The Rules of Archiving

Setting up a company archive may seem a daunting task but taking it one item, one production, one season at a time will make it more manageable. Set up an infrastructure from the outset for the collection of the data during the process and then create time in the schedule and/or after the production closes to tie up any loose ends.

As a reminder, here are our RULES OF ARCHIVING:

1. Identify Early
2. Identify Thoroughly
3. Save the Original
4. What to Keep
5. Be Consistent
6. Consider your Storage & Preservation Materials
7. Be Persistent
8. Share

Having an archive makes retrieving and sharing information much easier. It creates a history for your company, demonstrates the evolution of your work and contributes to the fabric of the community as a whole.

And we want to thank Arminda Thomas for sharing the American Theatre Archive Projects' archiving manual. It is a fantastic source.