Today the book is used as the standard text in dozens of college courses and training workshops held around the country each year. One of the most widely recognized members of the American archival profession, Theodore R. Schellenberg developed his ideas on archival practice during his long career at the National Archives and Records Service; at the time of his retirement in 1963, he was Assistant Archivist of the United States.

Includes index.

Part I, Development of Principles and Techniques: Development of Library Methodology -- Factors Influencing Archival Methodology -- Development of Archival Methodology -- Development of the Archival Profession -- Nature of Archival Arrangement -- Principles of Archival Arrangement -- Character of a Descriptive Program -- Record Attributes -- Notational Systems -- Part II, Application of Principles and Techniques: Arrangement of Archival Groups -- Arrangement of Manuscript Collections -- Arrangement of Record Items -- Physical Arrangements -- Preparation of Archival Inventories and Guides -- Preliminary Description of Private Papers -- Description of Manuscript Collections -- Preparation of Indexes and Item Catalogs -- Preparation of Lists and Calendars -- Arrangement and Description of Cartographic Records -- Arrangement and Description of Pictorial Records -- Notes -- Selective Bibliography -- Index.