This study of Swedish private and estate archives of the 17th century reveals that their structure and archival description often obscures access to the records of agricultural and business activities. Document- and archive management at the manors had a clearly articulated legal framework, yet it is difficult to understand agricultural operations of the time using today’s archival description. Previous efforts to compile inventories are disappointing when measured against the potential number of estates in the 1600s. Archival access based on geospatial position and the business process rather than on families would provide better access and a more accurate picture of agricultural activity on the manor estates of the period.