Multilevel Description

You will likely create more detailed description for a collection. This can be a simple inventory or series outline or a very detailed file or item level listing. In DACS this is referred to as multilevel description. Each unit of description below the resource record or collection level record is referred to as an archival object in ArchivesSpace.

Mimimum required elements to save an archival object:

TITLE OR DATE

LEVEL OF DESCRIPTION

There are several ways to create multilevel description for collections in ArchivesSpace.

1. Manually adding each archival object record

This method works well for a very small collection, for adding one or two items to a collection, for creating your series structure.

Click here to expand...

Find your resource record, also known as the collection level record

Use either the Search All Records bar or Browse → Resources

Add Child

Once you have your resource record open, and in edit mode, you are ready to add your archival object. An archival object is any unit of description below your collection level, i.e. Series, File, Item, depending on how you have arranged the collection. Click “Add Child” above the collection title information in the file tree area. Make sure the blue highlighted portion is actually what you want to add the archival object to. A new Archival Object record opens. This is the record for the description of your component, whether that is a Series, a File, an Item, etc.

2. Importing csv or spreadsheet data

For detailed instructions: See Houghton Processing Manual's section on importing using a spreadsheet

3. Importing EAD

(not supported at Houghton Library)

4. Using Rapid Data Entry to enter archival objects

(not effective in system as is)

Houghton Technical Services