Research Help

You are welcome and encouraged to consult with staff members about your research needs and procedural questions. We provide a range of research service to on-site and remote researchers.  For information about the collection or to make an appointment please contact the archives.  To ask a reference question ask the archives.

Staff will help identify sources of information relevant to your interests but cannot undertake extensive research projects. In most cases, off-site research requests can only be answered if they are sufficiently specific, e.g., a particular document or the contents of a particular folder. When research is required to identify relevant material it will be conducted as staff time permits. If desired, we can sometimes refer you to an outside researcher for hire who establishes their own rates

Specialized research assistance

Through individual consultations we support the work of all University of Minnesota students, faculty, and staff. In addition to on-the-spot assistance for individuals, archives staff offer specialized consultation services. In face-to-face and online consultations we help researchers develop productive research strategies We encourage all researchers to take advantage of our staff's in-depth knowledge of the University of Minnesota’s collections -  from undergraduates in need of primary sources, to thesis and dissertation candidates in search of untapped research opportunities, to faculty desiring to integrate primary sources into their research and classroom instruction, to independent researchers on the trail of fresh material for their projects. To request a research consultation contact the archives.

University staff and faculty

Archives staff has a thorough knowledge of University history and an understanding of how institutional records and faculty papers relate to the history of the University and its programs, colleges and disciplines. We can direct you to resources which contain the richest yield of information pertinent to your topic, allowing you to use your research time effectively. Archives resources have been used for:

• college & department histories (print, web-based, and DVD)
• publications (newsletters, magazines, journal articles, books)
• course assignments & modules (print, power point)
• administrative use (background for legislative building requests, policy history, strategic planning)
• programmatic uses (lecture series, conferences, awards)
• exhibits (scholars walk, heritage gallery)

We are happy to consult with faculty and instructors on curriculum and syllabus development. If you are considering incorporating primary source materials into your class, we can work with you to identify potential resources, paper topics, and course reserves. Customized presentations and class orientations are available.

Students

Our collections are open to all students, not just those from the University of Minnesota. A research consultation will help you determine appropriate materials from the collection for use in your course work. To schedule a visit please contact the archives.

What to expect from your session:

• Sessions that last about 15 minutes
• Questions about your research topic ideas, if we understand the topic we may be able to recommend related topics and resources. Even if your research topic is undecided we can help you brainstorm and get started. We won’t do the research for you, but we'll help you find what you need.
• Help using resources, creating correct citations so others can follow up on your research. Making sure you understand copyright restrictions, permissions to quote or reproduce, and intellectual property laws.
• Limitations on what we can do, we have many users asking for our help.

Getting the most out of your session:

• Come in early, the sooner you come in before a project is due, the more help you can get.
• Come prepared with copies of the assignment and any notes. The more information you have for us, the better we can serve you.
• Plan your work. You may need to come in more than once as your research project develops.  If you come in at the last minute we may not be able to get the materials to you promptly or fill your duplication orders in time. See our photocopying and scanning services.
• Make appointments in advance of the "last minute rush" at peak paper due-date times (such as mid-terms and finals).