Working in the Archives: Practical Research Methods for Rhetoric and Composition

by Alexis E. Ramsey (Editor), Wendy B Sharer (Editor), Barbara L'Eplattenier (Editor), Lisa Mastrangelo- Do Not Use (Editor)

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780809386895
Publisher:	Southern Illinois University Press
Publication date:	12/14/2009
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	336
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Alexis E. Ramsey is an assistant professor of rhetoric at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida. She has worked for the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections and published on peer mentoring.

Wendy B. Sharer, an associate professor of English at East Carolina University, is the author or editor of three books, including Vote and Voice: Women’s Organizations and Political Literacy, 1915–1930.

Barbara L’Eplattenier is an associate professor in the Department of Rhetoric and Writing at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock. She is the coeditor (with Lisa Mastrangelo) of Historical Studies of Writing Program Administration: Individuals, Communities, and the Formation of a Discipline, and has contributed chapters to a number of edited collections, including the SIU Press volume Beyond the Archives.

 

Lisa Mastrangelo, an associate professor of English at the College of St. Elizabeth in Morristown, New Jersey, is the coeditor (with Barbara L’Eplattenier) of Historical Studies of Writing Program Administration: Individuals, Communities, and the Formation of a Discipline.She has published articles in Rhetoric Review, Composition Studies, and other journals.

Table of Contents

Cover Book Title Copyright Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Part One: General Information for Using Archives 1. Invigorating Historiographic Practices in Rhetoric and Composition Studies 2. Archival Survival: Navigating Historical Research 3. Open to the Possibilities: Seven Tales of Serendipity in the Archives 4. Interview: David Gold—On Keeping a Beginner’s Mind 5. Interview: Peter Mortensen—“I Had a Hunch” Part Two: Accessing the Archives 6. Invisible Hands: Recognizing Archivists’ Work to Make Records Accessible 7. Viewing the Archives: The Hidden and the Digital 8. Locating the Archives: Finding Aids and Archival Scholarship in Composition and Rhetoric 9. Searching and Seeking in the Deep Web: Primary Sources on the Internet 10. Finding and Researching Photographs 11. Looking for Letters 12. Interview: Lynée Lewis Gaillet—The Unexpected Find 13. Interview: Jessica Enoch—Striking Metaphors Part Three: Working with/through Archival Material 14. Reading the Archive of Freshman English 15. Journeying into the Archives: Exploring the Pragmatics of Archival Research 16. (En)Gendering the Archives for Basic Writing Research 17. Archival Research as a Social Process 18. Emergent Taxonomies: Using Tension and Forum to Organize Primary Texts 19. The Guilty Pleasures of Working with Archives 20. The Personal as Method and Place as Archives: A Synthesis 21. Interview: Kathryn Fitzgerald—“I’m Open to Whatever I Discover” 22. Interview: Kenneth Lindblom—Spinning Gold from Old Straw 23. Interview: Lindal Buchanan—Making Fortunate Connections Part Four: Creating the Archive as Research Process 24. Keeping the Conversation Going: The Archive Thrives on Interviews and Oral History 25. Deep Sea Diving: Building an Archive as the Basis for Composition Studies Research 26. Autobiography of an Archivist Contributors Index Back Cover

Editorial Reviews

A terrific collection of essays . . . helpful to both a novice and veteran scholar doing archival work.”—Lucille M. Schultz, coauthor of Archives of Instruction andwinner of the 2006 Mina P. Shaughnessy Prize from the Modern Language Association.

From the Publisher

Although this volume of collected essays states that it will guide scholars of rhetoric and composition who are undertaking archival research, other researchers will benefit from it as well. It is divided into four sections, with essays on general information for using archives, accessing archives, working with archival material, and creating an archive as part of the research process. Interspersed throughout are personal accounts of individuals' experiences in the archives. At first glance, this book might seem overly specific, but readers will in fact find the depth of useful information impressive. From basic introductions to what an archive is to discussions of how archivists process and organize collections, the book includes helpful information for scholars at all stages of their careers. With accounts of archival research experiences, librarian and archivist contributions on the theory and practice of archival processing, using archival material to create a narrative or answer theoretical questions, and more, the editors have created a distinctly useful text. VERDICT Recommended for students and libraries working with graduate programs in the humanities and social sciences.—Jessica Moran, Metropolitan Transportation Commission-Association of Bay Area Govts. Lib., Oakland, CA

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