Biographical or Historical Note

Generally, MC collections will feature a Biographical Note; while AC collections will have an Historical Note.

The function of this description is to provide historical and other descriptive information about an individual or administrative unit. It supplements the scope and content by providing a comprehensive picture of the person or organization. (The scope and content note only describes the information represented in the collection or what is conspicuously absent).

Finding aids will be available in electronic form to a global audience, so identify Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)  specifically in descriptions, and also avoid abbreviations that may not make sense to researchers outside of the Institute.

Authoritative sources for biographies and historical notes are personnel records, MIT News Office articles, resumes or vitae, and biographical information in the collection itself. The MIT Annual Report to the President and department reports are also generally reliable. Use information in outside obituaries only if 3 agree on information. Information on MIT web sites (other than News Office) should be confirmed with another source.

Cite your sources: To use endnotes, number the notes and put them at the end of the narrative text.  Within the narrative text itself, use the following syntax for referring to notes: (1)

Use Chicago Manual of Style.

The length of biography or history should be appropriate to the size and significance of the collection. If it seems appropriate, a fuller biography can be written or included in a fully processed collection. Do not duplicate work writing a biography or history however – if a MIT News Office obituary or article exists put in a link to that web page or digitized article.

Initial Biography (Faculty Papers)

Write a summary paragraph that can stand alone, later subsequent paragraphs can be added to enhance as appropriate.

• Name and birth/death span or if person is still alive use this phrase: name, born 1911,
• last academic title at MIT (use title given in the News Office or department retirement or obituary notices, or staff directory)
• academic degrees in order
• academic appointments at MIT
• administrative service at MIT
• URL for MIT News Office memorial

Examples

Example 1: William Ted Martin Biographical Note

William Ted Martin, 1911-2004, was Professor of Mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received a BA, 1930 from the University of Arkansas, MA, 1931, PhD, 1934, from the University of Illinois; was appointed an instructor at MIT in 1936 and assistant professor in 1938. After three years at Syracuse University, he returned to MIT as a full professor in 1946. He served as head of the Department of Mathematics, 1947 to 1968; chairman of the faculty, 1969 to 1971; and director of the Division of Study and Research in Education, from 1973 to 1975.

MIT News Office memorial: http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2004/martin.html

Example 2: Harold Eugene Edgerton

Initial Biography

Harold Eugene Edgerton, 1903-1990, was professor of electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He earned a BS degree in 1926, University of Nebraska; SM 1927 and ScD 1931 in electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). At MIT he was professor of electrical engineering, 1928 to 1966; Institute Professor, 1966 to 1968; and Institute Professor emeritus, 1968 to 1990.

Fuller Biography

Harold E. Edgerton, 1903-1990, was professor of electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He earned a BS degree in 1926, University of Nebraska; SM, 1927, and ScD, 1931, in electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). At MIT he was professor of electrical engineering, 1928 to 1966; Institute Professor, 1966 to 1968; and Institute Professor emeritus, 1968 to 1990.

Harold Edgerton perfected the stroboscope and developed photographic techniques that allowed very rapid events to be observed and captured on film. He also developed techniques for underwater exploration, using sonar devices and flash photography, and participated in many oceanographic and archaeological expeditions.

In 1947, with former students Kenneth J. Germeshausen and Herbert E. Grier, he formed Edgerton, Germeshausen and Grier, Inc. Now known as EG&G, the company specializes in electronic technology.

The Edgerton Center was started at MIT in 1992 and it carries on the legacy of "Doc" Edgerton's teaching career.

http://web.mit.edu/edgerton/

See National Academy of Sciences, Biographical Memoirs, volume 86, 2005 for a full Edgerton biography.

Historical Note for Administrative Records

The Technology and Development Program was established at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1971, with a grant from the United States Agency for International Development (AID) to work in developing countries. The program continues to assist with projects worldwide to facilitate the establishment of research based science and technology infrastructure.

http://web.mit.edu/mit-tdp/www/about-TDP.html

Director, Heads List

Use if applicable. In ArchivesSpace use the “Add Sub Note” feature and for “Note Type” choose chronology which will place years to left and name of person/event to right.