Prepared for Unesco's Records and Archives Management Programme (RAMP), this study is designed to provide archivists, manuscript and museum curators, and other interested information professionals in both industrialized and developing countries with an understanding of the archival character of photographs, and a set of guidelines for the appraisal of their archival value; the study assumes no prior knowledge of photographs as documentary material of archival value. The guidelines presented are based on the most successful policies and practices of those countries with the most extensive experience in this field. Individual chapters focus on (1) general considerations in appraising photographs (acquisition policy, preparation, records management, informational value, provenance, cost, and appraisal review); (2) conducting a photo survey (types of surveys, data survey form, direct contact, preparation, completing the survey); (3) criteria for appraisal (age, subject, uniqueness, identification, quality, quantity, accessibility, photographer); (4) special considerations in appraising government photographs (types of photographs, appraisal problems, related documentation, accessioning); and (5) special considerations in appraising non-government photographs (newspaper, commercial, and amateur photography). The concluding chapter briefly summarizes the need for the study and outlines recommendations for general policies, appraisal criteria, and appraising government and non-government photographs. An extensive bibliography and a list of RAMP and related documents are attached. (BBM)