WEEK 1 - ARCHIVAL ANALYSIS

What is History?

The study of past events. However, it is never fully knowable. We rely on archives and databases for the historical record

Historians research what?

Past events and narrativize them (tell a story)

• This involves decisions, subjectivities, despite objective/factual nature of archives, databases, and records

Why looking at the past?

To understand developments, processes and outcomes.

“It is natural to use our knowledge of the past to try to understand the present because we believe the past has influenced the present” (Asa 2016:220)

Focus on: Change over time (before and after)

Historiography

“The critical study of historical research and argumentation” (Kackan 2018:255)

• The history of history

• Evidence and argumentation

• Choices and decisions made by historian

Choices and decisions made by historians

Causality and Power

Causality

“What does it mean to claim that one event was precipitated by another?” (Kackman 2018:256)

Power

Focus on powerful individuals or less powerful? The “great man” version of history, or a more social/cultural focus on ordinary people?

Archives

What to keep and what not to keep, determined by what is deemed “important”

• Power relations: archival materials of wealthy and powerful are more likely to be kept than of poorer people

• Implications for researchers/historians

Why compare?

Facts don’t speak for themselves. It matters who interprets the facts and puts them into (what) perspective.

• Understanding variety and context

Focus on: Differences over space (here and there)

What questions do we look at?

• How did major societal change take place?

• Why did current social arrangeents take a certain form in some societies but not in others?

• Large-scale outcomes (MACRO) and local significances (MICRO) - revolutions, wars, etc

If something is cross-sectional and single case, what would it be?

Historical Events Research

If something is cross-sectional and has multiple cases, what would it be?

Cross-sectional comparative research

If something is longitudinal and single case, what would it be?

Historical Process Research

If something is longitudinal and has multiple cases, what would it be?

Comparative Historical Research

Is historiography qualitative or quantitative

Can be both

Is historiography objective or subjective?

Both! - History as a fact-based chronology

Evidence

Questions of:

• Representativeness

• Authenticity

• Credibility

Representativeness

Sampling frame: When and where shall sample be located? Who wrote history or documents?” What criteria of __________________?

Authenticity

Misrepresentation or attribution

Credibility

How accurate and comprehensive? Is it partial? What information is it based on?

Method

Process of establishing perspective guided by theory

• Different singular methods - often put together using Grounded Theory

• Conceptualise object of inquiry - locate evidence - evaluate quality of evidence - organise and synthetisize - write a report

Things to consider!

• What kind of history _______ do you use? (hence, what determines the organization of your material)

Concepts

• History as:

  • Record of progress

  • Study of class conflict

  • Story of great figures

  • Story of everyday life

Things to consider:

• Speculations are not “facts”!

Truth

• Researcher offers

  • Hypotheses

  • Interpretations

  • Opinions

• Offer an interpretation of what an event could mean. Make clear when you speak about facts - and their interpretations

Things to consider:

• Are your sources accessible?

Pragmatics

• Choose a narrow focus (do not look at an entire broadcaster, but analysing a program changing over time might be enough)

• Are the sources/authorities you are citing reliable?

What is an archive?

A collection of information (records)

• letters

• reports

• minutes

• registers

• maps

• photographs and films

• digital files

• sound recordings

Some created by government bodies/institutions; others can evolve from private collections

What is archival research?

Usually qualitative research involving primary sources held in:

• Archives (an organization that collects records)

• Special Collections in libraries (rare books, old periodicals, films, photographs)

• Repositories (a place where things are stored and maintained

• Recollections (oral history)

Digital databases allow for more quantitative methods to be used in ________ ________ too

Why would I use archives?

• Primary research source for a particular topic, subject or individual for an essay, research report, or dissertation

• Research for a film or documentary:

  • Factual information: quotes, historical accuracy, important figures etc.

  • How has the topic or subject been covered previously

  • Inform costume design, set design, location selection, etc.

• Content for a film or documentary

  • Original footage

  • Original still images

Limitations of archives

• Archives are not always comprehensive or complete

• Access issues

• Organisation of materials

• May be time consuming

Advantages of archives

• Materials are already collected in one place

• Provides data that would be otherwise impossible to access

• Rich sources of data (especially good for qualitative methods)

• May be in the public domain (copyright free)

What exactly is an archive?

• Records that have been generated for legal, administrative, or commercial reason

• Records that relate to social or individual activities

• Have some sort of evidentiary value

• Usually (but not always) unpublished

• Often only one copy of the record may exist

• May be digital but most ________ are still non-digital (paper-based)

• Digital ________ may be “surrogates” - a digital copy from a non-digital source

How does an archive differ from a library?

• Holds original sources

• Not available for loan

• Library may hold an archive

Types of archives

• College and university archives

• Corporate archives

• Government archives

• Historical societies

• Museums

• Religious archives

• Special collections

Types of special collections

Materials with a common history or provenance:

• The archives of a business (film studios/broadcasting organisations/publishers)

• Personal archives of an individual (Film directors/producers/writers)

• Records of an organization (Accounts/employment records/contracts

Materials without a common origin or history:

• Brings together similar materials for research

  • Related to a specific event (Historic events - film/music festivals: sporting events)

  • Related to a group (political party/movement)

  • Ephemera related to a particular topic (gig/cinema poster/tickets)

Remote requests for materials

• May be available through inter-library loan

• Archives may provide scans or photocopies

• Research services available to those unable to visit the archive (might cost money though!)

• Simple or routine questions may be answered by a member of the archival staff who can view the material on your behalf

Visiting archives

• May have access to a “reading room” where you can view materials

• Inform arhival staff ahead of time

• Check the visiting hours and any entrance fees

• Might be appointment only

• Are there any limits on the amount of materials you can request?

• Limits to the reproduction of materials?

• Check the guidelines for using materials

  • Usually require personal ID and registration

  • No coats or bags

  • No food drink

  • Pencil only

  • Restrictions on laptops, phones, cameras, or other recording devices

  • Gloves/book pillows/careful handling

Archives and the “digital revolution”

• ________ are increasingly being digitized, but most ________ are still non-digital (paper-based)

• Digital ________ may be “surrogates” - a digital copy from a non-digital source

• Catalogues and metadata sometimes made freely available online and searchable (but not always)