's point:
I think on this occasion ISAD(G) is OK. If there is no series and just a
load of files, there is no series. You can create an artificial one if you
like, but archival description is supposed to reflect original order, so
unless there is some reason why you should create the series
(Schellenbergian ease of reference??), I wouldn't.
Re other points. Definition of archival levels is notoriously difficult.
Some have argued the fonds/archive/group/collection does not exist or cannot
be recreated. See Australian series system. I certainly came to that
conclusion when I worked for a multinational profit-hungry monster. You
could even argue (I think following the Australian Sue McKemmish in a piece
called 'Are Records Ever Actual?' - those who are interested can contact me
for the ref!!) that no archival levels are real, all are constructed/virtual
- but this is taking archival deconstruction a little far practically
speaking.
Anyway the point I am attempting to make (and David Bearman, the man with
the electronic records reputation, has made it rather strongly several times
- again, see me afterwards for refs) is that there are lots of ways of
looking at our friends provenance and original order, and perhaps Jonathan's
problem with the ISAD stems partly from that.
Carry on with the debate! At last we move to true professional issues!
Sarah
* * * * * *
Sarah J A Flynn
Regional Liaison Co-Ordinator, A2A
Public Record Office
Kew
Richmond
Surrey TW9 4DU
Tel (direct line): 020 8392 5328
Fax: 020 8878 8905
Email: [log in to unmask]
www: http://www.pro.gov.uk/archives/A2A/default.htm
* * * * * *
> Shouldn't all files be contained in some sort of series, however
> artificial
> - even if we are talking about just one file?
>
> Caroline
>
> ------------------
> Caroline Shenton
> Assistant Clerk of the Records
> The Parliamentary Archives
> Palace of Westminster
> London SW1A OPW
>
> [log in to unmask]
> http://www.parliament.uk
> +44 (0)171 219 5318 (tel)
> +44 (0)171 219 2570 (fax)
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