Archival Research

Properties of Archival Materials

• Nature of archival sources
  • fragmentary nature
    • Context available (finding aid?)
    • Intended audience/purpose
    • “progression” vs “snapshot”
  • Reliability
    • Perspective/bias
    • Unique object – non-standardized presentation (unpublished) and condition (state of preservation)
  • Form determined by culture
    • Marginalized groups
    • Speaker/actor or interpreter?
• Uses of sources
  • Identification of others
  • Corroboration/contradiction

Information and Evidential Values

Informational Value - the information contained in the materials.  Examples include the text of documents and visual elements of photographs.

Evidential Value - the information available about the creation of the materials.  This may include indications of how an organization functioned, the working methods of the creator, or materials and technologies available and used in the creation of the materials.