ABSTRACT
Primary historical research can be intimidating for the beginner. This chapter shows certain sites that provide background for new researchers that will make the structure of archives seem less daunting. It details the ways in which archives differ from libraries in their collecting focus and their organization. The library at the University of California, Berkeley, offers this step-by-step guide to primary research. It elaborates the difference between primary and secondary resources and suggests multiple avenues for tracking down primary material. A cooperative effort of the Council of State Historical Records Coordinators, the American Association of State and Local History, and the Society of American Archivists, the Archives Resource Center strives to be a gateway to Web- based information for archivists. Maintained by Stanford University Libraries, Conservation OnLine is a clearinghouse of information on the conservation of manuscript material. Visitors can access online articles on a wide range of conservation topics, such as pest management or digital imaging.
