Archives and Special Collections~Modern History~

What are Archives?• Archives are collections of primary sources

– Documents– Photographs– Maps– Newspapers– Film and sound etc

• Can be held by a wide variety of institutions and individuals– Archives and record offices– Businesses, companies and organisations– Churches– Private individuals

• Are unique

What are archives?• Not organised/categorised in the same way as

books– Don’t fall into neat categories– How they have been collected or created is part

of their story

• Key is the creator or creating body– Who might have created the record? Where

might it be?– Remember to think around the subject

• Remember…– not everything has survived– not everything is kept– not everything is easy to find

An example

Starting your research• Secondary reading

– Read around your subject– Look at bibliography

• Reference works– Bibliographies– Guides– Online guides

• Advice from tutors and record office staff

Things to bear in mind• Will you be able to read the

sources?– Styles of writing/palaeography– Are there any alternatives?

E.g. calendars, transcripts, translations etc

– Might not be in English– Might not be released

• Will you be able to get access to the sources?

Researching: Printed material

• Can be found via the Library catalogue

• Don’t forget about online sources

Researching: finding archival material

Archive catalogues• Each archive will have own catalogue– Not all online– Not all complete

• Durham University Special Collections• National Archives – Search the

Archives• Access to Archives• ARCHON

Searching for archives: our catalogue

Enter search term

List of hits

Description

Searching for archives: a useful portal

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/catalogues-and-online-records.htm

TNA catalogue and digitised material

Other records

Links to other catalogues and information

Searching for archives: Access to Archives

Searching for archives: National Register of Archives

Finding an archive: ARCHON

Visiting an archive

Contact before visit• Opening times, ID, facilities, advance

orderingGo prepared• Paper, pencils, laptop, camera,

references• Clothes – choose carefully!Be organised• Check references, take full notes• Ask for help

Highlights: modern history

Printed material – Cosin’s Library, Bamburgh and Routh collections

Family papers: Baker Baker, Backhouse, Clavering

Durham Bishopric Records

Cremation Society

Earl Grey papers

Macdonald papers

Where do I see it?

All archive and special material produced in search room at PG

• Bring ID on first visit• Register daily

Links and contacts

www.dur.ac.uk/librarywww.dur.ac.uk/library/asc