International Roots of the Civil Rights Movement: What are Archives?

Guide to navigating archives, which will be used as part of Union Theological Seminary class CE315 taught by Sarah Azaransky

What is in an Archive?

Archives are collections of historically important material that are organized and made accessible to preserve information on individuals and organizations. These materials provide evidence of the day-to-day activities of the people and organizations which originally created the collections. Materials considered "archival" could be, but are not limited to, photographs, correspondence, minutes, maps, audio-visual material, and publications.

Further Sources

Archives and Records Management: Bibliographies, Web Links and Professional Organizations

Mark Greene, “Access to Institutional Archives and Manuscript Collections in U.S. Colleges and Universities,” http://www.archivists.org/publications/proceedings/accesstoarchives/08_Mark_GREENE.pdf

Society of American Archivists, North America's oldest and largest national archival professional association.

Using Archives: A Guide to Effective Research

The United States Archives and Records Administration

What Does an Archive Look Like?

BOXES

 

 

 

Typically you would see a box like this if it was an unprocessed, or disorganized, collection. These boxes are called either Records Cartons or Paige Boxes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More likely you will see something like this, which is called a Manuscript Box.



 

 

 

 

 

What might be inside the box?


FOLDERS