administrative history

n. a narrative or chronology of an organization that provides context for understanding its records

Notes

In archival description, an administrative history often provides contextual information about corporate bodies whereas a biographical note provides contextual information about persons or families. Administrative histories typically include the name, date of establishment and/or dissolution, function, related bodies and hierarchical relationships as well as internal governance or organizational information, legal status, mandate, source of authority, significant events, and location of activity. Administrative histories are an element of archival description but are also used in records management and appraisal.