CA Archivist Archival Principles & Practices 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which format is considered the archival master standard for digitizing photographic negatives?
- JPEG at 300 dpi
- TIFF at 600 dpi or higher (Correct answer)
- PNG at 72 dpi
- PDF/A at 150 dpi
Correct answer: TIFF at 600 dpi or higher
TIFF at high resolution (typically 600 dpi or higher) is the archival master standard because it is uncompressed and preserves maximum image data.
Question 2: What is the term for the process of transferring records of continuing value from active agency use to an archival repository?
- Deaccessioning
- Accessioning
- Disposition
- Transfer (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Transfer
In records management, 'transfer' refers to moving records from the creating agency to an archival repository for permanent retention.
Question 3: Which preservation concern is MOST specific to magnetic tape media (e.g., VHS, audio cassette)?
- Foxing
- Sticky shed syndrome (Correct answer)
- Red rot
- Binder failure in paper
Correct answer: Sticky shed syndrome
Sticky shed syndrome is a deterioration unique to magnetic tape where the polyester urethane binder absorbs moisture and sheds, causing the tape to stick to playback equipment.
Question 4: An archivist must balance openness with privacy. Under the Privacy Act of 1974, what category of federal records receives the strongest protection?
- Personnel and medical records about living individuals (Correct answer)
- General correspondence files
- Budget and financial planning records
- Maps and cartographic materials
Correct answer: Personnel and medical records about living individuals
The Privacy Act of 1974 protects personally identifiable information in federal records, with personnel and medical records about living individuals receiving strongest protection.
Question 5: Which concept describes the complete history of a record's custody, ownership, and location from creation to the present?
- Provenance
- Chain of custody (Correct answer)
- Authenticity trail
- Records continuum
Correct answer: Chain of custody
Chain of custody documents the successive custody of records, which is critical for establishing authenticity and admissibility, especially in legal contexts.
Question 6: When deaccessioning materials from an archival collection, which action is generally considered LEAST appropriate?
- Returning materials to the donor
- Transferring to another repository
- Selling items through a public auction (Correct answer)
- Destroying materials that duplicate other holdings
Correct answer: Selling items through a public auction
Selling deaccessioned archival materials for profit is generally considered ethically problematic and violates SAA's Core Values regarding the public trust nature of archival holdings.
Question 7: What does OAIS stand for in the context of digital preservation?
- Online Archival Information System
- Open Archival Information System (Correct answer)
- Organizational Archive and Integrity Standard
- Operational Access and Indexing Schema
Correct answer: Open Archival Information System
OAIS (Open Archival Information System) is an ISO standard (14721) providing a reference model for digital preservation systems and their functions.
CA Archivist Archival Principles & Practices 3
Which format is considered the archival master standard for digitizing photographic negatives?