Glossary

A place where historical or significant materials—physical and/or digital—are housed and preserved. An archive may have multiple collections within it.

Collecting organizations have historically been characterized as museums and libraries—places that hold and preserve collections. However, many organizations have collections:

A collection is a group of objects—physical and/or digital—that have been gathered because of their like history, themes, or composition.

Cultural heritage organizations are ethnic, cultural, folk, or other affinity organizations that promote the understanding of their communities’ history, traditions,