Authority Sources

Authority Files      Thesauri      Authority Lists

AUTHORITY FILES

The Organization Authority File and Person Authority File are available via DAS (NARA's Description and Authority Service) and in many casses, result from the Library of Congress Name Authority File (LCNAF).

Geographic Authority File
This thesaurus is used to index the geographic subjects found in archival materials and the jurisdictions of archival organizational creators. The headings in this authority file result from the Library of Congress Name Authority File and Library of Congress Subject Headings. This authority file provides data values for Geographic Reference and Jurisdiction elements.

THESAURI

Topical Subject Thesaurus
This thesaurus is used to index the topical subject content of archival materials. NARA created the Topical Subject Thesaurus from terms in Data Elements 800 (DE 800), the Library of Congress Subject Headings, and other sources. This thesaurus provides data values for Topical Subject Reference.

Specific Records Type Thesaurus
This thesaurus is used to indicate the specific records types of archival materials. Headings in this thesaurus result from the Library of Congress Subject Headings and the Library of Congress Thesaurus for Graphic Materials. This thesaurus provides data values for Specific Records Type.

Program Area Thesaurus
This thesaurus is used to index the program areas or functions of creating organizations. NARA created the Program Area Thesaurus based on terms in DE 800 and other sources. This thesaurus provides data values for Program Area.

AUTHORITY LISTS

Intellectual Elements

• Access Restriction Status Authority List
  • Specific Access Restriction Authority List
  • Security Classification Authority List
• Begin Congress Authority List
• Contributor Type Authority List
• Creator Type Authority List
• Date Qualifier Authority List
• Description Type Authority List
• Edit Status Authority List
• End Congress Authority List
• Finding Aid Type Authority List
• General Records Type Authority List
• Language Authority List

• Party Designation Authority List

• Sound Type Authority List
• Use Restriction Status Authority List
  • Specific Use Restriction Authority List
• Variant Control Number Type Authority List

Physical Occurrence Elements

• Holdings Measurement Type Authority List
• Copy Status Authority List
• Location Facility Authority List
• Reference Unit Authority List

Media Occurrence Elements

• General Media Type Authority List
• Specific Media Type Authority List (former Media Type Authority List)
  • Base Authority List
  • Color Authority List
  • Dimension Authority List
  • Emulsion Authority List
  • Format Authority List
  • Other Preservation Characteristics Authority List
  • Process Authority List
  • Recording Speed Authority List
  • Roll Authority List
  • Soundtrack Configuration Authority List
  • Tape Thickness Authority List
  • Wind Authority List

Digital Object Elements

• Object Type Authority list