Archival research

1. Archival Research: Its Value to Social Science Research By Augusto V. de Viana , Ph.D Chair, Department of History University of Santo Tomas

2. By its very definition research from the French word “ researche ”means “ looking back” One can literally go back to the past by looking at its records These records can be found in repositories such as the archives

3. An archive is a place Where people store their old records

4. It is different from the rare books section of a library where books considered old or out of print are kept Rare books are those publications which are not anymore accessible and therefore have become rare and had to be more guarded

5. Archives or archival material refer to public records, papers, periodicals, books or other items, articles, or materials whether in the form of electronic, audio-visual, print , which by their value which by their nature and characteristics, have enduring archival value that that have been selected for permanent preservation By definition according to the National Archives Act of 2007 (R.A. 9470) :

6. a building, a room, storage where archival materials are kept and preserved As a place, it is:

7. Its function is to select, collect and preserve archival records and make such records available for public use. As an organization (or part of an organization):

8. Refers to recorded information regardless of medium and characteristics. It is frequently used interchangeably with “records” The term “document”

9. The controlling government agency for the country’s archives is: The National Archives of the Philippines also known as the Philippine National Archives (PNA)

10. While most records are accessible to the public, there are records that are considered restricted because there exists a legal impediment or standard advice issued by the Executive Director of the Archives that such public records be withheld from public access

11. When it has custody of local government records The UST also has its own archives It contains records about the University including wills, lists of students, grades, personnel etc. A local government may have a public archive

12. It gives a view of the past Importance of archival research

13. Its words are more Powerful than spoken ones Archival sources are authoritative sources

14. The impact of one’s scholarship is judged by the amount of archival research is undertaken in the case of historical studies

15. Reports

16. Public archives are those managed by the government. There are two types of archives in the country

17. The PNA contains documents from the Spanish period such as Ereccion de Pueblos Cedularios Bautismos Vecindarios Difunciones Guia de Forasteros Varias Provincias Sediciones y Rebelliones Asuntos Criminales Presidios Marina Filipinos Ilustres Planos Gaceta de Manila Prestacion Personal ( Polos y Servicios ) Other documents that pertain to aspects such as health i.e. lazaretos Economic matters such as the Tobacco Monopoly, Opium Monopoly, maritima , agricola , etc. The main archives of the Philippines is the Philippine National Archives

18. Plano de Alcaiceria de Binondo

19. Aside from the national government, local governments also keep their own archives These contain matters of local interest like history, lists of people living in the area, births and deaths, local health matters, economy, industry and events that have taken place there

20. The archives of the Archdiocese of Manila contain important documents such as Baptisms Foundations of parishes, dioceses and archdioceses Pastoral letters Reports from the various churches Letters including retraction letters of Rizal and Marcelo H. del Pilar Controversial matters such as brujerias (witchcraft); divorce ( actually happened during the Spanish period) conflicts within the church such as rivalries between religious orders There are a number of private archives such as the ecclesiastical archives

21. The Dominicans maintain their archive for their order The Jesuits have theirs at the Ateneo The Recollects have an archive at their Mission House in Fairview Aside from the Archdiocesan Archives other religious orders maintain their own archives

22. Most of these are primary sources if they are reports, laws, letters, statements and statistical figures Archival documents are prized for their historic value

23. Not all archival documents are primary sources The researcher must be careful to discern a primary document from a secondary one

24. Others are now available in microfilm, microfiche and digital copies Some can be accessed through the Internet Even genealogical records can now be accessed through the genealogical project of the Church of the Latter Day Saints based in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA Many archival documents are still in their original paper

25. It is therefore necessary to know the language Many of the archival documents are in the Spanish langauge

26. There are many Spanish words not anymore used or the meaning has changed Cajon means a division in a rice field There are various terms indicating measurements such as vara for measuring length and quintal for weight The Spanish legua or league is different from the English league One should also understand archival Spanish

27. Such as Dte Gde - Dios te Guarde , may God keep you Cbllero – Caballero Idem – same There are also brief forms

28. The researcher must be able to read between the lines and understand the intent of the writer. He could be lying or making things up Some documents though classified as primary, may have conflicting information

29. The researcher should discern truth from propaganda

30. In citing archival documents the researcher must write his sources accurately by citing the box number, expediente number and document number, and topic i.e. PNA, Marianas, 1858-1898, Advertisement of putting up opium dens in the Marianas PNA, Marianas, Bundle 38, 1884 PNA, Marianas, Bundle 33, Espediente 76, ff. 1-4, 1891 In the words of William Henry Scott: One must see through the parchment curtain

31. Archival research is an integral tool of history It unveils truth and destroys stereotypes It reveals glossed-over details Conclusion

32. By using archival materials the researcher is helping in their preservation by disseminating them as secondary material. Citing them restores their importance in history

33. The understanding of these documents conveys to us how Filipinos see themselves and presents to us what was life was during that point in history