Navigating the Archives

 When to go: University Archives is open during standard business hours (Mon. through Fri. 8:30 to 5:00), so you will need to plan ahead to get there during that window.  What to do beforehand: Confirm with the archivist that you plan to come at a certain time. You can do this by email. Also, identify what collections you plan to see. When possible, browse the available online inventories prior to arriving and bring a list of collections to see (note box & series number and folder title).  What to bring: A laptop (for note-taking) and a pencil (no pens allowed). You can use a digital camera to capture images of material you will use for your research, which is a good alternative to photocopying (more on this below). Don’t bring food.  What to do first: Ask for help! Tell the archivists exactly what you are looking for – even if you don’t know what the names of the sources might be. More below.  How to get copies of materials: Try to think ahead on duplication...figure out what you’ll want to reference at home, and request a copy of this material as you encounter it. Make sure to fill out appropriate form. Archives staff will photocopy or make scans for you, however, sometimes this may take a few days to have ready, so plan ahead.  How long it will take: Exploring in an archive can take longer than you might think especially at first – so give yourself 30 or 45 minutes at a minimum each time. Plan to return to the archive more than once, and to document each visit with careful notes about what you viewed.