The reproductions in these collections are classified exactly as in the original depository and enumeration of collection material is given in archival order. Many repositories from which these collections were reproduced have since been renamed and in some cases collections have been moved and/or reorganized. The authors of this guide have retained the original repository name and/or original description unless otherwise noted in the accompanying shelf lists and finding aids.

Users will find links to multiple types of descriptive aids in this resource guide. Published guides, available in the Manuscript Reading Room and often in digital format, provide a variety of descriptive content, from item-level calendaring to broad overviews of series and repositories. Shelf lists provide an inventory of materials held in the Manuscript Division and help set them into context. They also contain links to digital content as available.

Shelf lists have been created for collections at the item, volume, and series levels. Users will find tables that display some or all of the following information:

Volume	Folio	Container or Reel	Accession	Description	Additional Information
Volume number as identified in the original repository	Folio number of the original item	Container or Reel number used to locate the item in the Library of Congress	Accession number associated with the volume/reel	Item or volume level descriptive information	Any additional information, including links to third party resources

When both a container number and a reel number are provided, users may request either format of this material in the Manuscript Reading Room.

Materials described in this guide come in multiple formats, including transcriptions, photostatic copies, microfilm, and as digital content. It is not uncommon for more than one format to be available.