collation
applied to benefices; it was the approval given by a bishop to appoint someone to a church living.
Your Scottish Archives Glossary
The Your Scottish Archives Glossary defines archaic words and phrases, mostly Scots law terminology, commonly found in documents and records in Scotland’s archives. If you think a word or phrase should be added to the glossary, or an existing entry could be defined better, please contact us at your@scottisharchives.org.uk.
You can also use the Dictionary of the Scots Language as a further resource at https://dsl.ac.uk/ for Scots words and phrases (including legal terminology).
To find a term within the glossary, click on the initial letter of the word you are looking for, then select the relevant syllable segment displayed below.
Example: to find the term “roup” select section “R” then sub-section “Ro”
collecting policy or collections development policy
a policy which identifies the focus and purpose of the holdings of an archive service and defines how these will be developed by acquisition, appraisal and de-accessioning. It should also provide a framework to identify gaps, strengths and weaknesses in collections, thus supporting future development by engaging with new or alternative sources of records and by interpreting and understanding existing records in different ways.
collection(s)
This word is used to mean (1) items brought together by an individual or organisation (2) the complete holdings of an archive service (3) items that have no archival relationship to each other but share a similar subject or theme (4) an alternative to the word fonds (which strictly is inaccurate – see fonds)
collections care
a term which encompasses all aspects of preservation, such as maintenance of buildings and storage areas in optimal conditions, integrated pest management, monitoring and control of humidity and temperature, choice of appropriate boxes and storage materials, handling and security.
collegiate church
a church founded by a private person, in free alms.