Organizing Archival Records

Carmicheal provides excellent advice for how to begin to create finding aids that contain collection- and series-level information. The book is filled with examples, illustrations, and figures to help readers visualize the process. . . . In Organizing Archival Records, Carmicheal presents an easy-to-read guide for untrained individuals working in small archives. Geared toward nonprofessionals, the book nevertheless emphasizes professional archival principles, but does so in a way that is relatable to the layperson.
Carmichael's stated mission is to provide a resource for those with little to no archival experience; in this he succeeds admirably. Writing in uncommonly clear prose, Carmicheal effectively explains to a non-specialist audience the sometimes-counterintuitive principles of archival arrangement and description. Not only does Carmichael concisely define a select number of key archival concepts - provenance, original order, collective description, levels of arrangement - but he explains why those ideas matter. To cite just one example, I've never read a more intelligible analysis of the concept of a "series." The work is well organized and thorough without being a pedantic jargon-fest. Each topic is accompanied by examples and exercises that give readers the opportunity for practical experimentation, while the author's interspersed firsthand experiences and anecdotes lend a familiar, and at times humorous, touch.

David Carmicheal once again combines his years of professional experience with the most current archival practice. He has a knack for translating difficult concepts into clear action plans, often using practical examples to make his points. The Fourth Edition of Organizing Archival Records belongs on the bookshelf of every beginning archivist.

Organizing Archival Records provides nuts and bolts of caring for historical records. The 4th edition of this useful volume includes a chapter on arranging digital records and creating Encoded Archival Description files. The book is filled with step-by-step instructions for caring for collections, multiple illustrations, and simple quizzes testing one's knowledge, and it is a must for people working with both small and large collections.