The National Archives Catalog

Dates of Records End Date

Mandatory	Repeatable	Data Type	Authority	Level Available	A/V Only	Public Element
Yes*	No	Date	None	Record Group Collection Series File Unit Item	No	Yes

*Dates of Records End Date is mandatory at the Series Level only.

Definition:	The end of the time period the records themselves were created. In many, but not all cases, this end date may be the same as the end date of the Dates of Recordkeeping and/or is the same as the end date of the time period covered by the subject(s) of the archival materials.

Purpose:	Enables users to retrieve and sort record groups, collections, or archival materials by the time period the records themselves were created. Distinguishes the time period of when the records themselves were created from the Dates of Recordkeeping or the time period of the subject of the records. The Dates of Recordkeeping are the dates (the time period) when the record group, collection, or materials was created, maintained, or accumulated.

Relationship:	This element and Dates of Records Start Date are dependent on each other. If Dates of Records End Date is specified, then Dates of Records Start Date must be created. Dates of Records End Date Qualifier is dependent on this element. To have Dates of Records End Date Qualifier, Dates of Records End Date must be created.

Guidance:	SERIES LEVEL Enter the last date on which the records themselves were created. Do not use the Dates of Records to capture the dates of the subjects of the records. Information about the time span of the subject of the records can be conveyed by a. Adding a Topical Subject to convey a historical event. If you can’t find the event, propose a new Topical Subject. b. Adding the information to the Date Note, the Scope and Content Note, or even a General Note to add clarity. Dates of Recordkeeping Versus Dates of Records Dates of Records comprises the time period the records themselves were created. In many, but not all cases, this time period is the same as the time period covered by the subject(s) of the archival materials. Dates of Recordkeeping comprise the time period during which the record group, collection, or series was created, maintained, accumulated as a unified filing system by the creator because of some relationship arising out of the records creation, receipt, or use. ALL LEVELS When the Date Span is Only One Specific Date If the date is a specific day (02/11/1969), month (02/1969), or year (1969), enter the date in Dates of Records Start Date and then repeat the same specific date in Dates of Records End Date. When the Date Span is One of Two Years If the date is one of two years (1953 or 1954), then enter the first year (1953) in Dates of Records Start Date, enter the second year (1954) in Dates of Records End Date, and use the "ca." in Dates of Records Start Date Qualifier and Dates of Records End Date Qualifier. When the Date Span is Several Years If the dates fall between several years (1826-1835), then enter the earliest possible date (1826) in Dates of Records Start Date, enter the latest possible date (1835) in Dates of Records End Date, and use the "ca." in Dates of Records Start Date Qualifier and Dates of Records End Date Qualifier. When the Date Span is a Decade When describing a decade as a date span, enter the first year of the decade (1920) in Dates of Records Start Date, enter the last year of the decade (1929) in Dates of Records End Date, and use the "ca." in Dates of Records Start Date Qualifier and Dates of Records End Date Qualifier. When the Date Span is a Century When describing a century as a date span, enter the first year of the century (1700) in Dates of Records Start Date, enter the last year of the century (1799) in Dates of Records End Date, and use the "ca." in Dates of Records Start Date Qualifier and Dates of Records End Date Qualifier. Dates Before the Year 1000 For dates before the year 1000, including B.C. dates, leave this field blank and explain 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. Multiple Dates If multiple date elements are used in a description at the Record Group, Collection, or Series Level, it is no longer required to explain the distinctions in Date Note as differences in the values are expected.

Examples:

A series of reports about the U.S. Civil War written in 1900, would have: Dates of Recordkeeping Start Date - 1900 Dates of Recordkeeping End Date - 1900 Dates of Records Start Date - 1900 Dates of Records End Date - 1900 Date Note/Scope and Content Note (Optional) - These reports describe the U.S. Civil War during the period of 1861-1865. Topical Subject (Optional) - American Civil War, 1861-1865

A series with records dated 1965-1980 from an Office of General Counsel that was established in 1970. The records dated prior to 1970 are only copies of public laws, which the Office collected during their normal activities. Dates of Recordkeeping Start Date - 1970 Dates of Recordkeeping End Date - 1980 Dates of Records Start Date - 1965 Dates of Records End Date - 1980 Date Note (Optional) - The records dated prior to 1970 are copies of public laws that date back to 1965. Topical Subject (Optional) - Laws, statutes, etc.

The date range of the records are 1954-1960 and the creating organization existed between 1955-1963: Dates of Recordkeeping Start Date - 1955 Dates of Recordkeeping End Date - 1960 Dates of Records Start Date - 1954 Dates of Records End Date - 1960 Date Note (Optional) - Although the series began in 1955, there are a few documents dating back to 1954. There are no records for 1957-1958.

A series includes budget estimates for future fiscal years 1965-1968 that were created in 1963-1967. Dates of Recordkeeping Start Date - 1963 Dates of Recordkeeping End Date - 1967 Dates of Records Start Date - 1963 Dates of Records End Date - 1967 Date Note/Scope and Content Note (Optional) - The series includes budget estimates for fiscal years 1965-1968, which were created in 1963-1967. Arrangement note - Arranged by the budget estimate’s fiscal year.

A series from a temporary commission that existed from July 1, 1982 thru December 31, 1984. The records include the final report was submitted to Congress and the President in January 1985; some reports collected from agencies dating back to 1975; and the other administrative records like agenda and meeting minutes. Dates of Recordkeeping Start Date - 1982 Dates of Recordkeeping End Date - 1984 Dates of Records Start Date - 1975 Dates of Records End Date - 1/1985 Date Note (Optional) - Although the documents were collected and maintained from 1982-1984, the series contains some records dating back to 1975 and the final report that was published and submitted to Congress in January 1985.

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