Daniel,
I don't have a solution directly from Word. If you can get the
container lists converted to a spreadsheet and exported as CSV, then a
Ruby gem I wrote might help [1]. It accepts a properly headed CSV file
and exports valid EAD XML. The implementation is basic right now, but
I'll be extending it soon to deal with more of the elements that
Archivists Toolkit can handle importing.

I also started on a Rails 3 web application which uses the gem [2].
You can upload a CSV file and get back the EAD XML. I've got an early
version of this up on Heroku if anyone wants to give it a try.

Let me know if there's something I might be able to do to make this
work better for you.

Jason

[1] http://github.com/jronallo/stead
[2] http://github.com/jronallo/steady

On Thu, Oct 7, 2010 at 1:36 PM, Cornwall, Daniel D (EED)
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
>
>
> While I think what I'm looking for doesn't exist, I wanted to ask some
> experts before making confident assertions.
>
>
>
> Our institution has a lot of finding aids for photo and manuscript
> collections in MS Word Format. They have pretty standard subheadings. An
> example can be found at
> www.library.state.ak.us/hist/hist_docs/finding_aids/MS220.doc
> <http://www.library.state.ak.us/hist/hist_docs/finding_aids/MS220.doc> .
>
>
>
>
> I've had inquiries about getting these Word finding aids converted to
> EAD (Encoded Archival Description) through some sort of converter. I
> haven't been able to locate any such program, but maybe that's a
> reflection on my searching skills.
>
>
>
> There are a number of programs to create EAD finding aids from scratch
> and I've recommended acquiring one of these programs and getting staff
> to rekey/copy & paste from Word into the EAD finding aid program. Staff
> are not willing to do this at least until I can demonstrate that there
> is no automated way to convert our finding aids. Of course, if there is
> a converter, so much the better.
>
>
>
> Thanks in advance for any enlightenment you can give me. - Daniel
>
>
>
> =======================================
>
> Daniel Cornwall
>
> Head of Technical and Imaging Services
>
> Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums
>
> PO Box 110571
> Juneau, AK 99811-0571
> Phone (907) 465-6332
>
> Fax (907) 465-2665
> E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
>
> See Division resources at http://lam.alaska.gov <http://lam.alaska.gov/>
> .
>
>
>
>
>
> Any opinions expressed in this e-mail are mine alone and not those of my
> employer unless explicitly stated.
>
>
>
>