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

from a particular perspective.^The only limits to research
questions would be the parameters of the functions and activities
of the records creator in question. Users unfamiliar with how
their research questions relate to these functions and activities
need to be provided with meaningful intellectual access through
the construction of logically designed indexes that link
functions, forms, names, and subjects to the fonds of specific
records creators.
In the various traditions studied, many archivists
acknowledge the problem of identifying value, and recommend the
formulation of an objective framework for appraisal in order to
limit the inevitable distortion that occurs in the appraisal
process. Questions surrounding such an objective framework are
captured in the troubling debate that pits pertinence against
provenance as the primary tool of appraisal. The essence of the
debate is captured in the objections of Fritz Zimmerman. He
argues that the use of provenance to identify value results in a
skewed selection of records that serves primarily the interests
of traditional political and military history. To broaden the
focus of selection, Zimmerman advocates the use of content
analysis of the records to identify significant subject areas
which are able to provide answers to more comprehensive research
questions.
One problem with Zimmerman's argument is the fact that the
Application of provenance he objects to is, in effect, a
camouflaged content analysis. Administrative units are evaluated
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