A STUDY OF THE THEORY OF APPRAISAL FOR SELECTION By ...

problems such as the availability of staff, equipment, storage
and finances will not be dealt with. Although these factors are
central to a repository's ability to preserve records, they are
conceptually separate from the intellectual process by which
records are selected for preservation. Given limited financial
resources, an archivist may decide to override theoretical
concerns by practical ones. But, mingling the two very different
types of concerns further muddies the already murky waters.
Second, the thesis will focus only on appraisal for selection,
and will not investigate appraisal for acquisition. Because of
the breadth of the topic of appraisal, and the confusion and
debate that exists within the archival community surrounding its
basic concepts, this study will lay the groundwork for further
study on the entire subject. Third, the meaning of the term
value will be circumscribed. Because value is a relative term
that is ascribed to records, the term will only be used when a
perspective is involved, such as the perspective of an
aldministrator, researcher or archivist. The term archival value
is often used in appraisal literature to refer to the organic,
authentic and impartial nature of records. In order to clarify
the discussion, the use of the term in this sense will be
avoided; for, the nature of archives is not relative to any
perspective, but is inherent in the records themselves, and is
logically derived from the creation process. It is the creation
process within an administratively accountable context that
results in the probative use of archival records for legal or
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