historic collections for researchers (november 2013)

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Historic collections for researchers Sarah Price and Richard Pears

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This session is delivered and designed by Dr Richard Pears and Dr Sarah Price, Durham University Library and Heritage Collections Historical Collections for Researchers (November 2013) slides. Delivered as part of the Durham University Researcher Development Programme. Further Training available at https://www.dur.ac.uk/library/research/training/

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Page 1: Historic collections for researchers (November 2013)

Historic collections for researchers

Sarah Price and Richard Pears

Page 2: Historic collections for researchers (November 2013)

What are historic collections?

Page 3: Historic collections for researchers (November 2013)

Could also mean…

Page 4: Historic collections for researchers (November 2013)

Could even include…

Page 5: Historic collections for researchers (November 2013)

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.”

Page 6: Historic collections for researchers (November 2013)

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

Page 7: Historic collections for researchers (November 2013)

Finding material: where to start?

• Secondary reading– Bibliographies– Footnotes/references

• Reference works– Bibliographies– Guides– Online guides

• Tutors

Page 8: Historic collections for researchers (November 2013)

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)

Page 9: Historic collections for researchers (November 2013)

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

Page 10: Historic collections for researchers (November 2013)

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

Page 11: Historic collections for researchers (November 2013)

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

Page 12: Historic collections for researchers (November 2013)

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

Page 13: Historic collections for researchers (November 2013)

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

Page 14: Historic collections for researchers (November 2013)

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

Page 15: Historic collections for researchers (November 2013)

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

Page 16: Historic collections for researchers (November 2013)

E-books as primary sources

e-books

Medieval sources online

The Latin Library

Broadside Ballads

GallicaEEBO

Patrologia Latina

ECCO

Google Books

Page 17: Historic collections for researchers (November 2013)

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

Page 18: Historic collections for researchers (November 2013)

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

Page 19: Historic collections for researchers (November 2013)

Pathways and journeys

Local National

Diaries

Newspapers

Business records

Parish records

Police records

Page 20: Historic collections for researchers (November 2013)

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

Page 21: Historic collections for researchers (November 2013)

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

Page 22: Historic collections for researchers (November 2013)

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!)

Page 23: Historic collections for researchers (November 2013)

Copyright

Page 24: Historic collections for researchers (November 2013)

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

Page 25: Historic collections for researchers (November 2013)

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/