An archive is a place where people can go to conduct research about a historical topic. Archives collect unique, original, or firsthand information in the form of personal papers, scrapbooks, diaries, photographs, letters, manuscripts, government documents, and other primary sources.
While Archives can be very similar to libraries, they are both places that support research, archives have a distinct mission and function. Archives focus on the preservation of unique and historical documents, records, and materials and are usually rare, valuable, and of enduring historical or research significance. Libraries are more general in scope and are designed to provide access to a wide range of books, periodicals, multimedia materials, and other information resources for the general public, students, and researchers.
Letters
Documents (including manuscripts)
Memos
Scrapbooks
Photographs
Newspapers
Memorabilia
Ephemera
Ledgers
Journals
Books
Audio Recordings
Video recordings/film
Maps/charts/diagrams
Digital media: email, social media, websites, audio/video, photographs
Archival research is the process of extracting and using evidence from archives and archival material. It involves locating and visiting (whether physically or online) archival repositories and working with finding aids (and other reference tools) to locate materials within archival collections.
Archival research relies on primary source materials, which are original documents or records created at the time of an event or shortly afterward. These materials can include letters, diaries, government records, photographs, newspapers, maps, audio recordings, and more.
Researchers use archival materials to gain insight into specific historical events, periods, or individuals. These materials provide a window into the past and allow researchers to examine the context in which historical events occurred.
Researchers collect data from archival materials by examining, transcribing, summarizing, and analyzing the contents of the documents. This data can be used to support arguments, draw conclusions, or develop historical narratives.