Materials created or received by a person, family, or organization, public or private, in the conduct of their life or affairs and preserved because of the enduring value contained in the information they contain or as evidence of the functions and responsibilities of their creator. Usually maintained following theprinciples of provenance, original order, and collective control. Materials,which may be in any media, are normally unpublished, unlike books and other publications. The term 'collection' may also refer to materials that have been artificially gathered together and described collectively, rather than being generated from one source. The term 'fonds' is widely used, particularly in Europe, Australia and Canada, to describe a collection of papers that originate from the same source. An alternative term used is 'record group'. [ - ]

Materials created or received by a person, family, or organization, public or private, in the... [ + ]