Texts Level:  Docket

Definition:  Abridged outline of proceedings in a legal document, giving names, dates, action, etc.

Comment:  Bear in mind that this very broadly defined field with miscellaneous content carries almost all the informational weight for the medieval archival documents in Digital Scriptorium; users will only be able to apply free-word searches to this category. Therefore, enter the information using the most predictable, least esoteric words possible. Remember:

1. to phrase the "Folios" field for this kind of material as "one item" or "[x] membranes"
2. to refer to the two sides of a document, when necessary, as "face" and "dorse"
3. to note the presence, material, color and method of attachment of seals in the "Physical Issues" field of the Manuscripts Level
4. to leave the "Binding" field blank (assuming, of course that the item is not bound)
5. to check the "Document" box at the Part Level as "yes"
6. to enter the name of a notary in the "Other Associated Names" field, rather than in the field for Scribe (since notaries are closer in function to lawyers than copyists)
7. to offer an indication of the type of document in the "Generic title" field
8. to use "Docket" for virtually all the content information
9. to make comments about endorsements, presence of notarial marks and so on in the "Notes" field of the Text level

Note that DS offers limited options for describing medieval documents in their native situation, within the hierarchy of a collection (e.g., institutional archive, divided according to office, divided according to date spans and so forth) in the manner proposed by EAD for modern archival collections. Instead, DS assumes that medieval documents in American collections have been removed from their original context and exist in isolation. If your institution, however, needs a collection-level record that can then break down hierarchically instead of the DS item-level record, please bring this up with DS Central; we'll try to work with you towards a solution.

Example:

• Papal bull of Innocent III addressed to the abbot of Saint-Remi of Rheims concerning a quarrel about some marshes between the abbey of Saint-Bertin and the burghers of Saint-Omer, excommunicating the latter, dated 5 February 1202.

Properties:  Data type: text. Field size: 255 characters.

Required?:  No.