Expert Advice | SCRC

Advice from Archives and Special Collections Research Experts

Consider the following advice before beginning archival or special collections research:

Allow extra time!
This is universal advice. On-site research always takes more time than you think it will. A lot more time.

Practices vary
Every repository and every region will do things differently. These differences can include how welcomed you are, safe handling instructions, the processes for registering and getting access to materials, and the level of detail in descriptive documents like finding aids.

Surveillance happens
In the United States, most repositories are welcoming to researchers, even if your research findings show their materials or history in a negative light. In some places, though, you will meet resistance. You may be monitored as you do your research. Staff may withhold information. Customs officials may delete information from your computer before they let you leave the country. Think about the political climate you’re traveling to, and prepare accordingly.

Be specific AND flexible
When writing a grant application, specific details will help. And yet, your research is likely to change once you get into the field. This is ok!

Don’t give up
Research failures happen. The documents don’t exist, or turn out to have no value for your research. You can still salvage your trip! Talk candidly with the archivists on site about what you were hoping to find and what their collections might still offer you. Reach out to your home librarians and mentors for help imagining a new path.
Make friends and network

Find opportunities to interact with archives staff and with fellow researchers. Informing staff about your research may enable them to recommend other collections that could be useful. This is something you could do even before visiting the archives itself. Some archives will host teas or other events for this purpose.
Lots of copies keeps stuff safe
Store archival material in multiple places to avoid losing it (e.g. your computer’s hard drive, an external drive, and cloud storage).

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