...
Boxed collections are housed in two different ways. Either they are in acid-free file folders with a reinforced tab that stand upright inside legal-sized flip-top document boxes, or they are in 2-flap acid-free folders that rest flat in a box with an attached lid (called a clam-shell box) that was specially designed for ease of use in the Reading Room. Usually collections that present few special housing considerations and are not frequently used are stored upright and sent to HD. If a collection is too fragile to go to HD, or if heavy use is expected, it may instead be kept in flat boxes on site, since Houghton shelving is adjusted to accept flat boxes about 4" high. Shelving in the Harvard Theatre Collection (HTC) and at HD can accept either upright or flat boxes. When a collection uses both flat and upright boxes, each type has an identifying prefix. Manuscripts in the standard-size box, whether flat or upright, have the prefix "bMS", meaning "boxed manuscript", as part of their call number. Any flat boxes larger than the standard size are called "pfMS" boxes, for "portfolio manuscript". Rarely, an upright box that is part of a larger collection must be kept at Houghton, and in that case it has no prefix, and is shelved with upright bound volumes, as simply "MS", since it is too tall for the regular boxed manuscript shelves. This was reviewed in more detail under the previous section: "Call numbers/accession numbers, housing /storage indicators, shelving categories, and special locations".
- FLAT BOXES
- UPRIGHT BOXES
...
BOUND VOLUMES (boxed)
Some collections consist of annotated books, diaries or pamphlets. The difference between a collection of bound volumes and a single item bound volume is that the single item will not have an ArchivesSpace finding aid. Not all such collections will require a box, especially if they will stay onsite. For some collections of smaller/thinner/more fragile pamphlets, choosing a box will depend on the thickness and overall size of the items. Sometimes these fit well in custom folders within a document box,. About 20 regular letter or legal-sized folders can be cut by the end processor with the guillotine cutter to the size of the shorter dimension. These will face the end of the box that has the label on it. An example is this MS Thr 473, a collection of prompt books, currently at HD. You should have the end processor assess the collection before you begin. For more information about collections of bound volumes, see the
...