Fonds

Fonds is an archival term used to describe the whole of the records, regardless of form or medium, created, accumulated, and used by a particular individual, family, or organization in the conduct of their personal or corporate activities. The term is derived from the French word for "fund" or "collection."

Definition and Characteristics

A fonds is distinguished from other archival groupings by its origin and the principle of provenance. The principle of provenance dictates that records created by different entities should not be intermingled. Instead, they should be kept together to preserve their context and original order, which is essential for understanding their meaning and significance.

Components of a Fonds

A fonds can include a variety of materials such as:

• Correspondence
• Manuscripts
• Photographs
• Reports
• Financial records
• Maps
• Audio-visual materials

Levels of Arrangement

The arrangement of a fonds typically follows a hierarchical structure:

• Fonds - The highest level, representing the entire body of records.
• Series - Subdivisions within the fonds, grouping records by function or type.
• Sub-series - Further subdivisions within a series.
• Files - Groupings of related documents within a series or sub-series.
• Items - Individual documents or records.

Importance in Archival Science

The concept of fonds is fundamental in archival science as it ensures the integrity and context of records are maintained. This is crucial for researchers who rely on the authenticity and original order of records to conduct their work.

Related Concepts

• Archival description
• Archival processing
• Finding aid
• Record group
• Series (archival science)

See Also

• Archives
• Records management
• Document management system
• Information governance