Abstract
Archival research is foundational to the writing of most works of academic history and is a central part of the professional identity of historians. Despite this, we know very little about what historians do in archives, and how it shapes the process of writing history. This article uses quantitative data from The National Archives of the UK to analyse one part of this puzzle, namely how historians choose what to look at in an archive. It explores the nature of archive catalogues, and their relationship to the collections they describe. It goes on to assess how catalogues shape what historians choose to view when they visit an archive, and concludes by looking more widely at historians' information seeking practices. Through this analysis the article will argue that external factors have a far greater impact on archival research, and through it the writing of history, than is traditionally acknowledged, and as such historians need to pay considerably more attention to the ways in which their access to archives is shaped by these factors.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
