How to use archives

Find out what it’s like in an archive, and how to prepare for your visit.

Start at home

Look on the archive’s website to see if they provide research guidance and to find out how the archive is arranged
If the archive has an online catalogue, take some time to find out how to use it. Don’t expect it to be like Google – a simple keyword search will not always work
Do some research before you come. Read some published books first for ideas, or talk to relatives if you’re doing your family history
Check different archives and organisations for relevant documents. You might find useful material in a number of different places

Bring plenty of patience and tenacity with you. Researching can take a while and relevant documents may be in a number of different places
Be prepared to use a computer to search for documents or to view digitised records. You might also need to look at documents that are on microfilm and microfiche
Recognise both the limitations and potential of the archive – you may not find exactly what you are looking for, but you could find new sources you didn’t know existed
Bring a pencil – ink is not allowed near the records in archives

Before you visit an archive, get a feel for the experience by reading these blog posts: