Hello! I am a brand-new curator for a county museum, in charge of both object and archival collections. I've just received a somewhat large collection from a donor containing both 3D objects and papers and I have processed the majority of the collection, barring the documents. In the past, from what I can see, the people working here have accessioned every single scrap of paper individually (using a three-number system, so that collection X might be numbered 06.01.01, 06.01.02, etc) and usually placed each individual paper in its own archival folder. While this system has its points, I find it somewhat inefficient. I'm using PastPerfect 4.0 to accession. What I would like to start doing with this collection is give the papers a single number in the accession record (like 06.06.45) and then create a separate index/container list to put physically in the boxes and in that field in PP's archives section. (If I have the time I might create a more thorough finding aid; at this point, I just want to know briefly what we have in this collection.) Does that make sense? Am I just creating more headaches for myself and future curators who work here down the line? I feel like I'm opening myself up for all sorts of new problems, but I also really, really dislike the old system. I'm one person with a few volunteers; we really don't have time to go item-by-item. Any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated (and if this topic has come up before on the listserv, please point me to the right place; I couldn't find anything when I searched). Thanks, Marcella D. Wiget Curator of Collections Reno County Museum/Kansas Underground Salt Museum 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. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname *or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES To post a message, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html Problems? Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <[log in to unmask]>