K-State faculty publish new open-access textbook supporting archival and primary source instruction and research

Thursday, April 24, 2025

A new open-access textbook edited by Sara K. Kearns, academic services librarian, and Ryan Leimkuehler, university archivist, is now available as a resource to learn more about handling and using archival and primary source materials, as well as a handbook for those who are teaching others.

"The Archives and Primary Sources Handbook" was developed with funding from K-State's Open/Alternative Textbook Initiative and published by New Prairie Press. It offers open access, publicly available primary source materials, adaptable lesson plans, flexible teaching strategies and links to digitized archives for those without local access.

This peer-reviewed textbook is co-edited by Veronica L. Denison of Rhode Island College and Irina Rogova of Virginia Commonwealth University, both former archivists at Kansas State University Libraries.

The handbook comprises three sections: reference, lesson plans and pedagogy. It covers a wide range of archival materials, including textiles, photographs, maps, periodicals and diaries, providing valuable insights for both educators and researchers.

It also features a chapter written by Kathleen Antonioli, associate professor of French at K-State, about translating materials with a class, reflecting the international reach of archival studies. With its combination of practical lessons and educational theory, this resource is ideal for classroom use and independent study.

As a living publication, the handbook will continue to evolve, ensuring it remains a current and valuable tool for the academic and archival communities.