Definition

A level established during the analysis and identification of documents making up a unit of archival material.

Source: Canadian Council of Archives. Rules for Archival Description, Glossary. Ottawa: Canadian Council of Archives (2008).

Introduction

Fonds can be sub-divided into complex hierarchical structures.  They are usually divided into series, sub-series, files, and items. An arrangement structure for the fonds must be established before any materials can be described.

Related terms

Fonds

Collection

Sous-fonds

Series (level of arrangement)

Sub-series

File

Item

Part