Archives for Schools

Primary sources are:

• First person accounts of past events
• Often unpublished and can provide a fresh perspective on past events
• Provide local or individual insights into past events
• Provide information/evidence not available elsewhere

Archives can be difficult to read and can also be very detailed and specific but they are worth researching in order to get closer to events and people of the past and the Archivist is always happy to help.

When using archives in a project it is important to give yourself enough time to carry out the research of the records. First start by reading some secondary sources, books written about the event or person you are doing your project on. This will give you some background information that will help when researching the records.

Once you have done some background research you can then visit your local archive and check through the Finding Aids, these are lists detailing and describing the collections in the Archive Service. From these you identify the records that may have the information you require and you can then request to see these records. You can always ask the Archivist for help in identifying records that will be useful for your research.

Remember: archives are original records so take care and follow the advice of the archivist when handling them. You can identify the records used in your project by using the code provided for the records in the Descriptive Lists in the Archive Service.

Waterford City and County Archives has produced education packs on the 1918 Election in Waterford and on the War of Independence and Civil War in Waterford 1919-1923. You can find these by here https://waterford1916to1923.com/resources/education-packs/

You will also find online education resources and Documents in Focus on the Irish Archives Resources website. You will find them here https://iar.ie/irish-archives-resource-packs/

Teachers wishing to arrange visits to the Archive can contact the Archivist at archivist@waterfordcouncil.ie or 058 21144