Arrangement
Archives are generally arranged and described in the order in which they were originally created, maintained and used.

Archival records are arranged and described according to the principle of respect des fonds. This means that records from an individual, family or organisation must be maintained and kept together according to the creator of the records and cannot be rearranged with records from another individual or corporate entity.

Basic Materials
Archives are primary materials, often unique and irreplaceable.

Each corporate entity and individual create a paper trial to support its business functions and administrative needs. Although copies of the records may exist within the same or in other archival institutions, the context of how the records were created makes the records unique. Consequently, most archives will have certain rules and regulations to ensure that archival records are not damaged or lost due to improper handling.

Court Evidence

Archival records are not only sources of historical information but also possess evidential value as they are a byproduct of a business activity or function. As such, you can consult records that document your rights as a citizen such as marriage registers, school records and land titles and deeds.