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Research at the Polly Rosenbaum State Archives and History Building

This guide includes information about scheduling an appointment to view materials from the Arizona State Archives and the State of Arizona Research Library in the Reading Room of the Polly Rosenbaum State Archives and History building.

Research Definitions

Research Definitions

If you are doing research, you may come across a variety or terms that are specific to the field, used widely in a research setting, or have been updated by research professionals. This a list of the most common terms you may come across when using our resources or communicating with our librarians and archivists. 

Advanced Search

  • Search using multiple search fields that will take words or phrases and search specific information found within a catalog record such as title, author, publication date, subject, etc.

Archives

  • A physical or digital collection of historical records preserved in long term storage that provides information about places, institutions, or people.

Archivist

  • An information professional responsible for collecting/acquiring, organizing, describing, managing, and providing access to research materials, including collections of primary and/or secondary sources. In addition, they are also responsible for the preservation of items long-term in an archive. 

Basic Search

  • Search using one search field that will take a word or phrase and search all information found within a catalog record.

Bias

  • Prejudice in favor of one thing or person over another. Sources may include the biases of their creator(s) and of the individuals and institutions that collect these sources. Bias may be implicit, unconscious, or unintentional rather than obvious.

Catalog

  • A series of individual and uniform records assigned to one location to create a searchable database of all of the materials in a library and/or archive.

Catalog Record

  • Record of library material formatted in a specific way. Such records generally contain information including author, title, publication information, and topics covered in the resource. These records are often searched using a database, usually a catalog.

Citation

  • A reference to a source. When citing a primary source, the citation helps point readers to the document or item. Citations may also further describe a source, help establish evidence for an argument, or give credit for an idea. Archives and special collections may indicate a preferred citation formula or credit line for their collections.

Collection

  • A group of materials with a unifying subject or characteristic. Collections can be assembled by a person, organization, or repository.

Copyright

  • A legal right granting exclusive rights for use, reproduction, publication, adaptation, performance, and/or distribution of an original work (whether published or unpublished), typically for a limited period of time.

Database

  • A structured way to store and retrieve data. In the research and information environment, it often refers to a digital collection of citations, articles, books, and/or finding aids which can be searched for information on a variety of topics. Some research databases can be very general, while others are specific to a subject, time period, or format. 

Finding Aid

  • A description of papers, records, or special collection that provides information about the materials, including arrangement and organization, historical or biographical background, a summary of the contents, and how to access the materials. 

Government Agency

  • An administrative agency or organization under the oversight of a local, state, or federal government tasked with executing action on behalf of the government.

Librarian

  • An information professional responsible for collecting/acquiring, organizing, describing, managing, and providing access to research materials, including collections of primary and/or secondary sources. 

Permissions

  • If a particular use of a copyrighted work is not covered by fair use, a researcher may require authorization from the rights holders in order to use the work in certain ways.

Preservation

  • Preservation is the act of keeping objects from harm, injury, decay, or destruction using specific professional practices undertaken by repositories to stabilize and extend the life of materials in their care, ensuring they are as durable and long-lasting as possible. Users of primary sources contribute to preservation through proper handling and use. 

Primary Source

  • Primary sources are materials in a variety of formats that serve as original evidence documenting a time period, event, people, idea, or work. Primary sources can be printed materials (such as books and ephemera), manuscript/archival materials (such as diaries or ledgers), audio/visual materials (such as recordings or films), artifacts (such as clothes or personal belongings), or born-digital materials (such as emails or digital photographs).

Public Domain

  • Works in the public domain do not have copyright restrictions due to expired or forfeited copyright or intellectual property rights. Privacy and other ethical considerations should still be weighed when using materials in the public domain.

Research Question

  • A question that will answer a research paper or information need. The question should be clear, concise, and focused. 

Repository

  • Term referring to an organization that collects, preserves, and makes collections accessible, generally for research. Could refer to museums, libraries, archives, historical societies, research centers, or other types of institutions. A repository may be independent or part of a larger organization and are often focused on specific types of collections.

Secondary Source

  • A work summarizing and/or commenting on a primary or other secondary source. Secondary sources, which are often works of scholarship, are differentiated from primary sources by summarizing, analyzing, or commenting to the original source. 

 

Definition Sources: