The National Archives Catalog

Copyright Date

Mandatory Repeatable Data Type Authority Level Available A/V Only Public Element
No Yes Date None Item No Yes

 

Definition:

The date on which the item was copyrighted. (A copyright date does not mean an item is still copyrighted.)

 

Purpose: Provides contextual information and serves as an access point to allow users to retrieve and sort items by copyright date.

 

Relationship: This element is independent, but to have Copyright Date Qualifier, Copyright Date must be created.

 

Guidance:

Enter the date on which the item was copyrighted.

Use Copyright Date Qualifier to indicate an uncertain or approximate date.

It is not necessary to explain any distinction between Copyright Date and other date elements in Date Note.

Date Form
Enter the date in MM/DD/YYYY form.
If the day is unknown, enter the month and year in the MM/YYYY form.
If the month is unknown, enter the year in the YYYY form.
Do not use 00 as a month or day.

 

Examples:

 

01/23/1935

 

01/1935

 

1935


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