Quoting various statements on the concept of archives appraisal from dictionaries, standards, textbooks and monographs on the archives from home and abroad and analyzing the practical basis and the roles of these concepts. On this basis a conclusion is made that is the traditional concept of archives appraisal not only play an important role in the qualitative, positioning, and promoting of archives works and promoting the development of Specialization, institutionalization, standardization of archives appraisal, but also has some limitations. In order to meet with the development of the modern document and archives management and archives appraisal practice, the concept of generalized archives appraisal is proposed to provide theoretical support for "full appraisal" and "whole course appraisal" of archives management and also to provide a basic understanding for the further theoretical research of general archives appraisal.