Discovering Primary Source and Rare Materials: An Introduction to Archives and Special Collections
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Interested in learning to activate your “archival mindset”? Curious about what exactly makes a “rare book” rare? This workshop will cover the basics of how to identify, search for, access, and properly handle the kinds of unique and historical materials held in Adelphi University Archives and Special Collections.
Working with primary sources offers the opportunity to engage directly with the raw materials out of which our understanding of the past (and therefore our perceptions of the present and future) is shaped. But how to get started with archival research? What are the differences between research using rare books or historical manuscripts held in Adelphi University Archives and Special Collections (UASC) and research using other library resources?
This workshop will cover some basic strategies for identifying and accessing materials in archives and special collections, at Adelphi and beyond. Along the way we will explore the principles of archival organization, the significance of materiality, preservation, evidence value, and stewardship in primary source research, and the growing importance of digital archives. The session will conclude with a hands-on exercise using materials drawn from across UASC collections.
Location:
Special Collections Reading Room and Seminar Space, 5S, Swirbul Library.
Contact Information:
For any questions please contact Dr. Justyna Widera-Kalinowska at 516.877.4135, or the SPARK center at spark@adelphi.edu.
This event is part of the SPARK center seminar series.