Professional Associations

Records commonly transferred to the Archives include:

  • Official records: constitutions and by-laws, minutes and proceedings, transcripts, lists of officers and members
  • Office files: correspondence and memoranda (incoming and outgoing) and subject files concerning projects, activities and functions
  • Historical files documenting policies, decisions, committee and task force reports, questionnaires
  • Publications: one record copy of all programs, journals, monographs, newsletters, brochures, posters and announcements issued by the association or its subdivisions
  • Audio-visuals: photographs and sound recordings
  • Personal papers of members which relate directly to association work
  • Charts and maps

Items generally not transferred to the Archives include: 

  • Records of specific financial and membership transactions
  • Letters of transmittal where the date and routing information is on the document transmitted
  • Requests for publications or information after the requests have been filled
  • All blank forms and unused printed or duplicated materials
  • All duplicate material: keep only the original copy and annotated copies
  • Papers, reports, work papers and drafts; which have been published
  • Replies to questionnaires if the results are recorded and preserved either in the archives or in a published report

When in doubt, don’t throw it out!