Start your research

Begin with a specific question, period and institutional context.

Identify the subject, approximate date range, organisations or people involved and what kind of evidence would answer the question. Search by both modern and historical names where necessary.

Records should be read in the context in which they were created. A later department name, constitutional settlement or public body must not be projected backwards onto an earlier HRC team merely because the functions now look similar.

Use catalogue references when asking for help so the archival record can be distinguished from later copies, summaries or derivative documents.