Vol. 63, No. 3 autumn 2018 182


My experience suggests that you should, while at the archives, repeat the searches you developed at home. You never know if something new will turn up. Also, I have found it valuable to make multiple passes searching for interesting artifacts. You likely will fi nd something new on each pass. Repeat your searches every month or so until you no longer fi nd new artifacts.


Understanding the structure of the documents at the archives


Understanding the full breadth of documents in the British archives is a herculean task. If you feel the need to know more, start with Bevan 2002, Cook & Rodger 2006, Pappaloardo 2003, and Rodger 1988. Fortunately, we only need to deal with the “Records of the Admiralty, Naval Forces, Royal Marines, Coastguard, and related bodies,” known collectively in the archives as the “ADM” records. Organized into 363 numbered series, you can survey the contents of these records at the TNA web site. Start at https:// discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/btowse/r/h/C706 for a list of the thirty-eight series most relevant to the Royal Navy Admiralty and Navy Board.


As you browse through the available ADM series, be sure to note the date ranges on individual series; their contents may sound interesting, but they might be outside your timeline.


ADM references may have two or Figure 1.


before you go will greatly speed your work and enhance the value you receive from them when you are at the archives.


From outside the archives, you can learn much about documents you will want to see; from inside, the website terminals in the reading rooms are your means for requesting documents for examination. Much of this learning can be done from home before visiting the archives; develop your skills and clarify misunderstandings before you go!


three parts


separated by forward slashes. A two-part reference such as ADM 106/1234 refers to 1234 volume of ADM series 106. Be prepared to search it yourself. A more specifi c three-part reference, 106/1234/285, indicates the 285th


like ADM letter in volume


1234 of the ADM 106 series. To see the actual letter at TNA, request volume 1234 of ADM 106 using the online terminals in the Readers Room.


When the document arrives for your review, it likely will be either a bound volume of letters or a box containing loose letters. T e letter may be stamped with a small “285” or it could simply be the 285th letter in a box of loose letters, likely sorted by date.


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