Other Filing Options You may want to consider a more complex filing system that cross-references other systems. Many historical records programs use a system that includes donor files, potential donor files, accession books or files, and collection files. In this case, your system might look something like this: Donor files Contain correspondence and related documentation relating to donors and the collections they have donated; including transfer documentation. Potential donor files Contain correspondence and information relating to potential and pending donor relationships. Accession records Contain the accession record elements and related material such as inventories of materials, including donor name so you cross reference to your donor files. There is one accession record for each accession. Collection records Finding aids, inventories, and other related information pertaining to your processed collections. These should include a reference to an accession number so you can cross reference back to accession records and donor information. (More about these in Course 3)

You may want to consider a more complex filing system. It's nice to be able to cross-reference your accession records to your donor information