The Robert Honeyman Jr. Collection Digital Archive: EAD and the Use of Library and Museum Descriptive Standards

ISSN： 1042-1467

Source： Archives and Museum Informatics, Vol.12, Iss.3-4, 1998-01, pp. : 205-219

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Abstract

The emergence of Encoded Archival Description (EAD) has led to increased access to primary source materials such as personal and corporate papers, and government archives. Though initially developed to electronically encode such paper-based archives, EAD is now being explored as a tool for cataloging large collections of primary source visual materials, such as photographs and works of art, and making them accessible on the internet. The Honeyman Collection Digital Archive project, carried out by The Bancroft Library at the University of California at Berkeley, was one of the first large collections of primary source visual materials to be fully cataloged and encoded using EAD. In cataloging the collection, the project sought to incorporate cross-community descriptive standards and practices, as well as providing highly detailed records for each item in the collection. This paper will describe that project and the standards that were employed. The resulting digital archive has demonstrated that EAD is a viable option for handling large collections of primary source visual materials, and that implementation of shared standards and practices is possible and can move us closer to the goal of improved access.</p>