Archive sources
Whereas local printed sources take us back
only to the early 18th century in the main, archive (manuscript)
sources reach back into the Middle Ages and enable the local
historian to study in depth many features of a community's history
over several centuries.
Archives in print
Many original documents relating to Calderdale
have been transcribed, indexed and published in order to make
the texts more accessible for local historians. A great deal
of time can be saved by checking the availability of such published
editions of original manuscripts within the Local Studies Collection.
Archives on microfilm
Microform (microfilm, microfiche etc) copies
of original documents have become increasingly common in recent
years. This process makes it possible to consult documents, or
documents with local content, which are housed many miles away,
which are too fragile to handle or which can only be consulted
during restricted opening hours.
Sound archives
Sound archives or, more specifically, oral
history archives provide history from living memory and draw
on the experience of those who are often excluded from the formal
documentary archive, the experience of women, the working class
and (increasingly) racial minorities.
Film archives
Like sound, film is a dynamic medium which,
almost literally, brings history to life, providing a window
into the past, documenting local industries, civic events and
leisure activities in local communities over several decades.
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