Essential Core
Record an identifier, brief description, creator or source, date or date status, rights, and restrictions. Separate original information from later additions.
Methodology · Describing Materials
Metadata That Preserves Meaning
A clear minimum set of information helps people find materials, verify provenance, and respect access conditions.
At a glance
Why this guide matters
Metadata should be consistent, verifiable, and understandable beyond one person's memory. Unknown information is marked as unknown rather than filled with guesses.
Material status
This is an editorial guide for the initiative’s development version. It explains an approach and does not replace professional medical, legal or financial advice.
Practical route
Three steps for responsible work
Begin with context, record decisions and preserve each person’s right to revisit the terms.
Consistent Terminology
Use a glossary and retain local terms in the original form with transliteration and explanation. Do not replace culturally meaningful concepts with convenient generalisations.
Relationships and Change History
Link each object to its collection, interviews, digital copies, and permissions. Record the author and date of every material description change.
Working checklist
What to check before moving on
- Do not turn an assumption into an exact date or name.
- Keep original terms alongside their explanations.
- Record rights, licence, and access restrictions.
- Document the source and editorial change history.
Both photographs on this page are unique object-based AI illustrations. They do not depict real people, traditions or places.
FAQ
Common questions
How should an unknown date be recorded?
Mark the date as unknown; include a range only when supported and clearly labelled as uncertain.
Should names always be published?
No. Publication depends on consent, rights, cultural context, and recorded access restrictions.
Have experience or expert insight?
Tell us how you could contribute. Material is published only after rights, sources and consent have been reviewed.