1. Presented by: Amy Carson, Trisha Hansen and Jonathan Sears

2. A Brief History of Encoded Archival Description (EAD)

3. Encoded Archival Description EAD stands for Encoded Archival Description and is a non-proprietary standard for the encoding of finding aids for use in a networked (online) environment. (EAD Help Pages, 2010)

4. Encoded Archival Description Archivists have welcomed EAD because it is a standard for structuring and automating finding aids. EAD prevents the need for “reinventing the finding aid wheel in every repository.” It also eliminates the need for editing or re- entering data every time software is updated. Finally, it allows for easier access to archival materials via the Internet. (Dooley, 1998)

5. Encoded Archival Description  1993 - EAD project is initiated at UC Berkeley; Daniel Pitti is principle investigator for project.  1998 – EAD Version 1.0 is released to coincide with the Society of American Archivists annual meeting.  2002 – EAD 2002 version is released – in response to suggestions for improvements. EAD 2002 is intended to be a more stable and useful version. (EAD Version 2002 Official Site, 2010)

6. A Brief History of DESCRIBING ARCHIVES: A CONTENT STANDARD (DACS)

7. DESCRIBING ARCHIVES: A CONTENT STANDARD (DACS) Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) is a book published by The Society of American Archivists which details the rules for describing archives, personal papers and manuscript collections. It has been described as a “forward-thinking and comprehensive response to changing information needs and technologies.” (Whittaker, 2007)

8. DESCRIBING ARCHIVES: A CONTENT STANDARD (DACS) Prior to 1967: No library cataloging manuals included rules for archival material cataloging.  1967 – Anglo-American Cataloging Rules I (AACRI) introduces rules for individual items and collections.  1978 – Chapter 4 of Anglo-American Cataloging Rules 2 (AACR2) expands basic rules for describing archival materials. (Whittaker, 2007)

9. DESCRIBING ARCHIVES: A CONTENT STANDARD (DACS)  1983 - Archives, Personal Papers and Manuscripts (APPM) is compiled by Steven L. Hensen and published by The Library of Congress as a standard for cataloging archival material.  1998 – The second edition of APPM is published by The Society of American Archivists (SAA).  2004 - The Society of American Archivists adopts Describing Archives: A Content Standard as official standard. (Whittaker, 2007)

10. Next…  Why EAD  Preparing Documents for EAD  Examples of “Cool” Archives

11. Why Encoded Archival Description?  Communication and Access Tool What is a Finding Aid? A Glossary of Archival and Records Terminology n. ~ 1. A tool that facilitates discovery of information within a collection of records. – 2. A description of records that gives the repository physical and intellectual control over the materials and that assists users to gain access to and understand the materials.  Provides A Standard Technology

12. Preparing to Create an Encoded Archival Description  Collecting Data for a Finding Aid Discovery Process ○ Gather…Educate Yourself…Build a Description Consistency through Content Standards ○ “No EAD Police”

13. Examples of “Cool” Archives http://library.ucsc.edu/gratefuldeadarchive/gda-home http://www.archivegrid.org/b/index.jsp

14. Versatility  XML, is quite “repurposeable” File can be web page with links, in print version with understandable headers, or part of a database- driven search interface, create other records such as MARC, and so on. ( boring video) boring video  “EAD is a data structure and not a data content standard. It does not prescribe how one formulates the data that appears in any given data element - that is the role of external national or international data content standards.” http://www.loc.gov/ead/eaddesgn.html http://www.loc.gov/ead/eaddesgn.html

15. Versatility (cont.)  EAD in XML EAD in XML  HTML View HTML View  PDF PDF  Searchable Page Searchable Page

16. Template

17. Resources  Library of Congress Best Practices Library of Congress Best Practices 144 pg guideline on how to create an EAD finding aid.  EAD 2002 Cookbook EAD 2002 Cookbook 50 pg documents the ins and outs of creating and implementing EAD.  EAD Report Card EAD Report Card Check the quality of your EAD encoding

18. References Dooley, J.M.(1998). Introduction - Encoded Archival Description: Context and Theory. American Archivist, 60(3), 264-265. Encoded Archival Description Version 2002 Official Site (2002). Development of the Encoded Archival Description DTD. Retrieved June 6, 2010 from: http://www.loc.gov/ead/eaddev.htmlhttp://www.loc.gov/ead/eaddev.html Encoded Archival Description Version 2002 Official Site (2002). Application Guidelines for Version 1.0. Retrieved July 10, 2010 from: http://www.loc.gov/ead/eaddev.htmlhttp://www.loc.gov/ead/eaddev.html Whittaker, B.M. (2007). DACS and RDA: Insight and Questions from the New Archival Descriptive Standard. Library Resources & Technical Services, 51(2), 98-105.