Fisher Archives

Institutional archives hold information about specific people, places, events, or topics.  There are many reasons why one might want to use an archives.  

• To learn more about a person who attended Fisher or worked at Fisher
• To understand the background of something that happened at Fisher
• To get a sense of the evolution of Fisher over time
• To answer the why, where, what, and who questions around this institution

Archival collections are typically closed-stacks-- meaning that they are not browsable by the public. In archives, we are constantly dealing with the fine balance between preservation and access. Archives often contain rare, specialized, or unique materials which are arranged and described according to specific principles. There are many ways to discover what an archives contains, including through online holding lists or finding aids, digitized collections, and direct contact with the repository.

What happens when you get to an archives for research?

• Ask the archivist for a specific collection or object, including identifying information like box numbers or folder numbers.  
• You'll need to leave your personal possessions in a locker, with the exception of a notebook and pencils. (Sometimes you will be allowed to use your phone for photographs.)
• While consulting the archival documents, you'll be asked to stay in a designated area called a reading room.

A researcher is allowed to inspect one box at a time, which can be frustrating if you don't know exactly where to find your information.  It may take quite a long time to find exactly what you want. But sometimes, you stumble across the unexpected!!