Planning for Success in the Archives

There is a stark difference between working with primary sources in a classroom setting and in the unstructured environment of the archive. A collected volume of primary sources preselects interesting ones, winnows them down to the most striking excerpts, and perhaps juxtaposes contrasting ones against each other. It’s usually not hard to figure out why they were included, and if you do need more guidance, they come surrounded by section headings and other interpretive material. In contrast, going to an archive can feel like rummaging in someone’s attic, or getting lost in an antique shop. To adjust to this new environment, I propose a reconnaissance trip or two, offer some practical suggestions about finding manageable sets of materials, and share some tips about how to turn the archive’s quirks to your advantage.