Archives and Practice Materials

This chapter focuses on archives and special collections. Archival collections are diverse, ranging in size, scope, creator, and format. As such, there are two parts to an archival research project: (1) determine which archive holds the needed materials, and (2) determine, as much as possible, where in a collection relevant materials might be found. Several widely available resources can help a researcher determine which archives to consult. Many archival collections have finding aids, and a finding aid is the first thing that researchers should look for. A finding aid should provide an overview of the collection, including the provenance and information about access; perhaps a brief biography and/or description of the collection; and a list of the contents of the collection that describes the contents as specifically as the name of each box or folder. The chapter also looks at practice books or manuals, which are one of the most long-lived type of legal material.