Exploring the Archives

This book offers qualitative researchers an entrée into the world of working with archival repositories and special collections. It serves as a primer for students and researchers who might not be familiar with these sorts of collections, but with an interest in what has become known as the “archival turn,” in which the use of archival materials and artifacts in contemporary research has increased dramatically since the 1990s. Suited to novice researchers seeking a general introduction into how special collections are created and how they can be used, the book offers useful, clear guidance on using different types of archives, developing topics for research within the archives, assessing materials available, how to work with archivists and curators, documenting the research process, and writing up an archival study. Archival records and material culture (including manuscripts, documents, audio- and video-recordings, and visual and material culture) housed in special collections provide a wealth of resources for qualitative researchers seeking to conduct research in the social sciences.


Perfect for courses in: Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods | Research Methods in Higher Education | Exploring Archival Collections | Family Studies | Community Research | Introduction to Special Collections Research


List of Figures and Tables



List of Abbreviations



Acknowledgments


ONE Introduction


TWO  Entering the Archives

Reflection 1 Permissions From the President and Missing Materials: The Challenges of Archival Research

Amanda Ingram


THREE  Examples of Archival Research


FOUR  Archiving Principles and Accessing Archival Collections

Reflection 2 You Won’t Find It Online: Entering the Archives to Tell the Story of the B-52s

Brigette Adair Herron and Scott Creney


FIVE Developing and Implementing a Research Study in the Archives

Reflection 3  Entering the Archives: Developing a Topic

E. Anthony Muhammad


Reflection 4  Entering the Archives: Developing a Topic

Judith Brauer


Reflection 5  The Dark Room: Thomas Evan Walker’s Journey from Pennsgrove, N.J. to France and Back

Kathleen deMarrais


SIX  Digital Repositories and Archiving Qualitative Data

Reflection 6 Accessing Online Repositories

Janie Copple


SEVEN Politics and the Archives

Reflection 7 Lucy and Her Sisters

Jean Swindle


EIGHT  Doing Quality Research with Archives

Reflection 8  Are Some Skeletons Best Left in the Closet? Ethics of Family Research Involving Illicit Activities

Jamie B. Lewis


Additional Resources



Glossary



About the Authors



Index