Historic collections for researchers
Sarah Price and Richard Pears
What are historic collections?
Could also mean…
Could even include…
Why use them?
“Take away from history why, how and to what end things have been done, and whether the thing done hath succeeded according to reason; and all that remains will be an idle sport and foolery, than a profitable instruction; and though for the present it may delight, for the future it cannot profit.”
Using historic collections
• Finding printed secondary material• Finding archive material – key things to remember• Useful websites and portals for archives• Finding and accessing printed material• Online resources• Pathways in archives• Tips for using archives• Copyright and Freedom of Information
Finding material: where to start?
• Secondary reading– Bibliographies– Footnotes/references
• Reference works– Bibliographies– Guides– Online guides
• Tutors
Finding secondary sources
• Catalogues for monographs• Bibliographic databases for journal articles
and reviews e.g. Historical Abstracts, Jstor, IBSS
• Theses e.g. Index to theses, EThOS• Access by visiting (SCONUL Access) or
borrowing (Document Delivery Service)
The archive environmentThe National Archives Records of central government and the
central criminal courtsOther Nationals British Library, Houses of Parliament, etc.
County Record Offices Records relating to the administration of the historic county and other local material
University archives Material collected to support research and teaching and other material related to the administration of the University
Specialist archives For example, businesses, charities, churches, organisations, etc.
Private and family collections Papers relating to families, individuals, estates etc
Finding archival material• Not organised/categorised in the same way as books
– Don’t fall into neat categories– How they have been collected or created is part of their
story• Key is the creator or creating body
– Who might have created the record? Where might it be?– Remember to think around the subject
• Remember…– not everything has survived– not everything is kept– not everything is easy to find
General Strike
Local coal records
County Record Office
Finding archival materialArchive catalogues• Each archive will have own catalogue
– Not all online– Not all complete
Durham University Special Collections
Useful sites• National Archives – Search the Archives• Access to Archives• National Register of Archives• ARCHON
Finding archival materialSearch strategies• Think laterally• Combine search terms – Boolean searching• Use wild card/fuzzy searchesFinding material• Locally held copies• Printed sources• Online sources – many from Library catalogue
Online resources
• Diaries, manuscripts rare books, newspapers (articles, adverts, images, obituaries), photographs, historic interviews in film or transcription
• Digitised as text or, more often, as an image• Varying quality • Varying ability to search – many rely on the
record
Accessing online resources
• Catalogue http://library.dur.ac.uk/
• Definitive listing www.dur.ac.uk/library/resources/online/databases/
• Filter by resource-type www.dur.ac.uk/library/resources/online/
• Subject filter www.dur.ac.uk/library/resources/subject/ for your own subject area www.dur.ac.uk/library/history for historic resources
Full text online collections
Full text
MEMSO
Tudor State Papers
Mass observation
online
House of Commons Papers
19th century periodicals
Archival sound recordings
Times Digital Archive
Foreign Broadcast
Information Service
E-books as primary sources
e-books
Medieval sources online
The Latin Library
Broadside Ballads
GallicaEEBO
Patrologia Latina
ECCO
Google Books
Accessing printed books
• Rare books held in archives but listed in library catalogues
• Main collections in Durham University Library catalogue and listed on Special Collections pages
• Some collections at other institutions in COPAC
• Printed collections of sources or translations
Pathways in archives
Radical Politics
Local events and info
News and journals
Pamphlets and
periodicalsNational outlook
Trials and other legal
papers
Local business
info
Local politics &
govt
Pathways and journeys
Local National
Diaries
Newspapers
Business records
Parish records
Police records
Useful tips for working in archives
Contact before visit• Opening times, ID, facilities, advance orderingGo prepared• Paper, pencils, laptop, camera, references• Wear/take warm clothesBe organised• Check references, take full notes• Ask for help
Understanding archival references
HO 42/95 f.375Collection = Home Office
Division = Domestic
Correspondence
Subdivision = part year 1808
Folio
HO 42: The National Archives, Home Office, Domestic Correspondence, George III
Copyright
• Archival material is still subject to copyright law
• Some records are restricted – check!• Normally okay to cite in research without
permission• Situation will change if work is being published
(theses count!)
Copyright
Freedom of Information
• FOI Act passed in 2000 and came into full effect from 2005
• Information is assumed to be ‘open’ unless one of the specified exemptions applies
• Anyone can send in a written request • Is a right of appeal
Useful links
National Register of Archiveswww.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/default.asp
Access 2 Archiveshttp://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/
ARCHONhttp://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archon/