Research Guides: HIST 5373: Civil War & Reconstruction Graduate Seminar: Finding Physical Archives

History Librarian

Contact:

936-294-1520
kclaunch@shsu.edu
Library (NGL) Room 223G

Finding Archives

Finding Archives: Tips from the Society of American Archivists

Search Tools to Discover Physical Archive Collections

The following tools can be used to search descriptions of archive collections. This will not provide images of specific items in the collection, but it can at least reveal what libraries and institutions own useful collections on a subject.

ArchiveGrid This link opens in a new window Search collection descriptions for nearly a million collections of historical documents, personal papers, and family histories held in archives around the world. Identify what material an archive holds and how to request copies or arrange a visit.See screenshots of how to use this site...
WorldCat (FirstSearch) This link opens in a new window Search tens of thousands of library catalogs around the world to find books and other items, including archival collection descriptions.See screenshots of how to use this site...
C19: The Nineteenth Century Index This link opens in a new window Includes citations for specific documents, but also descriptions of archival collections. Emphasizes archives on the 19th century. See screenshots of how to use this site...

TARO (Texas Archival Resources Online)
Provides archival collection descriptions and finding aids from archives housed in Texas (not necessarily just "about" Texas).
See screenshots of how to use this site...
Online Archive of California
The Online Archive of California provides access to archival collection descriptions from several hundred cultural and historical institutions in California- covering many different topics of research.

A Few Major Archival Catalogs and Finding Aids

Finding Aids for Library of Congress Archive Collections
British Library Catalogue of Archives and Manuscripts
National Archives (UK) Catalogues
Tip: Focus on "records held by The National Archives" to access their collection descriptions and finding aids.
National Archives (US) Research Catalog
Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States
World Bank Group Archives Holdings
Searches some digital materials, as well as numerous collection finding aids.
Archives Portal Europe
"The Archives Portal Europe provides access to information on archival material from different European countries as well as information on archival institutions throughout the continent." A strategic partner of Europeana. (APEx project supported by the European Commission)

Using Archives: A Guide for the Inexperienced

Using Archives: A Guide for the Inexperienced
(Archives Hub)

Using Archives: A Guide from the SAA

Using Archives: A Guide (Society of American Archivists)

This web-based guide covers:

How archives function
How to identify appropriate archives for your research
How to access historical materials and research at an archives

Photo by The National Archives (United Kingdom) [CC-BY-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons