LIS-S 586 Archival Intelligence
3 credits
- Prerequisite(s): LIS-S 500, LIS-S 507, LIS-S 581
- Delivery: Online
- Semesters offered: Fall, Spring (Check the schedule to confirm.)
Description
Archival intelligence includes the knowledge and skills needed to conduct archival research. This course examines various aspects of archival intelligence including understanding types of archives and the collections found in them, understanding how archives are organized and accessed, and developing a research question and implementing original primary source research. In order to conduct research with primary sources users need a set of skills including subject knowledge, artifactual literacy, and archival intelligence. Archival intelligence in turn has three elements which include understanding and knowledge of how archives work, the ability to develop a search strategy, and understanding primary sources and their surrogates. Students will run their own project by conducting research in an archive on a topic of their choosing, evaluating and analyzing primary sources, liaising with an archivist or organization, and communicating their findings. The final product will be an original research paper using the primary source research conducted throughout the semester.
Program Learning Goals Supported
Instructors map their courses to specific LIS Program Goals. Mapped program goals drive the design of each course and what students can expect to generally learn.
- Connect Core Values and Professional Ethics to Practice
- Facilitate Engagement in the Information Ecosystem
- Curate Collections for Designated Communities
- Lead and Manage Libraries, Archives and Other Information Organizations
- Organize and Represent Information
- Conduct Systematic Research to Inform Decisions
- Innovate Professional Practice with Information Services and Technology
- Examine Systemic Inequalities to Improve Library and Information Practices through Equitable and Socially Just Interventions
Learning Outcomes
Instructors develop learning outcomes for their courses. Students can expect to be able to achieve the learning outcomes for a given course after successfully completing the course.
- Discover and evaluate primary sources from an archive or collection, analyzing data with the appropriate tool or method.
- Plan and carry out a retrospective research project with material from an archive or collection.
- Communicate research findings effectively to a given audience, using appropriate methods of narration and visualization.
- Evaluate ethical issues and responsibilities in conducting research on archives.
Course Overview
Instruction is in Canvas. Lessons are organized into Modules whose length may vary.
Module 1: Archival Intelligence.
- What is archival intelligence?
- Definitions and discussion
Module 2: What is an archive? What are records?
- Definition of archive(s)
- How archives are different from libraries
- Types of archives
- What are records? Can records really be permanent?
Module 3: What are archival resources?
- Primary sources vs. secondary sources
- Introduction to various types of materials found in archives
- How do materials get into an archive?
Module 4: How do I find the right archive? How do I find materials in an archive?
- Search strategy
- Finding archives: some tools
- Understanding archival arrangement
- Introduction to finding aids
- Relationship between online archival resources and physical items in an archive
Module 5: Archive users. User Expectations. The role of the archivist.
- Who are archive users?
- What is the role of the archivist? Power of the archives. Archivist as mediator.
- User expectations—are user expectations always appropriate?
Module 6: Developing a research question/thesis statement.
- Thesis statements/research questions—how to formulate a good question
- Context—why context matters
- Taking notes—good research requires good notes; research logs
Module 7: Asking reference questions. What you need to know before you visit an archive.
- Why archivists offer reference services
- Before you visit an archive
- Things to expect when visiting an archive
Module 8: Trust and bias in sources.
- Trust and bias—evaluating sources
- CRAAP test
- How trust and bias affect research
- Wikipedia—friend or foe?
Module 9: Authenticity.
- Definition
- Authenticity vs. reliability
- Authenticity in the archive
- Authenticity in digital objects
Module 10: Decoding documents. How to read various types of sources.
- Photographs
- Maps
- Printed ephemera
- Advertisements
- Art
- Journals, diaries, letters
Module 11: Ethical considerations.
- Ethical obligations of archival researchers
- The right to be forgotten
- Archival restrictions
Module 12: Citations, copyright, and plagiarism.
- Why do we need citations?
- Bibliography/Works cited/Reference
- Copyright
- Fair use
- Copyright and you
- What it is and how to avoid it.
- Paraphrasing
Module 13: Research log and final paper
Module 14: Archival Intelligence revisited
Policies and Procedures
Please be aware of the following linked policies and procedures. Note that in individual courses instructors will have stipulations specific to their course.