How to Search Archives
Links to Existing Collections regarding the Great Basin Indians can be found all over the world! The Great Basin Indian Archives with its virtual links, points to many such collections, but it is also important that you practice effective searching techniques. This will insure that you find the information you are looking for, once you arrive at a particular collection.
Have a Plan
The first thing to do before searching any archives is to make a plan. This will insure that you stay focused on your subject and do not get lost in all the information available. Here are some questions you should ask yourself before searching for Great Basin Indian material:
- What is my research objective?
- Is it to merely learn about an archives and see what it may hold, or is it a specific topic or question?
- What are the various names of the tribe?
- Who were the agents, missionaries, or field researchers?
- With what federal and state agencies has the tribe or individual interacted with historically?
- What were the newspapers of the area?
- What links are available through the Great Basin Virtual Archives?
Search Terms
Many sites today now offer the option of using a search tool to quickly browse the site. These can be a quick way to find information on just about any subject. One drawback to some of these search tools, however, is that they only look for the exact thing you type in. If you happen to misspell a word into the search tool, chances are it will not be able to find the information you are looking for. Another drawback is that there may be many different spellings for the same thing. This means you could you could be missing out on valuable information by not searching alternate spellings. In searching one museum site, alternative spellings produced the following results:
| Search Term | Results |
| Paivotso | 0 |
| Paiute | 201 |
| Pahute | 0 |
| Shoshone | 122 |
| Shoshoni | 489 |
| Snake | 0 |
| Ute | 1029 |
| Washo | 130 |
| Washoe | 16 |
To avoid these problems it is important to have a list of character names, place names, institutional names, as well as alternate tribal spellings when searching. This will help you gather information on your subject from many angles, and also insure that you are not missing out on information by using a different spelling.
Types of Resources
There are many places today that house historical records and documents. Knowing a little bit about these places can help you determine where you would most likely find the information for which you are looking.
Tribal Governments or Business Councils
Tribal Governments and Business are the obvious holders of primary documents. Several tribes in the Great Basin even have formal records management programs, archives, museums or cultural centers that organize material and make it available to others on a limited basis. Many tribes still do not have web sites, so contact with them will be through more conventional methods. Some tribes listed in the Great Basin Indian Archives may not be considered Great Basin Tribes, but are included because their history, or their administrative legacies, are intimately tied to that of Great Basin groups or their papers/archives may contain essential information.
State Archives and State Libraries
State Archives and State Libraries hold documents chronicling the incursion of foreign powers, territorial administration and admission of states to the Union. All of these events occurred in contact with the Indians of the area. Subsequently, the saga of interaction between Tribes and states of the US are chronicled through Governor's records, individual state agencies and the court systems with which each Tribe has interacted.
State Archives collect, organize, and maintain the official records of state government; the non-governmental records chronicling the stories of a State are generally in a State Historical Society or Museum.
University Libraries
University libraries are listed because although most of their holdings are published, the bibliographies of such holdings often provide clues as to the location and content of primary source material.
University Special Collections
Universities also maintain "Special Collections," often the personal manuscripts, correspondence, photographs and other written material of an individual. Other special collections may be held by a university department, separate from that of the main library.
Museums
Some museums are included as they have archival holdings and as the professional lines between physical objects and manuscripts are being dimmed; both media present critical information.
County Libraries
County libraries (not listed in the GBIA because of volume) often house weekly newspapers on printable microfilm, local photos, cemetery records, maps, oral history transcriptions and bound historical books relating specifically to their area. They also may contain folders with information on individuals, events, or historic buildings often indexed for easy retrieval.
The Oregon Counties Records Inventory is on example of the kinds of records that may be found at county sites, even if you are not researching in Oregon. Viewing it is a great way to get an idea of the documents you should look for in your search.
Court Records
Court records are another valuable source of information. While most links have been listed because they hold documents related to Great Basin Indians, you are encouraged to view other holdings within that collection or site as they often provide the context of the times for your research topic.
On-line Material
When viewing on-line material one must take care. Sometimes information on sites can be inadequate or controversial. When getting information keep in mind any bias the site might have and insure that the site is reputable.