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Archival Research Tutorial: Should you be at an archive?

Archival materials give you direct access to the time or event you are studying. The goal of this guide is to help you conduct research at the Clara Thomas Archives & Special Collections at York University Libraries.

Do I need to consult archival material?

What sort of sources am I looking for?

Archives contain documentary records, not books.   Archivists deal with the records left by a person or organization and the relationship between the record and the activity that generated it. As a result, records have meaning and context in how they bear witness to the creator's activities.

Records are:

  • documents made, received and set aside during the course of an activity
  • by-products of an activity, not the purpose
  • created by an authorized and qualified person
  • available in a variety of formats (textual materials, visual materials, sound recordings, etc.)


Researchers often deal with the personal papers of a significant person, such as an author, or an organization.  Records generally refer to unpublished materials, such as:

  • letters and emails
  • meeting minutes and agendas
  • photographs
  • annual reports and project files
  • journals/diaries
  • maps and plans
  • notes and manuscripts   
  • sound and video recordings
  • ledgers or account books
  • drawings

 

Materials in an archival setting are primary resources. Therefore, it is up to you to research the historical context in which the documents or artifacts were created. Remember, secondary resources will provide you with a context and understanding of the circumstances and time period in which the given document (e.g. letter, photograph, or map) was created. Interpreting the document is up to you!