"... In this work I have tried to discuss the importance of the locality to American Archival practice, the primary methods archivists have used to acquire documentation about localities, the practical basis of the archival documentation strategy as a more systematic approach to archival appraisal, and finally, to suggest a schema for conducting such documentation work. A brief concluding chapter discusses additional sources of information on archival appraisal and the documentation strategy concept." -- P. vii.