Primary Text Research in the Humanities

Finding Original Primary Texts

Primary texts are the uninterpreted, textual evidence used by humanities researchers to support their arguments and opinions about their research topic.

• Introduction
• Vital Information about the University Archives and Special Collections Department
• Archival and Manuscript Collections
• Book Collections
• Brandeis Student and University Publications

Introduction

Unlike most primary texts in the general library collection, the items housed in the University Archives and Special Collections are original and often unique. These items include letters, manuscripts, pamphlets, reports, and rare and first editions of literary works.

The University Archives collects materials produced by the faculty, staff, and students of Brandeis University.

Special Collections collects rare books, including incunabula; books published in the 16th-18th centuries on such subjects as history, English and American literature, philosophy, and Judaica; first and limited editions; and fine press publications. Special Collections also holds the literary manuscripts of European and American authors, the papers of political figures, music collections, photographic collections, and collections of materials on anti-semitism, the Holocaust, and Zionism, among other topics.

*Remember, provide yourself enough time to do your research, especially when you plan to work with original primary text materials! Calling ahead to make an appointment to visit the University Archives and Special Collections Department is strongly encouraged, so that the staff has time to locate the materials you need before you arrive.

Vital Information about the University Archives and Special Collections Department

Web Site
http://lts.brandeis.edu/research/archives-speccoll/

Location
2nd Floor, Main Library

There are three types of primary text materials in the University Archives and Special Collections:

• Archival and Manuscript Collections
• Book Collections
• Student and University Publications

Archival and Manuscript Collections

Archival and manuscript materials, usually gathered in boxes, include correspondence, reports, notes, meeting minutes, and drafts. They are generally materials that were not specifically created to be read by a mass audience, like books and magazines, but were a by-product of a person's or office's daily work.

Archival Collections in the University Archives include:

• Collections from various Brandeis departments and offices
• Collections on specific topics related to Brandeis University
• Collections of Brandeis faculty
• Collections of individuals, including alumni, associated with Brandeis

Manuscript Collections in Special Collections include:

• Judaica Collections
• History Collections
• Literature Collections
• Creative Arts Collections

Finding Archival & Manuscript Collections:

1. Go to Collections on the Special Collections and University Archives website.
2. The "Special Collections" section has an alphabetical and a subject list of all its manuscript and book collections. Each listed collection has a link to a brief description. Some descriptions include links to finding aids, i.e., research guides for manuscript and archival collections. The finding aid will provide a general description for a collection and a listing of its content. See, for example:
   The Louis Brandeis Collection

   An alphabetical list of collections with finding aids is at Special Collections Finding Aids. Note: collections with finding aids make up only a small portion of the total number of manuscript collections in Special Collections.

3. The Collections page also has a "University Archives" section. In that section you can select:
   • Department & Subject Collections
   • Faculty Collections
   • Individuals & Alumni Collections

   Each category of collections will have a list of collections linked to finding aids.

4. If you find material listed in the finding aid that might be relevant to your research contact the Special Collections and University Archives (781-736-4686) to make an appointment to view the collection.
5. Not all of our Manuscript and Archival Collections have finding aids on the web. If you don't find relevant material on our on-line finding aids, contact us first before assuming we do not have anything that will help your research.

Book Collections

Special Collections has a number of book collections including the Hofheimer Collection, the Shakespeare Collection, Incunabula, Book of Hours, and the Leonardo da Vinci Collection. Brief descriptions of the book collections are in the alphabetical and subject lists in the "Special Collections" section of Collections.

The University Archives has a faculty book collection and an alumni book collection.

In addition to the specific book collections, Special Collections and the University Archives has books that are not in specific collections. Please check LOUIS for these books. Any book in LOUIS that says "Special Collections" or "University Archives" in the call number is located in this department.

Conversely, not every book held by Special Collections and the University Archives is in the LOUIS catalog. If you think we might have a book you are looking for and you cannot find it in the library catalog, please check with us (781-736-4686).

Brandeis Student and University Publications

The University Archives collects student and official University publications such as The Justice, Brandeis Review, Brandeis Reporter, Archon (Yearbook), and the Brandeis University Bulletin.

A general description of student and university publications is at Collections (University Publications).

A listing of student and university periodicals is at Collections: University Publications: University Periodicals Collection.

If you find material listed on any of these web pages that might be relevant to your research, contact the Special Collections and University Archives (781-736-4686) to make an appointment.

Return to Primary Text Research Practices

Created by
Eliot Wilczek
Associate Archivist

This page was last modified on: Oct 02, 2007