The physical arrangement of archival material and description of its contents is dictated by the fonds concept. The creator is the person, institution or office of origin, that generated and compiled records and papers over the course of time. It has more value if kept intact than if broken up. Original File Order Directly related to provenance is respecting the original filing order established by its creator. Archivists either preserve or if necessary, recreate the original order.
Archivists try to detect the order or filing sytem used by a creator and then retain it.
The filing system helps preserve the integrity and significance of the material. Nothing is more damaging to the integrity and historical value of archival material than to break-up a body of archival material. When we keep it intact we preserve its historical integrity, meaning, information and 'evidence'. Visiting an antique shop or flea market and seeing individual letters, receipts, land grants, photos and the like, being sold item by item.