Creative Music Research in Special Collections: Searching & Finding

While searching the archive, you may not always find what you are looking for. The Society of American Archivists define "archival silence" as

a gap in the historical record resulting from the unintentional or purposeful absence or distortion of documentation

Archival silences especially impact the presence of marginalized identities in the archive. In some cases, marginalized voices haven't been included in the collection process at all. In other cases, they haven't been included in descriptions. In other cases, the language used in descriptions may be harmful or out of date. UNC has developed a guide to editing finding aids to address some of these issues. Get more information on UNC Libraries' Reckoning Initiative.

When searching the UNC catalog, there are two different ways to request materials from special collections.

1.Published materials (e.g. rare books, records, periodicals, etc)

Published materials in Special Collections come up through catalog records for individual items. You can request these individual items through duplication or through scheduling an in-person visit to the archive. For more information on registering and requesting materials, go to the Registering and Requesting Materials page.

2. Archival/Manuscript Materials

Archival and manuscript materials show up with a catalog record, but instead of listing individual items, you can request the entire collection, or view the finding aid. Once within the finding aid, you can find call numbers for specific items to request. Some smaller collections do not have finding aids. For more information on finding aids, go to the Using a Finding Aid page.

This flowchart can help guide your process in using Special Collections at UNC. View Canva "Using Special Collections at UNC" Flowchart. Once in Canva, you can zoom in to read the text. Find the flow chart text below. A downloadable PDF and PNG image is also available.

Searching UNC Special Collections Flow Chart Text

Remember at any point in your research project, scheduling an appointment with a librarian can help clarify research goals and help find relevant resources.

1. START HERE: Determining Research Questions

   1. I’m not sure what I’m looking for. Continue to step 2.

   2. I’m ready to start searching. Continue to step 3.

   3. What do I want to know or find?

      1. Is it specific to primary sources?

      2. What kind of primary source might have the information I’m looking for?

      3. If you are ready to start your search, continue to step 2 or 3.

2.  Schedule an appointment with a librarian

   1. Speaking with a librarian is a great place to start your research process.

3. Do you already have a research account at UNC?

   1. If yes, continue to step 4

   2. If no, create a research account.

4. Brainstorm keywords or subject headings, continue to step 5.

   1. TIP: You can also schedule an appointment with a librarian to help brainstorm keywords and subject headings.

5. Search the catalog with a keyword

   1. TIP: Use “search the catalog” for all materials. Use “search archival collections” for finding aids only

6. Are you satisfied with the results?

   1. If yes, move to step 7

   2. If there are too many results, try using search limiters to limit your search. If there are too few results, try a new keyword. You can also schedule an appointment with a librarian to help brainstorm keywords and subject headings.

7. Browse the results list, continue to step 8.

8. Can you request the item?

   1. If yes, click “request item”. Learn how to request items here.

      1. TIP:  When searching the UNC catalog, there are two different ways to request materials from special collections.

         1. Published materials (e.g. rare books, records, periodicals, etc). Published materials in Special Collections come up through catalog records for individual items. You can request these individual items through duplication or through scheduling an in-person visit to the archive.

         2. Archival/Manuscript Materials. Archival and manuscript materials show up with a catalog record, but instead of listing individual items, you can request the entire collection, or view the finding aid. Once within the finding aid, you can find call numbers for specific items to request. Some smaller collections do not have finding aids.

   2. If no, continue to step 9

      1. TIP: Unpublished materials in archives are arranged by provenance. Provenance groups materials by context -- who collected the items, where, why and how all of the individual items came to be together. These groups become “collections” usually titled after the collector or the focus of the collection. Collections have finding aids to help researchers understand the scope and content of each collection.

9. Is there a link to a finding aid?

   1. If yes, continue to step 10

   2. What does this mean? A finding aid is one way that archivists make the materials within a collection available to search. It typically includes a collection overview, scope of content, copyright and permissions and sometimes a more detailed list of content.

10. Click “finding aid” on your selected resource.

    1. Read the abstract and browse the content list. Sometimes you find exciting things you aren’t looking for by browsing the finding aid. It can also help contextualize the content you are looking for within the larger collection it is a part of. Continue to step 11.

11. Do you have something specific you are looking for in the finding aid?

    1. If yes, use “ctrl+F” to search names, keywords, dates, etc. You can also schedule an appointment with a librarian to help you find what you are looking for.

    2. If no, continue to browse the finding aid using the navigation on the left side of the screen.

12. Are you finding items related to your keywords?  

    1. If yes, continue to step 13

    2. If no, try other related words or spellings, or browse the finding aid. You can also try returning to the catalog for a new search.

13. Is the selected item digitized?

    1. If yes, continue to step 14

    2. If no, write down the call number for the item you are interested in. Click “request collection” and specify the call number(s) you are interested in. OR schedule an appointment with a librarian to help you find what you are looking for.

14. What kind of digitized item is it?

    1. For scanned photographs and manuscripts, continue to step 15

    2. For digital folders (titled DF) continue to step 16

    3. For digitized sound recordings and moving images, continue to step 17.

15. For scanned photographs and manuscripts, click on the desired image folder.

    1. Browse folder or select individual images

    2. You can also schedule an appointment with a librarian to help you find what you are looking for.

16. For digital folders, click on the desired digital folder (titled DF)

    1. This will take you to the Digital Collections Repository.

    2. You can also schedule an appointment with a librarian to help you find what you are looking for.

17. For digitized audio and moving images, click on the desired selection.

    1. Check access restrictions: if restricted to campus you may only be able to access it from the UNC network. If it is open access, you may listen or watch it on any network.

    2. If available to access, select the resources you’d like to view/listen to.

    3. You can also schedule an appointment with a librarian to help you find what you are looking for.