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

principle of pertinence is commonly understood to identify
records containing informational value.
The principle of provenance, on the other hand, uses a
structural analysis of records to identify the relationship that
exists between the records and the records' creator. Structural
analysis assumes that the content and organization of the records
mirror the functions and activities of the creator. The
principle of provenance is commonly understood to identify
records containing evidential value. The principles of
pertinence and provenance are generally used in conjunction with
one another.
The modern explosion of recorded information has exposed
traditional appraisal procedures as bereft of intellectual
clarity. Archivists such as Helen Samuels question the ability
of present archival practices to identify and preserve the
documentary heritage of our society, and have sought to
ameliorate the situation by advocating the development of
coherent national plans.3 Such integrated planning, often
referred to as documentation strategy, offers the benefit of
consistency and rigour to the planning process. However, many of
the procedures that are advocated in the application of
documentation strategy reflect the conflicting and ambiguous
criteria, practices and terminology that correspond to the
3 Helen Samuels, "Who Controls the Past," American Archivist
49 (Spring, 1986): 109-124. This article is Samuels'
introductory analysis of the current theoretical and practical
shortcomings of appraisal, and her proposed solution of
documentation strategy.
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