Research How–To's

The following is a listing of things that you will need to refer to when researching in the archives:

Master Lists and Catalogue Cards
Provided, of course, if we have information on the subject, this is the main and most effective way to gain access to what you are looking for. The Master Lists Binder lists all of the subjects under which our collection is categorized. From reading the Master Lists Binder, you then use the catalogue cards.

Basically, here is how it works:

1. Choose a topic in the Master Lists Binder, such as "mining".
2. Go to the Catalogue Cards (manuscripts or photographs) to find out what kind of records we have on "mining".
3. Write down the information and give it to a staff member, who will then bring you the records.

Archival Description Binder
For our larger archival accessions we have recently developed a binder that describes in detail some of these valuable fonds. (Fonds is an archival specific term for a collection that has not been tampered with.

Accession Register
The accession register is our thorough inventory of all the items in our collections. While the register is not designed to be a finding aid, it can be used as a thorough (perhaps even exhausting) way to find out what is in the collection.

Accession Record
As of 1995, we have started keeping an accession record on all archival items coming into the museum. This form may also help researchers find out information about our more recent acquisitions.