The Secret Archivist: What Makes A Good Research Enquiry?

This month, our resident archivist Mary Ann Davison looks at the best kind of enquiry you can send an archive…

- Mary Ann Davison

Archivists spend a lot of their time (their work time that is, not their spare time – I don’t think…) researching and responding to enquiries from external researchers. Enquiries are received on any and every topic imaginable, which certainly keeps things interesting. Many of the enquiries we receive relate to some aspect of family history research. Given the popularity of this area of research, I thought it might be helpful to provide some tips on getting the most out of your enquiry.

PREPARATION

Work out which record office you need to contact – this might sound obvious, but there are times when it might not be clear. Historic county boundary changes, for example, might mean records are held in a different place than might be expected. Websites such as the Archives Hub or TNA’s Discovery catalogue can help you find your best starting point.