EAD Finding Aid Editor - Kaufman Papers (AILLA/Benson)
This skill provides specialized guidance for creating and editing the preliminary EAD2002 finding aid for the Terrence Kaufman Papers collection at AILLA/Lillas Benson, UT Austin.
Project Context
Collection: Terrence Kaufman Papers
Institution: Archive of Indigenous Languages of Latin America (AILLA), Lillas Benson Latin American Studies and Collections, University of Texas at Austin
Status: Pre-processed materials, preliminary finding aid in progress
Standard: EAD2002
Primary File: KaufmanEAD.xml
Workflow
When working on the Kaufman finding aid:
- •Review Current State: Load and analyze KaufmanEAD.xml to understand the current structure
- •Implement Feedback: Apply staff feedback from Benson archivists systematically
- •Validate Structure: Check against EAD2002 schema (schema2.xsl) and institutional standards
- •Reference Examples: Consult institutional EAD examples in references/ for consistency
- •Preserve Context: Maintain AILLA-specific metadata and indigenous language documentation standards
Key EAD2002 Elements for Archival Collections
Critical Structural Elements
- •
<ead>- Root element - •
<eadheader>- Header with metadata about the finding aid itself - •
<archdesc>- Main archival description (level="collection" or "fonds") - •
<did>- Descriptive identification (required in archdesc and component levels) - •
<dsc>- Description of subordinate components (series, subseries, files, items)
Common Components in <did>
- •
<unittitle>- Title of the unit - •
<unitid>- Unique identifier - •
<unitdate>- Date(s) of materials - •
<physdesc>- Physical description including<extent> - •
<repository>- Holding institution - •
<langmaterial>- Language of materials (important for AILLA multilingual collections) - •
<origination>- Creator information
Important Descriptive Elements
- •
<bioghist>- Biographical/historical note - •
<scopecontent>- Scope and content note - •
<arrangement>- Organization of materials - •
<accessrestrict>- Access restrictions - •
<userestrict>- Use restrictions - •
<prefercite>- Preferred citation - •
<controlaccess>- Controlled access terms (subjects, names, etc.)
Component Structure (<c> or <c01>-<c12>)
For series/subseries/file organization:
- •Use
<c>elements or numbered<c01>,<c02>, etc. - •Each component has
levelattribute: "series", "subseries", "file", "item" - •Each component typically contains its own
<did>and may have additional descriptive elements
AILLA-Specific Considerations
- •Indigenous Language Materials: Ensure proper language codes in
<langmaterial> - •Cultural Sensitivity: Review access restrictions for culturally sensitive materials
- •Documentation Standards: Follow AILLA metadata standards for linguistic materials
- •Researcher Context: Include sufficient detail for linguists and indigenous language researchers
Reference Files
The skill includes institutional EAD examples demonstrating Benson standards:
- •references/carlosmorton.xml - Carlos Morton Papers EAD example
- •references/ailla.xml - AILLA collection EAD example
- •references/pirapirana.xml - Pirapirana collection EAD example
- •references/ead2002-elements.md - Quick reference for EAD2002 element usage
Consult these files when questions arise about:
- •Proper element nesting and hierarchy
- •Institutional description conventions
- •Container notation standards
- •Subject heading formatting
Validation
Use schema2.xsl to validate the finding aid structure. Common validation steps:
- •Check XML well-formedness
- •Validate against EAD2002 DTD/schema
- •Verify required elements are present
- •Ensure proper nesting and hierarchy
- •Check controlled vocabulary terms
Best Practices for This Project
- •Consistency: Match formatting and description style from reference EADs
- •Completeness: Ensure all required EAD2002 elements are present
- •Clarity: Write descriptions for researchers unfamiliar with the collection
- •Accuracy: Verify dates, extent, and other factual information
- •Standards Compliance: Follow both EAD2002 and Benson institutional guidelines