Abbreviations Used By Archivists

p = page(s); used to indicate number of manuscript, typewritten, or printed pages. One sheet with text on both sides is 2p.

cc = carbon copy; "cc" precedes the abbreviation for the physical description. For example, "ccTMs" indicates a carbon copy of a typed manuscript, not the ribbon copy.

pc = photocopy; also precedes the abbreviation for the physical description, for example "pcTMs."

AMs	Autograph Manuscript	Autograph Manuscript; nonlegal or nonofficial papers such as speeches, biographical sketches, sermons, reminiscences, stories, poems, and other such items of a generally narrative nature, in the hand of the author, but not signed.
AMsS	Autograph Manuscript Signed	Manuscript (See AMs) in the hand of and signed by the author
TMs	Typewritten Manuscript	Typewritten manuscript not signed by the author (See AMs)
TMsS	Typewritten Manuscript Signed	Author-signed typewritten manuscript (See AMsS)
ALS	Autograph Letter Signed	A letter in the hand of and signed by the author
L	Letter	An unsigned written communication in the hand of a clerk or person other than the author
LS	Letter Signed	A letter in the hand of a person other than the author but signed by the author
TL	Typewritten Letter	Any mechanically reproduced letter, such as mimeographed, offset, ditto, diazo. Included here are letters signed with rubber stamps, mimeograph, or any other artificial means of reproducing the author's signature
TLS	Typewritten Letter Signed	A typewritten letter signed by its author
PC	Postcard	Postal service or picture postcard; not used for greeting or holiday cards.
AC	Autograph Card	An unsigned handwritten card or message on a printed greeting card.
ACS	Autograph Card Signed	Any card used in correspondence written, or with a message, by the author and signed.
TC	Typewritten Card	An unsigned typewritten greeting card
TCS	Typewritten Card Signed	A signed typewritten greeting card
D	Document	Any paper of legal or official nature such as an indenture, deed, certificate, receipt, etc. Included here are printed documents of the type described above with manuscript additions. Also included are documents signed by a clerk or other person in the name of the author.
DS	Document Signed	A document written by another person but signed by the author.
ADS	Autograph Document Signed	A document written and signed by the author.
TD	Typewritten Document	A typewritten or otherwise mechanically reproduced (except printed) document.(See "D")
TDS	Typewritten Document Signed	A typewritten document signed by its author. (See also "D" and "TD.")
AN	Autograph Note	A note in the hand of the author; any unsigned fragment
ANS	Autograph Note Signed	An autograph line or two, at most a page, or any fragment which could not be classified as an AMsS, such as a signed memorandum.

Other modifiers are noted directly following the abbreviation, placed in brackets and written out in full. For example TMsS [initialed]; or TMsS [pencil].

 

Recording Dates on Documents

Example	Explanation
May 26, 1941	Complete date on item
[May 26, 1941]	Entire date supplied by processor
[May 26], 1941	Day and month supplied by processor
[Ca. May 26, 1941]	Approximate date supplied by processor
May 26, 1941 [?]	Processor questions original date
[May ?, 1951]	Processor supplies date but feels month may be open to question
[May 26?], 1941	Processor supplies month and day but feels the day may be open to question
[?] 26, 1941	Month unknown
May 26, [?]	Year unknown
(n.d.)	Undated