archival principles

Archival principles are guidelines for selecting, preserving, and providing access to records that have long-term value. They focus on maintaining the authenticity, integrity, and context of materials, ensuring future users can trust and understand them. Key concepts include appraisal (determining what’s worth keeping), provenance (keeping records of their origin and history), and original order (respecting the way records were organized initially). Overall, these principles help ensure valuable information is preserved accurately over time, supporting research, accountability, and cultural heritage.