A Finding Aid is a document that provides a description of an archival collection to guide people in using the collection for research.
The finding aid includes a narrative overview of the collection, with a listing of materials by box, folder, or item. It is expected to assist the researcher in determining whether or not the collection meets his or her research needs. Researchers of archival materials will encounter findings aids when looking for unpublished papers and archival collections.
Below are the common elements of a finding aid. Not all finding aids will incorporate these elements, but this sample should reflect a range of options researchers might encounter in finding aid formats. The links will take you to an actual page of the finding aid for the Stanislav Grof papers with the various elements pointed out to you.
Elements of a finding aid:
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The beginning of the finding aid includes the name of the archival repository, the title of the archival collection, finding aid creation information, and a date range for the materials. |
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This section lists the creator of the materials, call numbers, a brief description (abstract) of the collection contents, the size and extent of the collection (in boxes and cubic feet), and language(s) represented in the collection. |
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If there are any restrictions placed on an archival collection that will prevent researchers from having access to it this information will be noted here. Other information in this section includes how the archives received the collection, citation notes and copyright, and storage location. |
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This section includes a list of terms, topics, names, etc., covered in the collection and usually linked to a library catalog to provide the researcher with materials in similar categories. |
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This section details the biographical information or organizational history relating to the collection and how it was created. |
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This section provides an overview of the types of materials in the collection. |
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This section informs you how the materials have been arranged. The different sections of the collection (series and subseries) organize collection content by type of material, format, topic, or some other filing system. |
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Sometimes called “Container list,” or “Box and Folder list.” This is a box-by-box, folder-by-folder listing of the materials stored in the collection. The level of detail in this section may vary depending on collection scope and individual repository practices. |
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