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See the Archival Collection Processing Manual :  Step-by-step guide: Unprocessed to End Processed and End processing for processed archival collections.

When in doubt, talk to end processing!

It is important to collaborate with the end processor on the orientation of a collection before you begin processing, so you don't waste time or supplies having to redo work. The first thing to do is check in with the end processor about what kind of boxes you should use. Be sure you understand how to label the boxes and the folders, no matter what the configuration. It may be especially important to collaborate on existing or hybrid level collections that are being enhanced or redone. For example, the Hofer inner office has flat files full of various non-standard sizes of folders that don't follow conventions for sizes or locations. When uniquely processed collections like this need to be re-housed, there are considerations about where to shelve, what becomes of remaining material that will one day need re-shelving, what might be a good use of the unconventional drawer sizes, perhaps to solve some other unrelated housing concern, what size supplies to use, etc. in order to make the collection more standardized and accessible according to our current conventions. Once the basic wishes of the curator are known and discussed, it is best to simply inform and hand over the housing for the end processor to "preprocess" the material in the most concise way possible, and get it shelved in accordance with some previously, and some newly-established shelving practices. Having the end processor do the preliminary work makes things simpler for everyone.

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Collections with a lot of small objects, small bound volumes, or decks of playing cards, etc. should be handed over to the end processor, as we have various small boxes that fit perfectly inside of the basic flat clamshell boxes, and could provide a solution. Certain sizes of prefabs can also be made to serve as inner containers.  A box full of "mundane" objects, such as staplers, tape dispensers, rulers, scissors, etc., from an author's desk, for example, could be arranged quickly in zip-lock bags for easy viewing and handling during an unanticipated reader's need. On the other hand, such objects could be stored carefully in inner boxes with tissue, carefully labeled, etc. It would depend on how we expect readers to approach the items both intellectually and physically. As with any other non-standard material in a collection, problem items should go to end processing.

The basics : Paige box use

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: storing volumes

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A collection of papers stored upright inside a #14 paige box is organized very simply and hopefully will usually fall inside the maximum weight for the box, which is printed on the box itself. (There is a scale if needed, in the Preservation Alcove). However, bound volumes stored upright (or a combination of upright and flat) in Paige boxes can lend themselves to disorganization and excessive weight. This will often cause the box to be returned to the end processor because it is starting to break apart. Or the contents have become a puzzle that can't be fit back in. Unless the organization has some thought or standards applied, volumes can be put back into the box by patrons or staff on their front boards, which will cause their detachment over time. This is why boxes containing volumes stored in Paige boxes need to sometimes have a label that requires people not to return them to the box on their front boards. And, it is why some basic standards may help in filling such boxes especially when smaller volumes are combined with larger ones in the same box. SEE ******

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sample box label created in ArchivesSpace: for both flat and upright boxes

(The top margin is big so that text can be read below our partially lidded clamshell boxes)

HOU HD and HOU THE (for theatre) stickers are available from the end processor.

sample box label : for HALF-HEIGHT boxes (flat)

Anchor
upright upright

I. End-processing an upright collection.

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