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:
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 Records generally refer to unpublished materials, such as:
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!