Deaccession
The formal, documented process by which an archives permanently removes material from its holdings — the archival counterpart to disposition, requiring authority and record-keeping.
Deaccession is the formal process by which an archives permanently removes material from its holdings — the counterpart to accession (taking material in). It may occur when material is found to be outside the archives’ scope, duplicated, lacking enduring value, or more appropriately held elsewhere.
Like disposition in records management, deaccessioning must be deliberate, authorized, and documented: decisions follow established policy, are approved at an appropriate level, and are recorded (what was removed, why, when, and where it went — destruction, transfer, or return). Because archival holdings are presumed to have enduring value, deaccessioning is approached cautiously and transparently. Done properly, it keeps a collection focused and accurate; done carelessly, it risks losing material of lasting value — so it’s governed by clear criteria and an auditable record.