Finding Aids are descriptive tools which serve as the primary point of access to archival collections in archives and manuscript repositories. Archival collections consist of materials formed around a person, family, organization, or subject. They may contain a wide variety of items such as manuscripts, diaries, correspondence, legal papers, memorabilia, photographs, films, tapes, computer files, maps, drawings, pamphlets, and other forms of material.

For additional access to archival collections in the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, see the Duke University Libraries Online Catalog or the detailed guides for certain subjects.