What Are Archival Sources?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Archival sources can be

manuscripts, documents, records (including electronic records), objects, sound and audiovisual materials, or other materials

. What is an archives? An archives is “an organization that collects the records of individuals, families, or other organizations.”

What are the major sources of archival data?

  • Public records from governmental agencies.
  • Research organizations.
  • Health and human service organizations.
  • Schools and education departments.
  • Academic and similar institutions.
  • Business and industry.

What is an example of archival research?

Common examples of archival research sources are

census records or survey data that was collected in the past

. … An example of archival research would be a psychologist looking at mental institution records from the 1900s to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms in patients at the time.

What is an archival primary source?

Archives are

the gatekeepers of primary source materials

. These repositories are as varied as the materials that they house. Archives can be found in a respected college or university, a local historical society or museum or even in an institutional setting such as a corporate headquarters.

What are examples of archival materials?

Types of Materials: Archives can hold both published and unpublished materials, and those materials can be in any format. Some examples are

manuscripts, letters, photographs, moving image and sound materials, artwork, books, diaries, artifacts

, and the digital equivalents of all of these things.

What are archival methods?

In its most classic sense, archival methods are those

that involve the study of historical documents

; that is, documents created at some point in the relatively distant past, providing us access that we might not otherwise have to the organizations, individuals, and events of that earlier time.

How do you use archival sources?

  1. Look on the archive’s website to see if they provide research guidance and to find out how the archive is arranged.
  2. If the archive has an online catalogue, take some time to find out how to use it. …
  3. Do some research before you come. …
  4. Check different archives and organisations for relevant documents.

What is an archival data?

-Archival data are

any data that are collected prior to the beginning of the research study

. -The data may or may not contain HIPAA identifiers. -The data are also the primary source (versus a secondary source where the data was analyzed for another publication).

What are archival documents and government sources?

Government archives are

repositories that collect materials relating to local, state, or national government entities

. Examples: The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, the New York State Archives, City of Boston Archives.

How do you collect data in archival research?

Archival data exist prior to any actions by current researchers, although they may have been assembled by previous scholars. These preexisting data are gathered by current researchers. Archival research data may be

collected from numerical records, verbal documents, or visual artifacts such as those on websites

.

What is an archival research study?

Archival research is research that

involves searching for and extracting information and evidence from original archives

. Archives are historical – non-current – documents, records and other sources relating to the activities and claims of individuals, entities or both.

What are the advantages of archival research?

Advantages of archival research

Archival research

minimizes the response biases of subjects

because the researcher is not present while the data is recorded. Archival data is very plentiful and has already been collected. This makes it easier and often less costly than alternative research methods.

What is archival room?

Archival chambers

provide environmental controls for storing records and materials

(including paper documents and items with high fibrous content, various films, microfiche, and photographic materials) that require permanent protection for storage and preservation.

What are examples of sources?

  • archives and manuscript material.
  • photographs, audio recordings, video recordings, films.
  • journals, letters and diaries.
  • speeches.
  • scrapbooks.
  • published books, newspapers and magazine clippings published at the time.
  • government publications.
  • oral histories.

How do I find primary sources?

For the arts, history, and humanities, original primary source documents usually are housed in

museums, archives, restricted library collections, and government offices

. Reproductions of primary source documents often can be found in online digital collections, microform collections, books, and other secondary works.

Is book a secondary source?

Common examples of secondary sources include

academic books, journal articles, reviews, essays, and textbooks

. Anything that summarizes, evaluates or interprets primary sources can be a secondary source.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.