ArchivesSpace Terminology

This section details the terms used in the ASpace application and when discussing archival description Aspace.

Resource

A resource is ArchiveSpace’s name for an archival collection. 

Archival Object 

An archival object is another term for an archival component, which generally refers to the individual components in a container list. Archival objects can only belong to a single resource.

Instance

An instance is an archival container housing archival objects.

Instances are linked to archival objects in ASpace. The most common types of instances are box, folder, tube, and volume.

Repository

A repository refers to a division or curatorial unit.

In ASpace each repository is separate and contains both resources and instances. You can only work in and search in one repository at a time, and you cannot search for resources, archival objects, or instances that are not in your selected repository 

Identifier

An identifier is a unique ID that can be attached to a resource and/or archival object.

Examples of identifiers include: classmark, collection number, AMI identifier, electronic record identifier, and bnumber.

Agent

An agent is ASpace’s name for a controlled access term that is a name or corporate body.

Agents and Subjects can be linked to many resources across all repositories.