Terminology Database

Term | archival unit

Glossary Definitions

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Dictionary Definitions

  • n., Any of the groupings of archival documents comprising a fonds, as delineated during the process of archival arrangement. An archival unit can be a fonds, series, file, item or variation thereof, depending on institutional standards. A unit may be divided into sub-units for the purposes of archival description. The smallest (and therefore indivisible) archival unit is the item. See also: aggregate archival unit; archival aggregation; arranged records.