While maybe ideal, most of us do not have the luxury of travelling wherever our research takes us. As a result, there will come a time when you will need to correspond with a repository in order to get the information you want.
Tips for Writing Your Research Request
- Before writing, check with the organisation to see if they have a correspondence policy outlining which types of questions they will answer, how long they will search to answer one request, how long you can expect to wait for a response, how many copies of records they will make, and how much they will charge for this service. This information can usually be found on their website.
- Keep your request brief and straightforward. Specify what information you want and provide only background information that may assist someone in finding an answer to your request. A busy archivist or librarian will be much more likely to reply to your queries if they can determine what you’re searching for at a glance.
- Do not ask more than one or two questions. If you have many requests, it is preferable to submit them in separate requests.
- Include other name spellings, nicknames, and so on, under which any records may be located. You should also avoid using too many acronyms in your letter since they raise the possibility of misunderstanding.
- Proofread your request for any errors. Make sure that your request is clear and that you have included accurate names, dates, and locations.