On the basis of various sources and articles the basic principles of archival research and historical source criticism are investigated. How do historians find relevant archival documents? In this course students will get familiar with the techniques of archival research. On finding some document which seems to pertain to his or her subject, a historian has to ask the following questions: 1) how has this document come to survive; 2) who wrote it, when, where, to whom, for what purpose, and (perhaps) at whose behest?; 3) under what circumstances was it written?; 4) what were the constraints on the writer as a result of his/her mind set and the genre within which he/she was writing?; 5) to what extent can the document be used to furnish `evidence in spite of itself’, which is likely to be more reliable, because less self-serving, than that purveyed by the intentions of the author?; 6) how does the document relate to other texts, and to other types of sources (visual, material)?; 7) are there matters which pertain to the corpus as a whole which may be of importance? Each participant of the course should bring in some document which will be distributed well in advance. This document will be either peculiarly difficult or alternatively, a typical example of the problems encountered – or both. In addition recent literature related to theoretical and methodological issues is discussed.
Method of Instruction
seminar
Course objectives
In this course problems evoked by specific sources are discussed. Various questions are posed regarding specific sources with which the students intend to work. In this manner the sources, the authors and the context in which the texts were produced are critically assessed. This provides insight into historical source criticism.
Required reading
Literature will be made available. Most course sessions are planned in the National Archives in The Hague.
Examination
The students have to make oral and written presentations related to particular sources.
Information
Contact Prof. Dr. Ch. Jeurgens K.J.P.F.M.Jeurgens@let.leidenuniv.nl
Or Dr. A.F. Schrikker, Encompass coordinator: A.F.Schrikker@let.leidenuniv.nl
Remarks
This course is designed especially for those students who are admitted to he encompass programme. For information see: www.encompass.leidenuniv.nl