Researching San Luis Obispo History
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Kennedy Library, Cal Poly
Data & GIS Specialist
Gaps and Silences in Archives and Special Collections
While archives have been viewed as unbiased repositories of the past, they are in fact spaces of gaps and silences. These gaps and silences are due to historical, institutional, and internalized racism, classism, sexism, and ignorance of marginalized genders and sexualities. Bias enters both into what you find or don't find in the the archives--archival silence--and what you read in the archivist's description. Archives have never been neutral.
Learn more about how to be a critical user of archives and primary sources.
Welcome
Welcome! This guide provides an introduction to starting your research on Central Coast and San Luis Obispo County history. It is intended as a resource for Cal Poly students, faculty, and staff as well as the broader community.
Use the tabs on the left to navigate through the pages in this guide.
If you have questions or edits, contact Laura Sorvetti, Special Collections and Archives.
These slides were created for the Fall 2020 Architecture 251 and can serve as an introduction to doing research on SLO history.
Intro to the archives
In July 2020, Special Collections and Archives co-presented with the San Luis Obispo History Center an introduction to doing research online.
Presentation Slides:
Video recording: