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University of Texas University of Texas Libraries

LAH/HMN350: Archival Research / Lang

Collections best practices

Librarians and archivists are here to help.

The collections on our campus are for you to access. In researching these collections you are creating new knowledge that can be built upon by other researchers. In many cases, you are researching collections that have little scholarship done on them. By creating a public-facing exhibit, you are giving these collections a voice on campus and all over the world.

Before you visit a collection, make a plan.

  1. Avoid approaching the archivist or librarian under a tight deadline. These professionals need time to help you identify relevant materials, and you will need time to explore the materials. 
  2. Use the links provided on the collections list to identify boxes you want to work in.
  3. Choose only as many boxes as you can feasibly work with in the amount of time you have to spend in the collection. 
  4. Be mindful of the hours the collections are open and available for you to do research.

When you're in the collection, keep the following in mind:

  1. Librarians and archivists are there to help. They can answer questions about the collection and help you in your research, or get you in contact with experts in the topic you're studying.
  2. Each collection may have different rules for its use regarding handling and photographing.

As you're planning your project, keep the following in mind:

  1. Some collections allow you to handle duplication through photography, photocopy or scanning on your own, and others would like that work to be done by a collections expert. Please plan ahead for either scenario and figure processing times for images into your project plan.
  2. Take a lot of notes. Even details or documents that seemed insignificant during one visit, may become significant to you later on as you do research. Never overestimate how much time you have with materials - make every encounter meaningful through keeping a research journal and taking time to reflect on the collection.

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