by Creighton Barrett
[FMB: I've transcribed some of the great material in Creighton's guide. (see below). Follow the link above to see the full Guide.]
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A guide on conducting archival research. Includes instructions on finding archival material at the Dalhousie Libraries.
What are archival materials?
Archival materials are materials created or received by a person, family, organization, or business, in the conduct of their affairs. They are usually considered primary sources that serve as evidence of past actions and events.
Archival materials act as memory aids that allow us to recall and relive these activities and events, or to re-communicate information about them at some point in the future.
Archival materials are preserved as evidence of the functions and responsibilities of their creator or because of their enduring value.
What kind of primary source materials can I find in an archive?
Archival materials can include a wide variery of formats:
- Textual records (e.g., correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, etc.)
- Photographs
- Architectural plans
- Blueprints
- Audiovisual records (e.g., tape, film, video, etc.)
- Computer files (e.g., word documents, spreadsheets, software files, etc.)
- Data sets (e.g., databases, GIS data, etc.)
- Scrapbooks
How do I find information about archival collections?
Archives create "finding aids," standardized descriptions of their collections. The purpose of the finding aid is to communicate to researchers:
- What records an archives has acquired
- Who created the records and in what context
- The nature and scope of the material in a fonds or collection
- Whether access and/or use restrictions have been placed on a fonds or collection
- This information should enable researchers to determine whether particular holdings are relevant to their research and thus warrant a visit to the archives to consult the original records in person. Like records in a library catalogue, archival finding aids do not typically include copies of the actual original records themselves. The vast majority of archival material must be consulted on-site.
However, many archives are now digitizing their holdings and making digital copies of records available online. For example, the Archives Catalogue and the MemoryNS.ca website have the ability to "embed" digital copies of archival material directly to the finding aids.
Main References
Introduction to archives
- Differences between archives and libraries
- Types of archival repositories
- How is archival material organized
- Archives terminology
Introduction to archival research
- How to find archival repositories
- How to handle archival material
- Research guides and manuals
- Palaeography
Find archival material at the Dalhousie Libraries
- Tips for first-time visitors
- Search the Archives Catalogue
- Browse the Archives Catalogue
- Archives and Special Collections Reading Room
- Archives document delivery service
Citing archival materials
- APA
- Chicago Manual of Style
- MLA
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