We've developed a Dublin Core help file that contains a pretty clear description of how to format the open and approximate dates you are talking about. Since the date format for both schemas is ISO 8601, this guide can be used to create dates in an EAD document. http://uwdcc.library.wisc.edu/DC_companionv1.3.pdf You may want to look at the ISO 8601 documentation, as well. http://www.iso.ch/iso/en/prods-services/popstds/datesandtime.html Best, Amy Rudersdorf ----------------------------------------------------------------- Digital Production Coordinator & Head, Metadata and Encoding Unit University of Wisconsin-Madison Digital Content Group University of Wisconsin Digital Collections Center [log in to unmask] // 608.265.8738 http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/localcolls http://uwdcc.library.wisc.edu ----------------------------------------------------------------- Automatic digest processor wrote: >There are 2 messages totalling 61 lines in this issue. > >Topics of the day: > > 1. date formats (2) > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- > >Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2004 16:18:44 -0600 >From: "Stephen, Mathew" <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: date formats > >Any suggestions on the "best" date format (i.e. 2004-01-29) for the >following? > >about 1900 >1930's >early 1900's >late 1950s >late 1800's - early 1900's >1891 or 1892 >1930's or 1940's >1920s around World War I >April 1984 >prior to 1908 >Spring 1973 > >------------------------------ > >Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2004 17:23:49 -0600 >From: Alison Hinderliter <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Re: date formats > >We follow the Best Practices Guidelines by the RLG EAD Advisory group, which gives several examples for open date spans, approximate dates, undated material, etc. on pages 3-4 of the document. >http://www.rlg.org/rlgead/bpg.pdf > >-Alison >************************************************ >Alison Hinderliter - [log in to unmask] >Project Archivist >The Newberry Library >60 W. Walton St. >Chicago, IL 60610-7324 >(312) 255-3694 > > > > >>Any suggestions on the "best" date format (i.e. 2004-01-29) for the >>following? >> >>about 1900 >>1930's >>early 1900's >>late 1950s >>late 1800's - early 1900's >>1891 or 1892 >>1930's or 1940's >>1920s around World War I >>April 1984 >>prior to 1908 >>Spring 1973 >> >> > >------------------------------ > >End of EAD Digest - 28 Jan 2004 to 29 Jan 2004 (#2004-8) >******************************************************** > >