Search for Archival Materials - Presentation
Introduction | Prep | Presentation | Activity
Flowchart of archival collections in the U.S. (5 minutes)
Explore the flowchart to learn more about how search engines for archival collections in the US were created.
Download the Flowchart of archival collections in the U.S.
Links to an external site.
Image description:
A chart depicting the flow of information about archival and manuscript collections held in U.S. repositories, including private collections. Directional lines are color-coded for the type of information they represent: catalog records, finding aids, and digital surrogates. A text description of the same information, with additional detail, is available at "Finding Collections in U.S. Repositories Links to an external site.," on the Library Research Guide for Finding Manuscripts and Archival Collections.
Understand the flowchart (15 minutes)
Links in the video:
- HOLLIS record for Papers of Earnest A. Hooton, 1926-1974 Links to an external site.
- Finding aid for Earnest A. Hooton papers Links to an external site.
Translate to the international context (12 minutes)
Watch the Archives and Manuscripts Abroad - translating the flowchart video in Panopto.
Links in the video:
- All Countries page from the Library Research Guide for Finding Archival Manuscript Collections Links to an external site.
- Digital libraries/collections by region or language Links to an external site.
Notes:
Structured Web Searches (04:35)
- Use Google’s advanced search to help locate research guides on a geographic region or topic. Try structuring your search with:
- All these words: country name, archives (do separate searches for archival, manuscripts).
- Any of these words: guide research resources
- Use Google’s advanced search to find digital collections by region and subject. Try structuring your search with:
- All these words: library [your topic keywords]
- Any of these words: "digital archives" "digital collection" "digital library" "online collection" "primary sources"
- Site or domain: .edu [or ac.uk or country domain, etc.]
Explore 4 major accounts of what others have experienced in archives (7:52)
- Archives Made Easy Links to an external site.
- Fresh from the Archives Links to an external site. offers graduate students' reports on using archives worldwide.
- Perspectives on History Links to an external site. (AHA) Search Archives in the search box.
- Wilson Center Links to an external site. In Menu (upper right) search Archives. Narrow results by Type: Blog post.
Search in historical periodical indexes (8:44) Find descriptions of an archive's holdings in:
- bibliographies of a region or repository
- repository guides
- articles about a researcher's experience using a particular archive
- articles written using the archive's holdings as sources
- Examples:
- General index: Historical Abstracts with Full text Links to an external site.
- Bibliographie francophone sur l’archivistique Links to an external site.
- For former British colonies/possessions: Bibliography of British and Irish History Links to an external site. (BBIH)
- Historical Periodicals: By Country/Region Links to an external site.
Introduction | Prep | Presentation | Activity