[radiohead]

What's the provenance, Kenneth?

You an archivist? LIS type? All round smart person? 'Provenance' is an interesting choice of words for your average joe.

I'm in info sci, that's why I ask.

[weegee]

When it comes to autograph collecting or other historical items, it is important to be able to discuss the lineage of just how something got to your hands. This shows that it was not stolen and provides for verification of authenticity (maybe some other document references that xxx has had possession of item abc for a long time, or maybe your source xxx is a well respected and trusted source).

Also, sometimes the lineage of how the item passed from hand to hand is an interesting story in its own right.

I think that the term may have entered more common usage through Antiques Roadshow (although I don't watch it very often).