EAD Tag Library for Version 1.0

EAD Elements: <ead> Encoded Archival Description

Description:

The outermost wrapper element for an information access tool known generically as a finding aid. Also referred to more specifically as an inventory or register, a finding aid establishes physical and intellectual control over many types of archival materials and helps researchers understand and access the materials being described. The <ead> element defines a particular instance of a document encoded with the EAD Document Type Definition. It contains a required <eadheader>, optional <frontmatter>, and <archdesc> elements, in that order.

The AUDIENCE attribute value may be set to "external" to display data in all subelements, unless the value is changed for a specific element.

A separate Document Type Definition called EAD Group can be used to bundle <ead> finding aids that describe different parts of a collection that have been dispersed among various administrative bodies. See the <eadgrp> element description for additional information.

May contain:

archdesc, eadheader, frontmatter

May occur within:

dscgrp

Attributes:

ALTRENDER	#IMPLIED, CDATA
AUDIENCE	#IMPLIED, external, internal
ID	#IMPLIED, ID
RELATEDENCODING	#IMPLIED, CDATA

Example:

The following elements constitute the minimum set of elements for an EAD instance. Although the Description of Subordinate Components <dsc> is not required, if it is used its level attribute must be set.

<ead>
<eadheader>
<eadid>[...]</eadid>
<filedesc>
<titlestmt>
<titleproper>[...]</titleproper>
</titlestmt>
</filedesc>
</eadheader>
<archdesc level="fonds">
<did>[...]</did>
<dsc type="combined">[...]</dsc>
</archdesc>
</ead>

Table of Contents

Home
Page Acknowledgments Introduction EAD Design
Principles Overview of
EAD Structure Tag Library
Conventions EAD Attributes EAD Elements
by Tag Name Index of
EAD Element Names

Go to:

Table of Contents
Home Page	Acknowledgments	Introduction	EAD Design Principles	Overview of EAD Structure	Tag Library Conventions	EAD Attributes	EAD Elements by Tag Name	Index of EAD Element Names