Encoded Archival Description Tag Library, Version 2002

EAD Elements

<container> Container

Description:

A <did> subelement for information that contributes to locating the described materials by indicating the kinds of devices that hold the materials and identifying any sequential numbers assigned to those devices. The <container> element is used most frequently at the component level, i.e., once a Description of Subordinate Components <dsc> has been opened. This storage information can help researchers understand how extensive the material is, especially in the absence of a specific physical <extent> statement at the component level.

Use of the TYPE attribute is strongly recommended to clarify the nature of the storage device. Use any useful designations, such as "box," "folder," and "reel."

The Physical Location <physloc> element can be used to designate the shelves, stacks, rooms, buildings, or other places where the containers are stored.

Use the ID of the Unit <unitid> element to designate control numbers not associated with a physical container, for example, accession numbers. Most repositories use either <container> or <unitid> as the call numbers for fetching material for researchers. If both elements are used, consider setting the LABEL attribute to specify which element is the call number.

The PARENT attribute can be used to point to the <container> element that describes the box in which a folder is housed.

May contain:

#PCDATA, abbr, archref, bibref, emph, expan, extptr, extref, lb, linkgrp, ptr, ref, title

May occur within:

archref, did

Attributes:

Examples:

1.
    <dsc type="combined">
        <c level="series">
            <did>
                <unittitle>Correspondence, </unittitle>
                <unitdate normal="1942/1987">1942-1987 </unitdate>
            </did>
            <scopecontent>[...]</scopecontent>
            <c level="file">
                <did>
                    <container id="mss1993-043.1.1" type="box">1</container>
                    <container parent="mss1993-043.1.1" type="folder">1</container>
                    <unittitle><unitdate normal="1942/1943">1942-1943</unitdate></unittitle>
                </did>
            </c>
            <c level="file">
                <did>
                    <container parent="mss1993-043.1.1" type="folder">2</container>
                    <unittitle><unitdate normal="194401/194408">January-August 1944</unitdate></unittitle>
                </did>
            </c>
            <c level="file">
                <did>
                    <container parent="mss1993-043.1.1" type="folder">3</container>
                    <unittitle><unitdate normal="194409/194503">August 1944-March 1945</unitdate></unittitle>
                </did>
            </c> . . .
        </c> . . .
    </dsc>

2.
        <c01 level="series">
            <did>[...]</did>
            <c02 level="file">
                <did>
                    <container type="box">3</container>
                    <container type="folder">18</container>
                    <unittitle>Parent-Teacher Association of Fondsville
                    </unittitle>
                    <unitdate type="inclusive" normal="1959/1972">1959-1972</unitdate>
                </did>
            </c02>
            <c02 level="file">
                <did>
                    <container type="box">3</container>
                    <container type="folder">19</container>
                    <unittitle>Pasta and Politics Club</unittitle>
                    <unitdate type="inclusive" normal="1967/1975">1967-1975</unitdate>
                </did>
            </c02> . . .
        </c01>