Basic Research Methods

1. Basic Research Methods The National Archives in Laguna Niguel

2. What Interests YOU? Step 1 Framing Historical Questions. Discuss a difficult research experience (Andrew Carnegie drawn from a box) and how the �in� makes research so much better. Begin with your interest. What do you want to know? I often begin with some scant reference in a newspaper article, or something mentioned in passing in an academic article & think �Well, that�s interesting.� b. Do research first to get an idea of the research already done and a bigger picture of the event. Books, journal articles academic libraries are a good source, contact the reference librarian to see what resources are available at the library: databases, guide to periodical literature. This will raise new questions. What is left unanswered by the research? Keep in mind that you may need to narrow your focus.Step 1 Framing Historical Questions. Discuss a difficult research experience (Andrew Carnegie drawn from a box) and how the �in� makes research so much better. Begin with your interest. What do you want to know? I often begin with some scant reference in a newspaper article, or something mentioned in passing in an academic article & think �Well, that�s interesting.� b. Do research first to get an idea of the research already done and a bigger picture of the event. Books, journal articles academic libraries are a good source, contact the reference librarian to see what resources are available at the library: databases, guide to periodical literature. This will raise new questions. What is left unanswered by the research? Keep in mind that you may need to narrow your focus.

3. By choosing larger topics, you can only pay a small amount of attention to a large number of historic events. With Civil Rights: Segregation Rosa Parks James Meredith Civil Rights Leaders March on Washington Martin Luther King, Jr. The Kennedys The Voting Rights Act of 1964 By choosing larger topics, you can only pay a small amount of attention to a large number of historic events. With Civil Rights: Segregation Rosa Parks James Meredith Civil Rights Leaders March on Washington Martin Luther King, Jr. The Kennedys The Voting Rights Act of 1964

4. The Arrest of Rosa Parks By choosing to focus on one specific example, you can magnify the event and discuss it in more detail, limit the amount of primary sources you need to incorporate and then relate it back to the larger historical context.By choosing to focus on one specific example, you can magnify the event and discuss it in more detail, limit the amount of primary sources you need to incorporate and then relate it back to the larger historical context.

5. Who participated in the event? Where did it take place? Where are the primary sources? What sorts of people participated in the event? (Have students answer these questions for Rosa Parks.) Specific individuals � Rosa Parks, Policeman, Bus Driver government agencies � Montgomery Police corporations � Bus Company organizations � NAACP Where did it take place? Montgomery, Alabama Looking for repositories �Tricky What sorts of people participated in the event? (Have students answer these questions for Rosa Parks.) Specific individuals � Rosa Parks, Policeman, Bus Driver government agencies � Montgomery Police corporations � Bus Company organizations � NAACP Where did it take place? Montgomery, Alabama Looking for repositories �Tricky

6. Where are the Primary Sources?Figuring out Archives Government Archives � Records created by a government entity in process of conducting their business. Historical Societies � Specific geographic or area interests that can be clear in their society name. University Special Collections � usually follow some sort of collections policy. Special Topic Archives & Museums � involve a specific area of interest or a specific community of people. Often the trickiest part for new researchers and students. Where are the PRIMARY SOURCES??? Look for repositories. Online Archives Local and State Historical Societies University Archives State Archives National Archives Also remember to give yourself time for the folks at the repository to respond to your request. Local historical Societies often have small volunteer staffs. Often the trickiest part for new researchers and students. Where are the PRIMARY SOURCES??? Look for repositories. Online Archives Local and State Historical Societies University Archives State Archives National Archives Also remember to give yourself time for the folks at the repository to respond to your request. Local historical Societies often have small volunteer staffs.

7. What are the dates? Who is the author? What is the agenda of the author? Why was it created? For whom was it created? How does it answer the question you originally posed? Does it create new questions? Dates: what else is going on in the World at that time? Author�s Agenda: It is important to understand that the author has written the document for a purpose and it is important to keep that purpose in mind when reading the record. Does it create new questions? Does the document give evidence that another agency, individual, organization etc. was involved? This is where you start over again identifying potential archives. Let me show you how that works�(Silas John Letter) Dates: what else is going on in the World at that time? Author�s Agenda: It is important to understand that the author has written the document for a purpose and it is important to keep that purpose in mind when reading the record. Does it create new questions? Does the document give evidence that another agency, individual, organization etc. was involved? This is where you start over again identifying potential archives. Let me show you how that works�(Silas John Letter)

8. Letter from James Kitch, superintendent of the San Carlos Apache Agency to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Include �secondary research� or what I already know. Complete worksheetLetter from James Kitch, superintendent of the San Carlos Apache Agency to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Include �secondary research� or what I already know. Complete worksheet

9. What does this say about what was happening at the time? Why is this important? You can use the secondary research to assist you with this. Always question, how does this fit into the larger picture?You can use the secondary research to assist you with this. Always question, how does this fit into the larger picture?

10. NoodleBib Citations APA Kitch, J.B. (1925). Letter to Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Unpublished Manuscript, National Archives and Records Administration, Laguna Niguel, CA. MLA Kitch, James B. Letter to Commissioner of Indian Affairs. 15 May 1925. National Archives and Records Administration, Laguna Niguel, CA. What is the importance is of citing sources? Citations are important for historians to prove their arguments and for you to be able to trace your steps. So that others can build on the research that has been done. Good history is like a scientific experiment, it can be recreated. (Note: the publication on citing records GIL 17). What is the importance is of citing sources? Citations are important for historians to prove their arguments and for you to be able to trace your steps. So that others can build on the research that has been done. Good history is like a scientific experiment, it can be recreated. (Note: the publication on citing records GIL 17).

11. NARA Citation Kitch, James B., Superintendent, San Carlos Indian Agency, to Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington, DC, May 15, 1925; 004 General Statistical Letters to the Indian Office; Central Classified Files, 1913-1952; San Carlos Indian Agency; Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Record Group 75; National Archives and Records Administration�Pacific Region (Laguna Niguel). Document � the letter, photograph, report, film clip you are interested in using. Folder � the title of the folder Series � the name of the series, letters received, civil case files Collection � for our purposes, that would be the record group Repository � we are the National Archives in Laguna Niguel, California. Document � the letter, photograph, report, film clip you are interested in using. Folder � the title of the folder Series � the name of the series, letters received, civil case files Collection � for our purposes, that would be the record group Repository � we are the National Archives in Laguna Niguel, California.

12. Can I Get There From Here? Read Los Angeles Times article, �Ten Film Men Indicted for Contempt of House� use worksheet.Read Los Angeles Times article, �Ten Film Men Indicted for Contempt of House� use worksheet.