Newly released research database: ArchiveGrid

ArchiveGrid is a collection of nearly two million archival material descriptions.  Archival collections held by thousands of libraries, museums, historical societies and archives are represented in ArchiveGrid.  ArchiveGrid provides access to detailed archival collection descriptions, making information available about historical documents, personal papers, family histories, audiovisual recordings, photographs and other archival materials.  It also provides contact information for the institutions where the collections are kept. 

ArchiveGrid data includes collection descriptions from around 1,000 institutions: archives, libraries, museums, historical societies, etc.  Currently, ArchiveGrid is primarily focused on archival material descriptions for institutions in the United States, but the number of institutions in Europe, Asia, Australia, and Central and South America is growing.

ArchiveGrid connects researchers with primary source materials.  ArchiveGrid also helps researchers contact archives to request information, arrange a visit, and order copies.

You can browse by topic or do a keyword search.  When you do a keyword search, you get a "result list" and a "result overview."  If you click on the "result overview," you will find options to narrow your search by person, archive, group, archive location, place and topic.

I encourage everyone to give it a try. 

I also have one caveat... ArchiveGrid, literally, just made its public launch, so there are still a few kinks.  The Ethnomusicology Archive, for example, is not listed separately (but it will be) and if you find something held by the Archive, when you click on the contact information button, it will take you to the Clark Library.  Yes, because, apparently, ethnographic sound recordings and Oscar Wilde share more in common than most of us suspected.  If you find anything else that seems odd, just email me.