SPEC Kit 314: Processing Decisions for Manuscripts &Archives · 153
Louisiana State University
Backlog and Prioritizing Processing Project
Assigning Processing Priority
If a collection has materials that are criteria in one or more level (high, medium, or low) assign it the
points for the highest rank (3, 2, or 1) that the bulk of the collection seems to fall into and add a ½ point
for each specific criteria from the lower ranks.
• High (3 points‐‐if collection meets one more of the following criteria)
o Assign 1 additional point for each one of the following criteria met:
Additional materials from a family whose papers are already processed
Majority is 20th century
Topically relates to (1 point for each)
African Americans
civil rights or desegregation
coast or environment
education
immigrant groups
oil and gas exploration and extraction
race relations
sugar growing and industry
tourism, marketing and image of Louisiana
urban development, neighborhoods, or physical or built environment
women
Significant portion (one quarter or more) French language materials
Preservation concerns
Donor promises with expired or approaching processing deadlines
• Medium (2 points‐‐if collection meets one or more of the following criteria)
o Assign 1 additional point for each one of the following criteria met.
War‐related collections
Plantation collections that do not include materials related to any of the topics
in the higher priorities’ criteria
Literary papers
• Low (1 point‐‐if collection meets one or more of the following criteria)
o Assign 1 additional point for each one of the following criteria met.
Faculty papers that do not include materials related to any of the topics in the
higher priorities’ criteria
Collections that do not meet any of the above criteria
Organizational records that do not include materials related to any of the topics
in the higher priorities’ criteria
Outside geographical focus of Louisiana and the Lower Mississippi Valley
Subtract a point for collections that are entirely photocopies or typescripts of originals we do not
own.
Louisiana State University
Backlog and Prioritizing Processing Project
Assigning Processing Priority
If a collection has materials that are criteria in one or more level (high, medium, or low) assign it the
points for the highest rank (3, 2, or 1) that the bulk of the collection seems to fall into and add a ½ point
for each specific criteria from the lower ranks.
• High (3 points‐‐if collection meets one more of the following criteria)
o Assign 1 additional point for each one of the following criteria met:
Additional materials from a family whose papers are already processed
Majority is 20th century
Topically relates to (1 point for each)
African Americans
civil rights or desegregation
coast or environment
education
immigrant groups
oil and gas exploration and extraction
race relations
sugar growing and industry
tourism, marketing and image of Louisiana
urban development, neighborhoods, or physical or built environment
women
Significant portion (one quarter or more) French language materials
Preservation concerns
Donor promises with expired or approaching processing deadlines
• Medium (2 points‐‐if collection meets one or more of the following criteria)
o Assign 1 additional point for each one of the following criteria met.
War‐related collections
Plantation collections that do not include materials related to any of the topics
in the higher priorities’ criteria
Literary papers
• Low (1 point‐‐if collection meets one or more of the following criteria)
o Assign 1 additional point for each one of the following criteria met.
Faculty papers that do not include materials related to any of the topics in the
higher priorities’ criteria
Collections that do not meet any of the above criteria
Organizational records that do not include materials related to any of the topics
in the higher priorities’ criteria
Outside geographical focus of Louisiana and the Lower Mississippi Valley
Subtract a point for collections that are entirely photocopies or typescripts of originals we do not
own.
