This document provides information about conducting archival research, including an introduction to archives and the types of materials found within them. It discusses planning research projects in archives, searching for and analyzing sources, and preparing for a visit to an archive. The document also provides a brief history of Polish immigration to London between the 16th-19th centuries, highlighting several waves of migration during and after various wars and political events in Poland.

1. From Poland to Waltham Forest
Conducting Archival Research
15th November 2013

2. Introductions
Esther Freeman, Project Director
Jane Greenstock, Research Manager
Round the room- name, experience in archives

3. Sessions we will cover
●
●
What is an archive? Materials we can find there
Planning research projects, searching and finding in an
archive, understanding, analysing and critiquing sources
●
Quick history of Polish immigration to London/UK
●
Preparing to visit an archive
●
Buddying system and signing up
●
Blogging about archive visits

4. Icebreaker
An interesting fact about you or your family

5. What is an archive?
●
A collection of primary materials
●
A place where materials are stored
●
Multiple collections within one repository

6. What is an archive?
●
●
●
●
Different from a library but there are overlaps
“where storage meets dreams, and the rest is
history.” (Robert Connors 1992)
Designed to preserve historical materials and
make them available for use
Special status of materials is why they have
particular procedures in place to protect them

7. Types of materials in archives
●
What kind of materials do you think will be in
archives?

8. Types of materials

9. Examples of archival materials
Photograph of Lebus employees
A Lebus party invite
A Lebus catalogue

10. Types of archives
●
College and university archives
●
Government archives- central, local
●
Corporate archives
●
Historical societies
●
Museums
●
Special collections
●
Religious archives

11. Terminology
A useful guide to archival terminology has been
produced by the Society for American
Archivists: this can be found at
●
http://www2.archivists.org/glossary/terms/a
or
●
http://files.archivists.org/pubs/free/SAAGlossary-2005.pdf

12. Planning your research
General advice:
●
Begin with formulating broad research question
●
Background reading
●
Think about archival material you might be
interested in

13. Planning your research
●
You may not know what will be there until you
arrive
●
Detective work
●
Communication with archivists

14. Archivists
●
Are potentially your best ally in your research
●
Know archives as a whole
●
May provide suggestions of where to go next

15. Searching and finding material
●
Role of the internet
●
Finding aids
●
Catalogue descriptions

16. Internet catalogues
●
Some archives will make their catalogues
searchable online e.g. National Archives
●
Archives Hub archiveshub.ac.uk
●
World Cat worldcat.org
●
Aim25 aim25.ac.uk/
●
Can point you towards archive you hadn't heard
of/ considered.

17. Finding aids
●
Documents prepared by archivists that informs
researchers about a collection
●
Who, why and how they were created
●
Discusses collection as a whole
●
Sometimes available on the internet, otherwise
you will need to contact archives to get hold of
it.

18. Catalogue records/archive
descriptions
●
Reference number
●
Collection title
●
Dates
●
Extent
●
Summary/Abstract/Description
●
Administrative/biographical detail

19. Example of a catalogue page
Lebus archive, V&A Museum of Childhood

20. Understanding/
interrogating sources
●
Critiquing a source- who produced it and why
●
Not always done with preservation in mind
●
●
Official documents (e.g. ship's logs) have certain
implicit trustworthiness
Where does it fit in context with rest of
collection?

21. Polish migration to London
●
●
●
Different waves of Polish people have come to
the UK and London specifically for different
reasons
th
16th-17 century: Polish Protestants seeking
refuge during Counter Reformation
End of 18th century political disintegration of
Polish state.

22. Polish migration to London
●
●
●
19th century Increase in migration- 1867 the
first Polish chapel and Polish centre were
established in London
Began to see more 'ordinary people' arriving
following expulsion of ethnic Poles from Prussia
Polish Roman Catholic Mission founded in
London in 1894.

23. Polish migration to London
●
●
●
●
Between WW1 and WW2 drop in numbers
arriving but Polish community in London grew
stronger as many could not return
Prisoner of war camps in Alexandra Palace and
Feltham
Second world war – new chapter in Polish
migration history
Britain agreed to host Polish government-inexile and Polish troops played key part in
defending Britain

24. Polish migration to London
●
●
●
End of Second World war- ex-Polish soldiers &
families + displaced labour camp prisoners from
Europe permitted to settle in UK
Rapid growth of historically-established Polish
community
1950s-1989- numbers were small , mainly
families of those already settled.

25. Polish migration to London
●
●
●
●
Fall of Communist system in 1989 – regained
freedom of travel
Recession in Poland mid 1990s
Becoming established 'business persons' due to
1991 EU rules
2004- UK opens its labour market to nationals
of A8 countries

26. Polish migration to London
●
End of 2007 – migration on much bigger scale
than earlier waves
●
Significant numbers travel to UK
●
Decelerating since end of 2007
●
●
●
New community has own boundaries and
practices.
See these short films for more

27. Planning a visit to the archive
●
●
●
●
Make contact/an appointment. Consider
opening hours.
Check travel and accommodation options if
travelling far
Review guidelines for reviewing material (dirty
hands limits on time)
Check internet access

28. Planning a visit to an archive
●
●
●
Check if you need a readers ticket or to register
Pencils will probably be needed or see if laptops
or tables are permitted and have access to
sockets
Removal of coats and bags (lockers) and no food
drink or gum

29. Planning a visit to the archive
●
Request forms may need to be filled out
●
Gloves?
●
Lights on electronic devices
●
Careful handling and maintaining order
●
Copyright, restriction and legal issues
●
Bring appropriate supplies

30. Planning a visit to an archive
●
Prepare for the unexpected, allow extra time/
repeat visits if necessary
●
Prioritise your requests
●
Adapt your workflow to policies of archive
●
Take thorough citations
●
Point out corrections
●
Connect with other researchers.