I think that anyone who has an interest in traditional archival research will find this a thoughtful and valuable guide to the many different elements of the research process. --Theory and Methods "His research advice is systematic and thorough and could easily serve for other researchers than sociobiographers. In eighty-eight pages, Hill has managed to pack not only this sound research advice but a critique of archival practices and a six-page bibliography. The book is certainly worth a read. . . . and could give archivists an opportunity to broaden their sociological horizons." --Archivaria "Michael Hill′s monograph, Archival Strategies and Techniques, depicts a world that some might think would be as dusty as old manuscripts themselves, but in the process of describing the excitements, joys, frustrations, and ethical conundrums, he has demonstrated that the archival scholar can share thrills and fears with Indiana Jones. Hill′s book is filled with lively anecdote, compelling analysis and a full measure of wit. This monograph will be an invaluable companion for anyone planning to spend time in libraries, dusty or otherwise." --Gary Alan Fine, University of Georgia "Much more than a how-to book, Michael Hill interprets archives and their use from a Goffmanian sociological perspective. As an extra benefit, he guides readers through the archival process by drawing on a sociological/historical project--the recovery of unknown or presently discounted social scientists. Any teacher who assigns a term paper to students will want to recommend this book!" --Shulamit Reinharz, Brandeis University "Michael Hill has produced a lively and, for some of us, comforting guide to archival research in sociology. . . . The book is comforting because among the gems contained within this short monograph is a discussion of the need to recover `unknown or presently discounted social scientists′ as an important epistemological task." --Network Historical and biographical research is increasingly used by social scientists as an important form of qualitative research. This kind of research usually requires the extensive use of formal archives housed in university and government buildings, museums, and other institutions. This concise, but practical book provides the "rules of the game" for the novice on conducting and preparing to work in archives, the protocol of using archives, and ways of organizing and referencing the useful data from the archive. This intriguing volume will interest scholars and students from a wide array of disciplines using this type of research for social analysis.

Archival research of any magnitude can be daunting. With this in mind, Alexis E. Ramsey, Wendy B. Sharer, Barbara L’Eplattenier, and Lisa Mastrangelo have developed an indispensable volume for the first-time researcher as well as the seasoned scholar. Working in the Archives is a guide to the world of rhetoric and composition archives, from locating an archival source and its materials to establishing one’s own collection of archival materials. This practical volume provides insightful information on a variety of helpful topics, such as basic archival theory, processes, and principles; the use of hidden or digital archives; the intricacies of searching for and using letters and photographs; strategies for addressing the dilemmas of archival organization without damaging the provenance of materials; the benefits of seeking sources outside academia; and the difficult (yet often rewarding) aspects of research on the Internet. Working in the Archives moves beyond the basics to discuss the more personal and emotional aspects of archival work through the inclusion of interviews with experienced researchers such as Lynée Lewis Gaillet, Peter Mortensen, Kathryn Fitzgerald, Kenneth Lindblom, and David Gold. Each shares his or her personal stories of the joys and challenges that face today’s researchers. Packed with useful recommendations, this volume draws on the knowledge and experiences of experts to present a well-rounded guidebook to the often winding paths of academic archival investigation. These in-depth yet user-friendly essays provide crucial answers to the myriad questions facing both fledgling and practiced researchers, making Working in the Archives an essential resource.

Drawing on the research of more than 50 influential international scholars, this extensive interdisciplinary survey consolidates and evaluates what is known and not known about organizations, and critically examines how we learn about and study them. Contributors include 50 influential international scholars. Contributions represent the most important contemporary perspectives on organizations, including networks, ecology and technology. Each topic is covered at three levels of organization: intraorganizational, organizational, and interorganizational. Chapters structured around five common elements for ease of use.

A 2022 SPE Outstanding Book Award Winner This book offers qualitative researchers an entrée into the world of working with archival repositories and special collections. It serves as a primer for students and researchers who might not be familiar with these sorts of collections, but with an interest in what has become known as the “archival turn,” in which the use of archival materials and artifacts in contemporary research has increased dramatically since the 1990s. Suited to novice researchers seeking a general introduction into how special collections are created and how they can be used, the book offers useful, clear guidance on using different types of archives, developing topics for research within the archives, assessing materials available, how to work with archivists and curators, documenting the research process, and writing up an archival study. Archival records and material culture (including manuscripts, documents, audio- and video-recordings, and visual and material culture) housed in special collections provide a wealth of resources for qualitative researchers seeking to conduct research in the social sciences. Perfect for courses in: Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods | Research Methods in Higher Education | Exploring Archival Collections | Family Studies | Community Research | Introduction to Special Collections Research

Recent scholarship on archival research has raised questions concerning the character and impact of 'the archive' on how the traces of the past are researched, the use and analysis of different kinds of archived data, methodological approaches to the practicalities involved, and what kind of theory is drawn on and contributed to by such research. The Archive Project: Archival Research in the Social Sciences builds on these questions, exploring key methodological ideas and debates and engaging in detail with a wide range of archival projects and practices, in order to put to use important theoretical ideas that shed light on the methods involved. Offering an overview of the current 'state of the field' and written by four authors with extensive experience in conducting research in and creating archives around the world, it demonstrates the different ways in which archival methodology, practice and theory can be employed. It also shows how the ideas and approaches detailed in the book can be put into practice by other researchers, working on different kinds of archives and collections. The volume engages with crucial questions, including: What is 'an archive' and how does it come into existence? Why do archival research and how is it done? How can sense be made of the scale and scope of collections and archives? What are the best ways to analyse the traces of the past that remain? What are helpful criteria for evaluating the knowledge claims produced by archival research? What is the importance of community archives? How has the digital turn changed the way in which archival research is carried out? What role is played by the questions that researchers bring into an archive? How do we deal with unexpected encounters in the archive? A rigorous and accessible examination of the methods and choices that shape research 'on the ground' and the ways in which theory, practice and methodology inform one another, this book will appeal to scholars across the social sciences and humanities with interests in archival and documentary research.