Teaching & Learning in Special Collections & Archives
ZSR Library Special Collections & Archives maintains a robust program of instruction for undergraduate and graduate classes. Our collections support instruction across the Wake Forest curriculum, and SCA class sessions provide students with the opportunity for hands-on interaction with our historic materials.
Class visits to ZSR Special Collections & Archives
WFU instructors may request a single class visit or multiple visits over the course of a semester by submitting our instruction request form a minimum of two weeks before the requested class date.
Please note that our instruction slots fill up quickly, so we recommend that if you have a specific date or dates in mind, you submit the request form at the beginning of the semester (or earlier).
Instructors are expected to accompany their classes to all SCA sessions.
SCA librarians and archivists provide instruction directly related to our collections and the use of primary/archival sources. For instruction on general library use, research strategies, and digital primary sources, you can contact the ZSR Library subject librarians.
Embedded Librarians and Semester-Long Classes
We are happy to collaborate with instructors who wish to incorporate SCA materials as an integral part of a class curriculum. When appropriate, we can arrange for one of our staff to be embedded in a class and work with the students over the course of the semester.
For this type of intensive instruction, we ask that you make arrangements with SCA at least one semester in advance of the proposed class. In the best case scenario, you should contact us for an initial consultation as you are in the process of designing a new course.
Special Collections & Archives Classroom
SCA instruction sessions take place in the Jenny Puckett classroom (ZSR Library room 624), which is adjacent to the SCA research room. This classroom has a flexible layout and wireless projection capability, and it accommodates up to 25 students. Please contact SCA to inquire about options for larger classes.
Non-WFU Classes and Groups
We are also happy to schedule SCA instruction sessions and tours for groups external to Wake Forest. We can provide sessions for K-12, undergraduate, and graduate level visiting classes, as well as local interest groups, book clubs, etc. Please use our contact form to inquire about scheduling a visit.
Some examples of class sessions and credit-bearing courses taught by Special Collections & Archives staff:
Introduction to Special Collections
Basic concepts: what is special collections, collection development policy, history of department, how to access, and description of collections; subject specificity is also available. Also available for LIB100/200 courses.
Topical presentations based on course subject
Topics vary according to subject/class but generally include introduction to Special Collections & Archives, examination of primary source materials relevant to class, instruction on how to conduct research in SC&A, and a class project or activity using SC&A materials.
Tour of Special Collections Research Room
Introduction to the room, the department, and the collections. This gives a brief overview of who can use the room, for what, and when. Available for class tours, library tours, and visiting groups.
Basics of Oral History
Basic concepts: what is oral history, how to plan and organize a project, documentation, equipment, interviewing tips, and access issues.
History of Books and Reading
History of reading, writing, and print culture as it relates to subject areas of specific classes (e.g. French Enlightenment, U.S. Civil War, Protestant Reformation, etc.).
How to Conduct Research Using Primary Sources (Archives and Manuscripts)
Introduction to types of primary sources, how to request and use materials in Special Collections & Archives, and how to locate digital objects and collections.
Potential Library and Public History Careers for History Majors
Review of potential career paths for history majors, focusing on libraries, archives, and museums.
Role of Preservation in Academic Libraries
Introduction to basic concepts of preservation work, including the importance of reversible treatments, importance of acid-free and pH neutral materials, stability of temperature and relative humidity (RH), consistency of physical environment, storage, care and handling, and security.
Researching the History of Wake Forest University
Highlighting University Archives publications including Howlers, History of Wake Forest vols. 1-4, Old Gold and Blacks, and Alumni magazines. Will review archival finding aids, president’s papers, university archives record groups, and digital collections.
LIB100: Introduction to Special Collections & Archives
Basic concepts: what is special collections, collection development policy, history of department, how to access, and description of collections; subject specificity is also available.
LIB260: History of Material Texts, 1400-2000
This 1.5 credit undergraduate elective class, taught by SCA librarians, introduces students to issues in the history of the book in the West, from early modern manuscript culture through the beginnings of the digital age. Using materials from ZSR Library Rare Books Collection, students examine printed texts as objects of study in three major ways: as material objects with artifactual value, as vehicles for text, and as social constructs and agents of social change.
Lib290A: Exploring Primary Sources: An Introduction to Their Use in Research
Lib290A is a research methods class for history and other liberal arts majors. The course will focus on building basic skills for conducting historical research and includes guidance on locating, utilizing, and evaluating sources. Students will explore both primary sources (in both analog and digital form, such as diaries, letters, newspaper articles, photographs, government documents, and first-hand accounts) and secondary materials (such as books and articles written by historians and devoted to the analysis and interpretation of historical events and evidence).