Incorporating In-Person Archival Research into Your Course

A Framework for Instructors

Pre-Semester Preparation

• Familiarize yourself with all the information and links included in this document before introducing it to your students.
• Visit the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections (ASC) as a researcher to familiarize yourself with ASC research procedures and view archival collections and/or rare books that may be relevant to your course.
• Communicate with ASC about your plans (email archives@purdue.edu).
  • If visiting with your students as a group during a single class session (up to 13 people): let us know the anticipated date to ensure that we are prepared for the group.
  • If students will visit individually or in small groups: let us know to expect a gradual influx of researchers on a specific topical area. This will help us best assist them during their visits.
• Develop an assignment for your course that will incorporate archival research. Visit this page for sample activities and ideas.

Helpful Links

• Research Services Dashboard: Register as a researcher to schedule appointments, view and manage requested materials, or request reproductions
• Purdue Collections Database: Descriptions of all archival materials with links to request viewing them during research appointments
• Rare Book Search: Catalog entries for all rare books in special collections with links to request viewing them during research appointments
• Digital and Digitized Resources
  • Purdue E-Archives
  • Purdue Historical Newspapers
  • Purdue Campus Facilities and Buildings Historic Database
  • Purdue Oral Histories

Recommended Resources

Consider adding some or all of these resources to your syllabus or Brightspace to help students prepare for their archival research experiences.

Tutorial Videos

• Introduction to Archives
• Searching Archival Collections
• Searching for Rare Books
• Searching E-Archives
• Scheduling Appointments

Citing Archival Materials

• Purdue OWL Guide

In-Class Preparation

• Introduce your students to the archival research assignment. Consider discussing expectations, number of citations required, and notetaking strategies. Students may bring laptops or cell phones into the Archives and notepaper and pencils are available, but outside notebooks or worksheets are discouraged.
• Introduce students to the Researcher Services Dashboard and ask them to register as researchers. Consider discussing topics addressed on the registration form that may be new to them, including careful handling of rare materials, copyright considerations, and encountering sensitive information.
• Ensure that all students make their own individual research appointments , even if the class will all be visiting at the same time. Appointments must be scheduled at least 48 hours in advance, but earlier is better.
• Ensure that students submit requests for materials along with their appointment. Students should request 1-2 items or boxes each for class visits. These requests are also due at least 48 hours in advance.

At the Archives (If Visiting as a Group)

• Collaborate with the archivist to ensure that students are comfortable using their requested materials and have a positive research experience.
• Answer any questions students have about logistics or what they find among their research materials.

After the Archives Visit

Consider holding a group discussion during the next class meeting. What was unexpected? Was any part of the process difficult? What would have been helpful to know earlier in the process? If any action points come from this discussion, please contact the Archives so we can consider updating and expanding our resources.

For further guidance, contact archives@purdue.edu.