In the beginning

1
In the beginning

• a Tuesdays _at_ 1000 Workshop
• 11/28/06

Locating and using primary sources.
2
Whos here why

• Introductions
• Me
• You
• Name
• Class standing
• Previous instruction
• Why this workshop?

3
So whats a primary source?

• Original records created at the time historical
  events occurred or well after events in the form
  of memoirs and oral histories. RUSA

• Firsthand testimony or direct evidence
  concerning a topic under investigation. The
  nature and value of a source cannot be determined
  without reference to the topic and questions it
  is meant to answer. The same document, or other
  piece of evidence, may be a primary source in one
  investigation and secondary in another. The
  search for primary sources does not, therefore,
  automatically include or exclude any category of
  records or documents. YUL

4
Considerations

• Context
• Discipline
• Format
• Language
• Temporal relationship
• medium vs. message

5
Prime Examples

• artifacts
• artwork
• broadsides/posters
• captured performances
• clothing
• creative writing (essay, novel)
• data
• diaries
• documents
• equipment
• experiments
• images

• journals
• letters
• maps
• microfilm
• moving pictures
• newspaper articles/broadcasts
• photographs
• reviews
• samples
• sound recordings
• speeches

6
Once removed

• Facsimile
• an exact copy, as of a book, painting, or
  manuscript
• Replica
• a copy or reproduction of a work of art produced
  by the maker of the original or under his or her
  supervision
• any close or exact copy or reproduction.
• Reproduction
• something made by reproducing an original copy
  duplicate
• Surrogate
• a substitute

7
Exercise I
8
Searching Catalogs

• OASys
• Quick Search
• online archive Keyword
• Advanced Search
• Add Special Collections Location

• WorldCAT
• Archival Materials

9
Databases

• American Film Scripts Online
• American Memory
• Online Archive of California (OAC)
• ProQuest Historical Newspapers

10
Websites

• Using Primary Sources on the Web RUSA
• Primary Sources - Yale University Library
• Repository of Primary Sources Terry Abraham

11
Exercise II

• Explore further
• Catalogs
• Databases
• Websites

12
Closing thoughts

• ???????s
• Comments
• Eval
• Next workshop 12/5
• Gov Docs Stats