Finding Aid Type Authority List

Calendar
scope note: A chronological list of individual documents, either selective or comprehensive, usually with a description providing such information as writer, recipient, date, place, summary of content, type of document, and page or leaf count.
source: SAA Glossary, 1992

Catalog
scope note: A listing of materials with descriptive details, usually arranged systematically. Catalogs are produced in a variety of formats, including book, card, microform, or electronic.
source: SAA Glossary, 1992

Container List
scope note: A listing of materials by container, meant to facilitate retrieval. A container list normally includes the title of the series or file, start and end of each container, and the inclusive dates of the materials contained therein. Also known as a box list.
source: SAA Glossary, 1992

Database
scope note: A structured assembly of logically related data, usually machine-readable data, designed to meet various applications but managed independently of them. A database may be designed to emulate any other finding aid type.
source: ICA Dictionary of Archival Terminology, 1984

Doc. Package
scope note: A compilation of materials that enables the user to understand the structure and/or content of the electronic records being described. A documentation package may include materials produced by the creator and/or NARA, such as a listing of the contents, data layouts, manuals, user notes, and publications.

Filing Plan
scope note: A classification plan or scheme for the physical arrangement, storage, and retrieval of files. A filing plan is often identified by the type of symbols used (e.g. alphabetical, numerical, alpha-numerical, decimal). Use for agency-created filing plans, not NARA-created finding aids.
source: SAA Glossary, 1992

Folder List
scope note: A list prepared by the creator or an archives or manuscript repository detailing the titles of folders contained in one or more records center cartons/containers or archives boxes/containers.
source: SAA Glossary, 1992

Index
scope note: A systematically arranged list providing access to the contents of a file, document, or groups of documents, consisting of entries giving enough information to trace or locate each entry by means of a page number or other symbol.
source: SAA Glossary, 1992

Inventory
scope note: Inventories only apply to Record Group or Collection descriptions. As a basic archival finding aid, an inventory generally includes a brief administrative history of the organization(s) as well as series descriptions of their records. Minimum descriptions generally include title, inclusive dates, quantity, arrangement, relationships to other series, and scope and content notes. Inventories may also include appendices that provide supplementary information such as container lists, folder lists, glossaries, etc.
In record management, an inventory is a listing of the volume,scope, and complexity of the records, usually compiled for the purpose of creating a records schedule.
Use for preliminary inventories
source: SAA Glossary, 1992

Item List
scope note: A finding aid listing all items or a selection of items from a record group, collection or series.

Log
scope note: A listing of sequential data, especially about activities or transactions that occur in a system.
Use for logbook.

Manuscript Register
scope note: The finding aid developed in the style of the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress to describe groups of papers and records by giving their provenance and conditions of access and use;scope and general content, including inclusive dates and bulk dates; a biographical note about the person, family group, or organization whose material it is; its arrangement; a folder list; and on occasion, selective indexes. Registers only apply to collection descriptions.
source: SAA Glossary, 1992

Other
scope note: Use if the finding aid type is not available in this list. Describe the finding aid type in the Finding Aid Note.

Prelim. Checklist
scope note: Use for archival materials that have been described in a preliminary checklist. A checklist is a list of documents prepared for the purposes of identification and control. Do not confuse with preliminary inventory, for which you should use inventory.
source: SAA Glossary, 1992

Register
scope note: A list, often in the form of a volume, of items, names, events, actions, etc. The entries are usually in numerical or chronological sequence. Registers often accomplish the legal function of providing evidence of facts and acts and may also serve as a finding aids to records, such as a register of letters sent.
source: SAA Glossary, 1992

Select List
scope note: A published finding aid listing items, such as textual documents, photographs, maps, etc., that bring together information from across record groups, collections, or series relating to a particular topic.

Shelf List
scope note: A list of the holdings in a library, records center, or archives, arranged in the order of the contents of each shelf.
source: SAA Glossary, 1992