Archival Research
I'm a big believer in the value of archival research for understanding international relations. Archival research is oftentimes very hard, however, even when you have targeted research questions. Finding, accessing, and gathering useful materials is very much a learned skill. Below are some resources I've gathered related to both my specific research in corporate and commercial archives, as well as more general tips. I also have begun compiling a personal archive of materials for my research that I am happy to discuss and share if they might be helpful for your research as well!
Finding Archives
Identifying where archives are physically located is no mean feat, particularly when it comes to tracking down the archives of institutions or individuals that might not have a natural "home" like governmental archives do. Here are some places to start when trying to track commercial/corporate archives:
- Society of American Archivists, Directory of Corporate Archives
- Baker Library, Harvard Business School
- Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University
- Brookings Institution, Committee on the History of the Federal Reserve System
- British Banking Archives: RBS
- Bank of England Archives
- League of Nations
- British National Archives, Digital Microfilm Collection
Accessing Finding Aids
Archives are increasingly digitizing and posting finding aids for their archival holdings online, which makes it easy to know what they do and don't have in a particular collection. Sometimes, however, finding aids are only available onsite. I have digitized the following collection finding aids myself. Feel free to contact me via email for unlinked finding aids, some are too large to link to.
- New York Stock Exchange Archives, Finding Aids Volumes I and II
- Frank Vanderlip Papers at Columbia University; On-site Annotated Version
Archives I've Used
I have used the following archives for my research and am happy to share what I've learned about them.
- New York Stock Exchange Archive
- Brookings Institution, Committee on the History of the Federal Reserve System
Library of Congress
- Woodrow Wilson Papers
- William Gibbs McAdoo Jr. Papers
British National Archives
- Foreign Office: Private Office Papers
Baker Library, Harvard Business School
- Lawrence Manufacturing Company Records
- Allen-Lane Company Records
- Lancaster Mills Records
Columbia University Rare Book and Manuscript Library
- A. Barton Hepburn Papers
- New York Clearing House Association Records
- Frank A. Vanderlip Papers
George Washington University
- Greater Washington Board of Trade Records
- Riggs Bank Records
- National Bank of Washington Records
- Lincoln National Bank Records
Digital Archival Documents
Archival access has been essentially cut off during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Below is a very partial list of the records I've digitized/collected for my research and am happy to share upon request. Please reach out if you're interested in any of the collections I've noted above, I bet I have additional things you can use!
Personal Archive
You can access the finding aid for my personal research archive here. Please contact me if any of my materials would be of use to you! I am happy to discuss individual items and share either digital copies or notes as appropriate. The archive centers around the American agricultural and textile industries during World War I and World War II as well as World War I-era pamphlets.
Finding Archives
Identifying where archives are physically located is no mean feat, particularly when it comes to tracking down the archives of institutions or individuals that might not have a natural "home" like governmental archives do. Here are some places to start when trying to track commercial/corporate archives:
- Society of American Archivists, Directory of Corporate Archives
- Baker Library, Harvard Business School
- Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University
- Brookings Institution, Committee on the History of the Federal Reserve System
- British Banking Archives: RBS
- Bank of England Archives
- League of Nations
- British National Archives, Digital Microfilm Collection
Accessing Finding Aids
Archives are increasingly digitizing and posting finding aids for their archival holdings online, which makes it easy to know what they do and don't have in a particular collection. Sometimes, however, finding aids are only available onsite. I have digitized the following collection finding aids myself. Feel free to contact me via email for unlinked finding aids, some are too large to link to.
- New York Stock Exchange Archives, Finding Aids Volumes I and II
- Frank Vanderlip Papers at Columbia University; On-site Annotated Version
Archives I've Used
I have used the following archives for my research and am happy to share what I've learned about them.
- New York Stock Exchange Archive
- Brookings Institution, Committee on the History of the Federal Reserve System
Library of Congress
- Woodrow Wilson Papers
- William Gibbs McAdoo Jr. Papers
British National Archives
- Foreign Office: Private Office Papers
Baker Library, Harvard Business School
- Lawrence Manufacturing Company Records
- Allen-Lane Company Records
- Lancaster Mills Records
Columbia University Rare Book and Manuscript Library
- A. Barton Hepburn Papers
- New York Clearing House Association Records
- Frank A. Vanderlip Papers
George Washington University
- Greater Washington Board of Trade Records
- Riggs Bank Records
- National Bank of Washington Records
- Lincoln National Bank Records
Digital Archival Documents
Archival access has been essentially cut off during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Below is a very partial list of the records I've digitized/collected for my research and am happy to share upon request. Please reach out if you're interested in any of the collections I've noted above, I bet I have additional things you can use!
- "General Correspondence, July 6, 1914 - July 30, 1917," Woodrow Wilson Papers, Series 2, Reels 60 - 89.
- Greater Washington Board of Trade Records:
- Series 2, Boxes 3, 7
- Series 3, Boxes 14-16
- Series 9, Box 198
- Lawrence Manufacturing Company Records
- Series A, Volume A-1, Carton A-0
- Series F, Box FG-1
- Series M, Volumes ME-32, ME-33, Carton 6-MAF-1
Personal Archive
You can access the finding aid for my personal research archive here. Please contact me if any of my materials would be of use to you! I am happy to discuss individual items and share either digital copies or notes as appropriate. The archive centers around the American agricultural and textile industries during World War I and World War II as well as World War I-era pamphlets.
