I don't become an artifact - but my birth certificate might (although being Canadian born my birth certificate looks like a laminated drivers license - my parents could not afford the full sized version)!

Anyway, how would the business charter or University Charter (in answer to Peter) not be/become an historical artifact?  Even if the business ceases to exist the information about how the business came about is historical, right?

Example:  I did research as a graduate student about the Kress Five and Dime Stores - the last closed in the 1970's (you may date yourself if you remember them) - I was able to review their records (financial reports, building contracts, plans, etc.) because they were housed in a museum library and a private archives - these records are artifacts/historical records and no longer of any business need.

Back to my original question:  What records would a business/organization retain for 300 years (or 100 years for that matter) would not become artifacts/historic records??  I'm trying to understand Robert's post about retaining records for 300 years for business purposes and then possibly destroying them.  I would think that something you retain for 300 years for business purposes would be something like a charter and if your company was around for 300 years (or 70 years like Kress) these records would become historical and should end up in an archival repository.


Caroline J. Walters, MA, MLS
University Records Officer/Records Management
Information Security, Policy, and Records Office (ISPRO)
Office of the Vice President/CIO
University of Virginia, 2400 Old Ivy Rd.
Box 400898, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4898
Phone: (434) 243-9162
Fax: (434) 243-9197
Email: [log in to unmask]


The type of business records you describe are the records of a legal
entity-a corporate body: charters, etc are considered 
"organic" business records--the "birth certificates" of the body that
establish the business, or organization.  Destroy them, and it would be like
destroying your birth certificate.  You might have trouble proving what
rights you are entitled to, and what authorities you answer to without it.
You will probably need it for as long as you are in existence, and your
descendants might have an interest in it too. At what point do you become an
artifact?  Just a thought. 

A.S.Elizabeth Fairfax, MA, CA
Island County Records and Information Management Program
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
x5569

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