How to Ask an Archive a Better Question
A field note on turning broad family, place, and identity questions into source-search questions.
Methods
Places
When a Map Makes the Story Better but Not Final
A place-based note on using Sanborn maps, routes, rivers, and public-history maps without overclaiming.
Methods
Use Newspapers as Leads, Not Loudspeakers
A source-care note on OCR, bias, harmful language, corrections, and local context.
Methods
Run the Courthouse Loop Before Publishing
A local-records note on checking deeds, probate, tax, marriage, court, and newspaper leads before a claim goes public.
Community Notes & Fact Checks
Make the Redaction Pass Before the Publish Button
A privacy-first field note for living people, family records, and public submissions.
Methods
When Two Sources Disagree
A field note for handling conflicting dates, names, places, and public-history claims.
Methods
Build the Reconstruction Record Kit
A field note on bundling census, Bureau, Bank, church, school, land, and newspaper sources before publishing.
Methods
Why 1870 Is a Doorway, Not the Beginning
A field note for Foundational Black Americans research that treats the 1870 census as an entry point.
Places
How to Turn a Marker Into a Source Trail
A field note for using public signs, museum labels, and markers as leads instead of final proof.
Methods
A Picture Can Orient, Not Prove
A field note on rich visuals, captions, generated images, and evidence boundaries.