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This discussion of the protection of privacy as it relates to archival functions draws on the procedures followed by three repositories: the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library (NLF), the Michigan Historical Collections (MHC) at the University of Michigan, and the Walter P. Reuther Library of Labor and Urban Affairs (Reuther Library) at Wayne State University. The constitutional, common, and statutory law roots of the right to privacy concept are explored in detail, and a general overview of repository and donor restrictions is given. Discussion of the three libraries' procedures focuses primarily on their handling of labor union records, including donor restrictions, accessioning policies, screening for private information, review and appraisal procedures, third party privacy, and description procedures for closed materials. (29 references) (MAB)