University of New England

Finding Aid

Instructions on Using the Non-Book Materials Inventory

There are two modes for searching MWWC Resources: the UNE Libraries Catalog, and this Finding Aid.

This Finding Aid lists the archival collection material held by the Maine Women Writers Collection, including correspondence, drafts of writing, reviews, interviews, biographical material, photographs, artifacts, and much more; it is organized alphabetically by last name of the author. The collections are accessible to the folder level, indicating the number and title of the individual folders within each collection; but not listed to the level of individual documents generally.

To search the finding aid, researchers can browse page by page.

Alternatively, use the Browser menu using "Edit" then "Find," typing in the specific word (it's always good to truncate, eg "diar" for "diary" or "diaries"); you may search the entire listing for material types such as "letter(s)"; "diar(y)(ies)"; "correspondence"; "journal(s)"; "typescript"; "photo(s)"; "reviews" "obituary"; etc.

For date searching, a browser search can be utilized in this manner: if you are searching for items in the decade of 1910-1920, go to "Edit", "Find"=’ "191"; there may be some hits for 191, but you will also pick up every incidence of 1910 to 1919.

Because archival cataloging incorporates natural language, be sure to search or browse in multiple ways as, for instance, authors may be listed by their initials or variant names included in correspondence.

The Finding Aid language includes uses of archival terminology, such as:

The Finding Aid is divided into several different files to reduce the amount of data on each page, but you may also search the entire Collection.

In addition, the staff is in the process of adding some individual authors' web pages to our listings. These will be linked from the Finding Aid listing of the author's name or from a list at the head of the Research section of the MWWC website. These individual pages will reflect either an author's general significance in the overall context of the subject, or an extensive collection in the MWWC warranting a separate listing.

Some resources, such as audiocassettes, videos, and DVD's, are not accessible through the MWWC Finding Aid or catalog. However, we do hold some and can assist you upon contact.

A listing of rare periodicals or those periodicals for which the Collection holds only scattered copies may be found in the collection called "MWWC Periodical Collections" or by title through the Library Catalog.

For more information about folder contents or other specific questions and reference inquiries, please feel free to consult the staff by contacting 207-221-4324, or cgurley@une.edu.