Ryan, James

Biographical / Historical

Athlete

Additional Description

Arrangement

Arrangement of the General File series is alphabetical by subject, with document types and material from across the AFRO's regional offices interfiled. Subjects are primarily original description assigned by the creators of the collection over the history of its creation and use.

Terminology used in original folder titles evolved across many offices and generations of staff, resulting in similar collection content filed under varying terms. Researchers may benefit from searching a variety of related subjects and names.

Processing Information

This series has been processed using accelerated processing procedures. Accelerated procedures use a minimal approach to physical processing and metadata.

Physical folders have been sorted alphabetically by folder title, metal printing plates (called cuts) have been removed, damaged folders have been replaced, and the content of thick folders has been divided into multiple folders for physical stabilization.

For metadata, every record’s folder title is checked against the physical folders. When physical folders are replaced or cuts removed, content may also be verified against the title. When no physical remediation was required, content was not verified; in such cases, metadata created before the processing project that began in 2023 is labeled “Legacy Description” in this finding aid.

Accelerated processing does not typically include adding dates and document types to folder records, but care is taken to add Married women’s names if their names are missing from folder titles but are found in folder content, and content warnings have been added when content is discovered that folders contain potentially harmful content.

For some large subjects in the series, more detailed processing was done to facilitate research. For such subjects, dates, document types, and other details may have been added to description.

Researchers may discover errors and gaps in the description, or folders that need content warnings or notes about documents found in fragile condition. Archives staff welcome information to help us improve collection description.