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HIST 410: Research Seminar in US History (Ingram): Activity: Analyzing Primary Sources

Course Guide for History 410 (Research Seminar in US History: Crime and Punishment), Spring 2024

Archival Intelligence

Archival Intelligence refers to a user’s understanding of archival policies, arrangement and systems. It also entails basic information literacy for primary sources.

Four general categories of archival literacy skills:

  1. Observation:  describing the elements of a document, photograph, or finding aid
  2. Interpretation/Historical Context: finding meaning in the sources and placing them in a broader context
  3. Evaluation/Critical thinking: asking questions regarding the validity, limitations, strengths of sources
  4. Research Skills: generating a meaningful awareness of archives, where to locate primary sources, and how to read a basic finding aid

Analyzing Primary Source and Archival Materials:

1. What is the title of the document/artifact? Author (or creator): Date(s):

2. Is it part of an archival collection, and if so what? To what repository does it belong? 

3. What type of artifact is this? (letter, diary, journal, pamphlet, image, map, photo, etc.)? What are some unique physical qualities of the document? 

4. For what audience(s)/purpose was the artifact created? What is the evidence that shows you why it exists?

5. Write a question to the creator(s) of the artifact that is left unanswered in the document.

6. Read the artifact “against the grain” and identify at least one historically marginalized person or group of people who are not represented or are missing (archival silence).

7. How could a researcher use the archival item? In other words, what research questions could this item help answer?

8. How can you find out more about the context and background of the artifact? What is its relationship to other primary sources or archival collections you may encounter?

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