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Before you come to do research

The Dodd Research Center, like other historical research centers, has rules and restrictions associated with the use of materials in its care. Middle and high school students are welcome to use the materials but should be aware of the following:

  • Bring identification (for example, driver's license, passport, or a student ID).
  • Backpacks are not allowed in the reading room, students will be given a place to put their belongings.
  • Generally, only pencils and loose paper are allowed in the reading room. Check the website or call ahead for specific procedures. Some archives only pull documents at specific times of day.
  • Some manuscripts and collections may be photocopied so bring money for photocopying.
  • Contact the research center for additional requirements and hours of operation.

Students are also encouraged to consider the following about their topic before arriving

  • If applicable, use online research databases to locate materials ahead of time.
  • Research archives focus in specific subject areas with specialized manuscripts and collections. You should use online databases or call the research center to see if they will have relevant material related to your topic.

How does a historical research center differ from a traditional library? Professional staff preserves and make accessible records of value that require special handling, including manuscripts, organizational records, early printed books and documents, pamphlets, photographs, prints, and audio visual material. Unlike a traditional library, research centers have procedures for requesting to view and handle materials.

What is the role of the curator or archivist in helping you locate materials? Curators can assist you with questions about locating materials on your topic and procedural processes that will need to be followed for viewing the documents.

What you should do when you arrive at the research center? Immediately see the staff to determine where you should put your belongings, any necessary forms that you will need to fill out before accessing the materials, how to search the research center materials database, and the procedures for viewing and reproducing the materials.

How do you find materials that are relevant to the topic you are researching? Researching material requires a creative mind and a topic that is flexible enough to be looked at from more than one perspective. Be open-minded when researching as you may find conflicting information. Using primary materials available in research centers requires the researcher to contextualize your findings to your topic. For example, when examining the conflict American immigrants faced between cultural preservation and assimilation the material at the Dodd Research Center is largely based on individual case studies or in the context of Connecticut. Comparing multiple primary and secondary sources will be necessary before trends are identified.

This page is maintained by B. Pittman.