- Pick one of the following archives or rare book libraries that has an online
presence:
Belo Records, 1842-2007 digital collection (Southern Methodist University)
Colonial North America at Harvard Library
Digital Collection of Historical American Medical Association Documents
Archives of Ontario
British Library (UK)
Computer History Museum
Digital Culture of Metropolitan New York
Early Caribbean Digital Archive (Northeastern University)
Harvard Business School Entrepreneurs Collection
Hudson’s Bay Company Archives Microfilm Digitization (Archives of
Manitoba)
Library and Archives Canada
Library of Congress (US)
London Metropolitan Archives (UK)
National Archives (UK)
National Archives (USA)
National Archives of Australia
National Records of Scotland (UK)
New York City Municipal Archives (USA)
University of Toronto Libraries Digital Collections
Note: students who wish to explore a library or archive not on this list are free to
do so, though they must consult with their TA first. - Spend some time on your chosen archive/library’s web site to familiarize yourself
with its history, mission, and collections. Spend some time exploring the
catalogue to see what kinds of materials it contains and how it is organized. - Identify one item from the archive/library’s digitized collection and spend some time looking at it.
- Write a short description (700-1,00 words) of the archive/library. To the extent
possible, discuss how the collection came into being and for what purpose; what
functions the collection plays today; the scope of the collection; the way in
which the collection is organized. Feel free to discuss any other aspect of the
archive/library you feel is pertinent. - Briefly describe the item you consulted (be sure to provide the call number). Note: Give particular thought to
your choice of archive/library, as your Very Short
Research Paper will be based on a single document housed in your chosen
repository.
Sample Solution