Archival processing manual

Processing paper-based archival collections at the Music Library is a component of the Keeper's portfolio. The Keeper sets archival processing priorities, and informs the Richard F. French Librarian of decisions.

Resources used in archival processing include:

A dashboard of archival processing is maintained in SharePoint (Isham → Archival collections → Paper-based archival collection dashboard.xlsx).

Before beginning the finding aid

Complete and submit the accession form.
Obtain a call number from the list in SharePoint (FAS-EKL Music-ITS → Call Number Schemes EKL → Interactive Call Number Sheets → Ms. Coll. numbers.xlsx).
Ask the Metadata Manager for the Loeb Music Library to create Connexion and Alma records. These relate to the collection as a whole and as they are generated before the finding aid is created they may need to be updated after the finding aid is complete. Do not remove fields or alter them substantially without consulting the Senior Music Cataloger.
If substantial preservation or rehousing work will be required, perform this before processing commences or have a workflow in place to address preservation and rehousing issues as they are encountered.

Create a finding aid

A finding aid may need some or all of following front matter elements.

Processing Information

Processed by: Sarah Adams and Douglas Freundlich. These are the people who did the heavy lifting of sorting and describing. We are still migrating Word-based finding aids to ArchivesSpace; eventually, this information will no longer be required.

Finding aid encoded by Christina Linklater. This is the person who migrated the Word document to ArchivesSpace.

Access Restrictions

Access to the collection is unrestricted. It's very unusual that we'll do something other than this.

Preferred Citation

call number. title. Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Library, Harvard University.

Biographical and Historical Note

Otto Gombosi (1902-1955) was an American musicologist of Hungarian birth. After settling in the United States in 1939, Gombosi held positions at the University of Washington at Seattle (1940-46), Chicago (1949-510 and Harvard University (1951-55). Following his 1925 dissertation on Obrecht, Gombosi did extensive work on Renaissance vocal polyphony, transcribing for the first time the works of many of Obrecht’s contemporaries. He also explored lute music of the Renaissance, culminating in a monograph on Bálint Bakfark and an edition of the Vincenzo Capirola Lutebook. Perhaps his greatest contribution to scholarship was his concern with musical structure, evident in the notes, diagrams and annotations that pervade the transcriptions found in this collection. Adapted from F.W. Sternfeld. "Gombosi, Otto." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of 58 folders. Some contain notes and transcriptions organized by subject area, for example fifteenth century basse danse, ground bass patterns, lute sources, or particular composers such as Bakfark and Capirola; other folders are assigned to specific print or manuscript sources, and contain Gombosi’s inventories, incipits and transcriptions.

Index Terms

The following catalog entries represent persons, organizations, and topics documented in this collection. An entry for each appears in the Harvard On Line Information System (HOLLIS) and other automated databases. Be sure to check each heading against the Library of Congress Name Authorities: http://authorities.loc.gov/

Abondante, Giulio, active 1546-1587

Agricola, Martin, 1486-1556

Albrecht, Hans, 1919-

Arena, Antoine, approximately 1508-approximately 1563

Bach, Johann Sebastian, 1685-1750

And this is where we'll put the subject headings; again, the Music Cataloguer will take care of assigning these, so this can be left blank until after the catalogue record has been created.

Part songs -- 15th century -- Scores and parts.

Part songs -- 16th century -- Scores and parts.

Lute music.

Vihuela music.

Dance music -- 16th century.

Music -- Manuscripts.

Spreadsheet import

If you are unable to import from a spreadsheet, troubleshoot accordingly:

An eadid is required in each row.
Start with menu selector so you get exactly what ASpace wants.
Dates must be normalized a la EAD in Date (1) Type.
Container Instance type must match AS menu, e.g. Mixed Materials not Mixed materials (note capitalization).
Upload workflow is: Load from Spreadsheet → Select File → Import Archival Objects → Import.

A one-hour recording of a training session on importing from spreadsheet is available in the Isham OneDrive, here: https://hu.sharepoint.com/:f:/s/FAS-EKL_Music/Enkz07LA1gdbud-qfBp983IB0Pn4S6dwz25gi4KsFRwYLg

Publicize the collection

At a minimum, report the collection to Wikipedia and Grove music online. Also consider sharing it on the Music Library's blog and social media accounts.

Miscellaneous notes

The Harvard Depository's storage fees are calculated per barcode, not per linear foot.

Isham Memorial Library