Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Overview

The following is an overview of the EAD document structure presented in outline form. It reflects changes through the Los Angeles Meeting, January 4-6, 1996.

Elements of description are enclosed in angle brackets, e.g., <archdesc>. Within each part, subelements are indented under the element that contains them. Elements at the same level share the same indentation.

NOTE: NOT ALL ELEMENTS AND STRUCTURE ARE REPRESENTED! THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL REPRESENTATION OF EAD. FOR AN OFFICIAL REPRESENTATION OF EAD, SEE THE DTD AND TAG LIBRARY.

<ead>

<eadheader>

Required. Provides descriptive identification of the encoded archival description or finding aid.

<filedesc> file description

<profiledesc> profile description

<revisiondesc> revision description

<frontmatter>

Optional. Provides title page and other front matter for formal publishing of the finding aid.

<findaid>

Required. The finding aid proper.

<archdesc> archival description

Required. Provides main structural elements in the description of the archival unit.

<did> descriptive identification

Required. Provides information needed to identify the archival unit being described.

<unittitle> unit title

<unitdate> unit date

<extent> extent

<origination> origination, e.g., collector, photographer, etc.

<repository>

<unitloc> unit location

<unitid> unit identification

<note> general note

<admininfo> administrative information

<accessrestrict> access restrictions

<acqinfo> acquisitions information

<altformavail> alternative form available

<custodhist> custodial history

<prefercite> preferred citation

<processinfo> processing information

<userestrict> use restrictions

<note>

<bioghist> biography/history

<chronlist> chronological list

<controlaccess> controlled access

<corpname>

<famname>

<genreform>

<geogname>

<name>

<occupation>

<persname>

<subject>

<odd> other descriptive data

<note> general note

<scopecontent> scope and content

<arrangement>

<organization>

<dsc> descriptions of subordinate components

<c> component [description]

<did>

<admininfo>

<bioghist>

<controlaccess>

<odd>

<note>

<scopecontent>

<dsc>

<c>

<c>

<did>

<admininfo>

<bioghist>

<controlaccess>

<odd>

<note>

<scopecontent>

<dsc>

<c>

<add> adjunct to descriptive data

Optional. Provides for adjuncts to the descriptive information. This is information that will assist in the use of the archival material, but is not itself archival description.

<bibliography>

<fileplan>

<index>

<relatedmaterial>

<separatedmaterial>

</ead>

Copyright © 1996.All rights reserved.
Document maintained at http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/FindingAids/ by the SunSITE Manager.
Last update 1/8/95. SunSITE Manager: manager@sunsite.berkeley.edu