Records in Contexts–Conceptual Model

Records in Contexts–Conceptual Model (RiC-CM) is a high-level conceptual model that focuses on intellectually identifying and describing record resources, the agents that created, used, or are documented in them, and those activities, pursued by the agents, that the record resources both facilitate and document. It is the second part of the Records in Contexts standard, which also includes Foundations of Archival Description (RiC-FAD) and an Ontology (RiC-O). The version 1.0 of RiC-FAD, RiC-CM, and RiC-O, that was released in late 2023, marks the first stable and complete version of the first three parts of RiC, and thus a major milestone in the development of the standard. EGAD is now working on creating the fourth and final part of RiC: Application Guidelines (RiC-AG).

The development of RiC-CM began in 2012. In the course of its work, the EGAD has taken into consideration critiques of archival principles and current practices, established and emerging national conceptual models as well as the models of allied professional communities, and the opportunities presented by new and emerging communication technologies. Over the course of developing RiC-CM, the EGAD also took into consideration extensive feedback from the archival community on two drafts.

RiC-CM reconciles, integrates, builds on, and replaces the four existing standards: General International Standard Archival Description (ISAD(G)); International Standard Archival Authority Records–Corporate Bodies, Persons, and Families (ISAAR(CPF)); International Standard Description of Functions (ISDF); and International Standard Description of Institutions with Archival Holdings (ISDIAH).

RiC-CM 1.0 can be downloaded from https://www.ica.org/app/uploads/2023/12/RiC-CM-1.0.pdf or  https://github.com/ICA-EGAD/RiC-CM/blob/master/current-version/RiC-CM-1.0.pdf.

Anyone interested in learning more about or discussing RiC with others is encouraged to join the RiC user group. Both description of the scope and purpose of the group and instructions for joining will be found here: https://groups.google.com/g/Records_in_Contexts_users/