Manuscripts & Archives Tools History

2011

• Library Technology Services commences Phase II of integrating finding aids in HOLLIS, focusing on display and search functionality.
• MAAG disbanded as part of Harvard Library transition restructuring. OASIS and EAD oversight TBD.

2010

• Increased interest among the Harvard community of repositories implementing the Archivists’ Toolkit results in AT and OASIS oversight committees working more closely together, ensuring that the two systems are aligned, and any developments to one that affect the other are thoroughly explored. Core information about the system is maintained centrally, under the oversight of MAAG, but the creation of an affinity group allows for individual repositories using EAD to mount templates, in-house guides or other documentation that may be of interest to the community.
• MAAG initiates revisions to OASIS documentation available on the LTS website.
• EAD training at Harvard restructured to focus only on the Harvard implementation of EAD rather than on EAD use in general; implementation of training is pending. Other changes include the elimination of oversight/quality control of finding aids submitted by repositories new to OASIS and the elimination of the “buddy” or assistance program provided for repositories interested in implementing EAD. The user (or affinity) group continues, in the form of a “Manuscripts and Archives Tools” group, which includes discussion of issues related to the Archivists Toolkit.

2009

• Phase I of a plan to integrate Harvard's EAD finding aids into the library's central discovery system completed. OASIS finding aids display with bibliographic records in HOLLIS, with the full text of finding aids searchable in HOLLIS.
• OASIS schema/DTD updated to EAD 2002; mark-up changes implemented across Harvard.

2007

• Harvard Library committee structure reconfigured. OASIS oversight delegated to the Manuscripts and Archives Access Group (MAAG).

Pre-2007 OASIS history

History and Project Report (March 1996)
This paper describes the genesis of Harvard's Digital Finding Aids Project.

Harvard Digital Finding Aids Project: A History (March 1999)
This paper reports on why SGML/EAD became the delivery medium of choice; the process of selection of SGML authoring software; the ongoing development of cross-Harvard standards and guidelines for application of EAD; cross-repository indexing and development of a search engine; and implementation challenges faced by the Harvard/Radcliffe repositories participating in the project.

OASIS annual reports
The OASIS Steering Committee issues an annual report on OASIS activities, including new developments and future priorities. Consult the OASIS Steering Committee page to access these annual reports.