The import of the archival principles and beyond

The first decade of the Society of American Archivists

Abstract

This article explores how European-based archival principles and methodologies were accepted, interpreted,and applied in the American archival community around the formative years of the Society of American Archivists, based on the analysis of the records of the National Archives and Records Administration. It was after the establishment of the National Archives in 1934 that the concept of respect des fonds began to be studied in earnest. The staff of the Archives devised the Record Group concept, taking into consideration the status of the U.S. federal government records. In the finding aids of the Record Groups, they respect and describe the filing schemes that were used during the current stage of the records. The principle of respect des fonds was interpreted and used as a practical solution in order to enhance the description of and access to the federal records that began to be transferred enmasse.