What are the best practices for assessing archival source reliability?

1 Check the provenance

Provenance is the origin and history of an archival source, including who created it, when, where, why, and how. It can help you determine the authenticity, context, and credibility of the source, as well as its potential biases, limitations, and gaps. To check the provenance, you should consult the finding aid, the catalog record, the archivist, and any other relevant documentation that can provide information about the source's collection, preservation, and access.

2 Evaluate the content

Content is the information and meaning that an archival source conveys, such as facts, opinions, perspectives, and interpretations. It can help you answer your research questions, support your arguments, and challenge your assumptions. To evaluate the content, you should analyze the source critically, considering its purpose, audience, tone, language, style, and structure. You should also compare and contrast the source with other sources, both primary and secondary, to verify its accuracy, consistency, and relevance.

3 Consider the format

Format is the physical or digital form and appearance of an archival source, such as a letter, a photograph, a map, or a video. It can affect how you access, interpret, and use the source, as well as its preservation and availability. To consider the format, you should examine the source closely, paying attention to its materiality, quality, condition, and functionality. You should also be aware of the possible changes, alterations, or damages that the source may have undergone over time or during digitization.

4 Apply the criteria

Criteria are the standards and principles that you use to judge the reliability of an archival source, based on your research goals, questions, and methods. They can help you select, weigh, and synthesize the sources that are most relevant, useful, and trustworthy for your project. To apply the criteria, you should define them clearly, based on your discipline, topic, and approach. You should also use them consistently, transparently, and flexibly, acknowledging the strengths and weaknesses of each source.

5 Document the sources

Documentation is the process of recording and citing the archival sources that you use in your research, following the conventions and rules of your citation style. It can help you acknowledge the sources' ownership, respect their rights and permissions, and avoid plagiarism. It can also help you organize your research, track your sources, and enable others to locate and access them. To document the sources, you should follow the guidelines provided by the archive, the citation style, and your instructor or publisher.

6 Reflect on the sources

Reflection is the process of thinking critically and creatively about the archival sources that you use in your research, and how they shape your understanding and interpretation of the past. It can help you identify the gaps, silences, and contradictions in the sources, and how they relate to your own positionality, assumptions, and biases. It can also help you communicate your findings, arguments, and implications to your audience, and invite further questions and discussions. To reflect on the sources, you should write notes, journals, summaries, and evaluations throughout your research process.