Description Field

Description (Documents)

This field is required.

The description is a short summary of the contents of the letter that will be published either in addition to or in place of a transcription. The summary should provide the pages, and the main topics covered. If we are not going to include a transcription of the document, the description can be expanded somewhat.

Tips:

  • Spell out names so that searches will locate the document
  • If there is a lot of family or personal discussion you can summarize that very broadly.
  • Use last names to refer to people unless it would be confusing — "Addams" not "Jane"
  • Render the description in the present tense.

Examples:

Addams discusses a telegram sent by Milicent Garrett Fawcett to Roosevelt endorsing his candidacy and plans to assist his campaign.

Addams discusses her lecture to the Chicago Woman's Club on Child Labor.

Addams apologizes for cancelling her speech at Oberlin College.

DeKnatel arranges an Addams lecture with King for Oberlin College.

Description (Collections)

The description is where we provide a summary of the archive so that readers can learn more about it an contact it directly if desired. We want to keep these short but factual and usually the best resource for this is the archive's webpage.

Example:

The Joseph Regenstein Library is the main research library for the University of Chicago, and focuses on subjects in the humanities and social sciences, business, divinity, and area studies. Its Special Collections Research Center houses rare books, archives, and manuscript collections.

For an archival collection, we can provide a bit more about the manuscripts. You can usually get detailed information from the finding aid to the collection, but be careful to write it in your own words.

Example:

The Edith and Grace Abbott Papers document the lives of University of Chicago alumna sisters. Edith Abbott resided in Hull-House from 1901-1920. She was a dean and an Associate Director of the Chicago School of Civics and Philanthropy at the University of Chicago. Grace Abbott was the first director of the Immigrant's Protective League, and headed the Child Labor Division of the United States Children's Bureau. Both taught public welfare at the University of Chicago. The papers contain both professional and personal correspondence, lecture notes, speeches, articles, radio broadcasts, and scrapbooks.

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