Archives

An archive is a place in which past and current records and artifacts of ongoing value are protected and made available to people such as evaluators. Such material often forms part of historic memory and can enhance understandings of cultures, organizations, and programs. Archives may contain primary or secondary sources such as memorabilia (e.g., photographs, documents, letters), equipment, newspaper articles, rare books, minutes of meetings, and records. Locations of archives vary: They can be found in government departments, libraries, museums, newspaper offices, universities, private companies, and religious organizations.

From archives, evaluators may gain valuable insights into organizations and programs that may not have been apparent before and that could not have been discovered in any other way. Frequently, evaluators must go to the archival site, although ...