Hello list,

Having recently worked in a University Archive that recently upgraded to Past Perfect after it held an old version of Past Perfect, I can tell you that it can be modified quite nicely to work for an archival facility. My former colleague, the University Archivist at New Mexico State University, has benefitted greatly through the purchase of this software.  Although some of the fields were not well suited for necessary accessioning initially, our work group was able to figure out a method in which to migrate accession data that was consistent throughout and allowed the staff better means to search for materials.  The accession system also allowed for greater level of detail when completing the records.  Through the assistance of a very capable student worker, the project was nearly complete after I left this position back in New Mexico last month.

The best thing about PP on another account, I felt, is its ability to cross-reference materials, and provide a possible means to construct finding aids.   One can add the extra features with the initial software license, which is very reasonably priced.  For facilities with large backlogs, this level of description is most helpful when coordinating the assessment/appraisal stage of processing manuscript collections.    Also, in my new position as Archivist working at the National Guard Bureau in the Washington DC area, I will also be using Past Perfect to catalog state histories of the Army National Guard.  Knowing how the software works, it will be a great benefit to our work section.

Hope that helps.

Bill Boehm
Archivist, National Guard Bureau, Public Affairs (NGB-PA-H)
1411 Jefferson Davis Hwy.
Arlington VA 22202
(703) 607-2558
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-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: Susan D'Entremont <[log in to unmask]> 

Please post answers to the list.  I am curious about this also.

Thanks.





From: Archives & Archivists [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Sharon Pullen
Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2006 2:28 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: College & University Archives



Listers, Can those of you who are college or university archivists, let me kno= w if you use Past Perfect? I am under the impression that it is for small = historical societies/museums where artifacts are the bulk of the collection. I know Past Perfect has library and archive modules, but isn't a product like FileMaker Pro or MS Access more commonly used in archives? I am consulting for a college and want to recommend the software that= is the academic archival world's "industry standard". Thanks all, Sharon A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org. For the terms of participation, please refer to http://www.archivists.org/listservs/arch_listserv_terms.asp. 
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      In body of message:  SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname
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     http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html

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