As part of an effort to benefit users, Graduate Assistants at the Albert Gore, Sr., Research Center organize collections and prepare finding aids.  This activity is called "processing." Since acquiring and processing collections are important aspects of the archive, it seems useful to describe the steps that are involved.

The Gore Center acquires its collections through donations from alumni and other interested individuals. When a collection is received, a graduate assistant inventories the contents. When the donor signs a deed of gift, he or she receives a copy of the deed of gift with a copy of the inventory attached.

The next step is processing the collection to make it usable for researchers. In this step, the processor often discovers some type of arrangement made by the original creator. Usually, the items are grouped together by type of item or the content of the material. This grouping forms the series in the collection. If no discernible order exists, the processor organizes the materials in the way that makes them most useful. The processor then places all items in acid-free archival folders and boxes. Sometimes, the items in the donated collection may also need to be flattened or encapsulated with mylar in order to help preserve the materials.

After organizing and rehousing the collection, the processor develops a finding aid. This guide usually serves as an overview of the collection and includes the size and type of materials, date range, biographical sketch, a scope and content note, series descriptions, and a file or container listing of items.

Over the past Fall semester and the current Spring semester, Graduate Assistant, Kevin Cason, has processed and prepared guides for five collections. They are:

 Eugene Holloway Sloan Collection

 William Beasley Collection

Buford Ellington Collection 

Vickie L. Riggan Collection

Currently, Kevin is processing the James Gillespie papers, while Graduate Assistant Heather Bailey is processing the Mabel and Homer Pittard Collection, John Jay Hooker Collection, and Community Collection, and making corrections to the guides for the Warden and Hoover Collections.

  Back to Newsletter Index