Definition

Descriptive tool containing information that establishes control over records and facilitates their retrieval.

Source: Canadian Council of Archives. Appendix D: Glossary. http://archivescanada.ca/uploads/files/Publications/RADComplete_July2008.pdf.

Introduction

Finding aids are research guides that provide descriptive information about archival fonds and collections held by archival repositories. The University Archives publishes finding aids in its online Archives Catalogue.

Each finding aid includes a description of the fonds or collection as a whole. Many finding aids also provide detailed information about groups or “series” of records within the fonds, and information about individual files or items in each series.

Related terms

Arrangement

Collection

Finding aid

Level of arrangement

Fonds

Series

Item