The starting point
An inventory can bring programmes, reports, photographs and personal notes into one searchable collection. Give each item a stable identifier and record its title, date, source and location. A document’s filename is useful for finding it, but it should not substitute for a description of what the document actually contains.
A useful way to read the evidence
Keep an original copy and place working notes separately. Link your notes to the identifier so that corrections do not require renaming every file. Record uncertainty about dates or authors explicitly. The goal is a collection another researcher can understand, including the difference between an original item, a later copy and your own description.
Keep in your notes
- Use stable item identifiers.
- Record provenance and location.
- Keep notes separate from originals.