Sourcery accelerates your research.
Submit requests at multiple repositories and manage them all in the same dashboard. No travel needed!
Use Sourcery to...
Get critical documents
Track down a citation or double check a translation that is important to your work.
Expand Source base
Collect materials from places you can't visit or hadn't considered due to travel or time constraints.
Explore new collections
Considering a research trip? Use Sourcery to investigate before you commit.
Research anytime
Don't let your other obligations delay your research. Request materials throughout the year, so you have them when you're ready.
Streamline requests
No need to find a colleague or student in a distant city. Place your request and local Sourcerers will get the materials for you.
keep it All in one place
You can submit multiple requests at different repositories and easily track them all through Sourcery's simple, intuitive interface.
Here's How:
Identify Material
Identify the archival material you wish to have scanned using a citation or finding aid.
Place Request
Your Sourcerer will need to know how to locate and access the materials in the repository.
Institutional Opportunity
If the holding institution is a partner with us, they have up to 3 business days to either claim or release a request. (Coming soon)
Sourcerer Claims
Once your request is claimed, your Sourcerer will keep you updated on the timeline.
Request Fulfilled
Your Sourcerer will return reference-quality scans for you to download. Partner institutions may also choose to keep a copy of the scans.
Want more details? Check out our Researcher Handbook
Why you'll love it
Researchers expand and accelerate their research by requesting archival records through Sourcery.
Sourcery is a game changer in archival research… much easier, time-saving, and cost-efficient.
Di Hu
Assoc. Prof. of Anthropology
James Madison University
Sourcery will make it possible to see records from archives I can’t visit on a graduate student budget.
Madison House-Tuck
PhD Cand., American Studies
George Washington University
Once you have created a Sourcery account, it’s simple – all you need to do is click “Make a request.”
But here’s what you’ll need to know before you start the request process:
- The precise location of your materials: your Sourcerer will need to request the box or volume from the archive! Use the repository’s catalog or finding aid to specify your needs. Note that archival collections and their finding aids can vary widely, though. Some have call numbers, others use record groups or identifiers. Some contain Series and Subseries; others don’t. Some may use envelopes instead of folders. A lucky few have itemized finding aids, while others only list the general contents of a box. For best results, be as clear and precise as possible in your request.
- Any barriers to access: you will need to confirm that the materials are open to researchers and identify the process for access. For example, is communication with an archivist required before requesting an appointment? Is there a fee to access the reading room? Ensuring that your Sourcerer will be able to access the materials helps ensure a timely fulfillment.
We have a full Researchers Handbook if you'd like more details about the process or the scans.
