Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

New Perspectives On Congressional Collections: A Study Of Survey And Assessment, Maurita Baldock, J. Wendel Cox

Dartmouth Library Staff Publications

Archivists have grappled with the processing and management challenges of congressional collections, but have spent less time exploring the use of these collections or their utility for research outside traditional topics and disciplines. This case study examines how two department projects produced new insights into congressional collections at an institution examining the importance of its political materials within its collection development policy. A survey of Native American collection materials led to a new understanding of the vast scholarly potential of congressional collections. Likewise, a general assessment of special collections revealed the popularity of congressional collections and the nature of their …