Basic Collection Description
The following example sets out the minimum requirements for a Collection Description. It consists of the collection’s name (name_primary), a local id for the collection (ID_local), a brief description (description_brief) and local subject keywords (subject_local).
In description_brief the collection’s contents, its focus, approximate number of items, date range and types of items are described.
Keywords used at your institution are listed in subject_local. We may add additional keywords from the PHM Object Name Thesaurus and/or other sources.
This type of description is appropriate for collections that are not well documented.
Detailed Collection Descriptions
Additional information can be supplied when a collection is well documented. The following example includes includes a significance statement, a date range, place names and a link to the collection online. This provides more details for researchers and a greater context for the collection.
Other examples
Other Collection Description examples from the Powerhouse Museum collection are available to assist you in compiling your own Colelction Descriptions, and a full Collection Description example has also been compiled.