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Level of Description is the hierarchical level of the component being described. It a controlled value list in ArchivesSpace, based on EAD, and is a required field.

LevelDefinitionUsage
CollectionA set of archival or (more commonly) manuscript materials.1 
Series

  1. A group of similar records that are arranged according to a filing system and that are related as the result of being created, received, or used in the same activity; a file group; a record series.

  2.  A group of items, each with its own title, also bearing a collective title for the group as a whole.2

 
Sub-SeriesA body of documents within a series readily distinguished from the whole by filing arrangement, type, form, or content.3 
FileA group of documents related by use or topic, typically housed in a folder (or a group of folders for a large file).4 
Item

A thing that can be distinguished from a group and that is complete in itself. An item may consist of several pieces but is treated as a whole.5

 
Other Level  
ClassThe highest or root element in a hierarchy.6Not in use.
FondsThe entire body of records of an organization, family, or individual that have been created and accumulated as the result of an organic process reflecting the functions of the creator.7Not in use.
Sub-Fonds Not in use.
Record GroupA collection of records that share the same provenance or were created in the same administrative unit.8Not in use.
Sub-GroupA body of related records within a record group or collection, each corresponding to an administrative subdivision in the originating organization.9Not in use.

References

  1. Society of American Archivists, “Collection,” in Dictionary of Archival Terminology, https://dictionary.archivists.org/entry/collection.html.
  2. SAA, “Series,” in Dictionary of Archival Terminology, https://dictionary.archivists.org/entry/series.html.
  3. SAA, “Subseries,” in Dictionary of Archival Terminology, https://dictionary.archivists.org/entry/subseries.html.
  4. SAA, “File,” in Dictionary of Archival Terminology, https://dictionary.archivists.org/entry/file.html.
  5. SAA, “Item,” in Dictionary of Archival Terminology, https://dictionary.archivists.org/entry/item.html.
  6. SAA, “Class,” in Dictionary of Archival Terminology, https://dictionary.archivists.org/entry/class.html.
  7. SAA, “Fonds,” in Dictionary of Archival Terminology, https://dictionary.archivists.org/entry/fonds.html.
  8. SAA, “Record Group,” in Dictionary of Archival Terminology, https://dictionary.archivists.org/entry/record-group.html.
  9. SAA, “Subgroup,” in Dictionary of Archival Terminology, https://dictionary.archivists.org/entry/subgroup.html.

Content Reference

DACS: Chapter 1. Level of Description 

EAD: @level

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MIT. Libraries. Distinctive Collections.
Archives Processing Manual.