UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT

SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES

FACULTY OF HUMANITIES
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY AND DIPLOMATIC
STUDIES

ASSIGNMENT
ON

The potentials and challenges of Archival sources for

Historical Reconstruction
By
Abioye Sekinah Tasleem
APPL/2020/MA/HDS/019
Course Lecturer: Professor Okorobia
Course Code: HDS 800.1
Course Title: Theories and Methods of history
August 2021
 Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE:
1.0 Background to the study
1.1 Aim and Objectives
2.0 CHAPTER TWO
2.1 Definition of Terms
2.2 Archival Source
2.3 Types of Archival sources for historical
reconstruction
2.4 Linguistics as an archival source for Historical
Reconstruction
3.0 CHAPTER THREE
3.1 Challenges of historical reconstruction
4.0 CHAPTER FOUR
4.1 Summary
4.2 Conclusion
 CHAPTER ONE
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Meaning will be given to certain terms of the topic
commencing from archive, a literal meaning to archive- archives
generally mean certain documents (letters, records, newspapers)
or other types of historical material(media) kept for historical
purposes.
According to the Oxford reference, Archives can range
from unique modest collections of unique documentations to
highly formalized collections. According to the vocapture
dictionary of English, the word ‘archives' was gotten from the
Latin word ‘archivum' from the ancient Greek ‘arkheion’,
Archive generally means certain documents(letters , records,
newspapers) or other types of historical material(media) kept for
historical interest. Online source states Archival sources to be
manuscripts, documents, historical records (including electronic
records), objects, sound, audio-visuals and other materials.
Archives includes remnants of past cultures, fossils of
extinct creation, literary work, writing of earlier generation.
Historical reconstruction is ascertaining to the fact that “history
does not lie", the meaning of the word “History does not lie” a
challenge to archivists and historians alike stated to be the
continual pilfering or making up archival documents/media for
economic interest thus making History seem a lie.
The potentials of archival sources for historical
reconstruction and the challenges would be noted.
Understanding archives enables us to know the challenges and
potentials. These aspect of the essay poses the result of findings.
1.2 AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study is to
have a concise knowledge about archives to enable the student:
B) Conduct archival findings with the knowledge of the
potentials and challenges.
C) Know the sources of archives, an instance the study will
know as to fossils being considered Archives.

CHAPTER TWO
DEFINITION OF TERMS
ARCHIVES
Archives was gotten from the Latin language ‘archivum' which was gotten
from the ancient Greek word ‘arkheion' means certain documents (letters, records,
Newspapers) stored for historical interest. Oxford reference notes archives to range
from unique modest collections of unique documentations to highly formalized
collections.
ARCHIVAL SOURCES
Archival sources are regarded as primary sources, history as a
discipline has three source, primary, Secondary and tertiary. Archival sources are a
subset of historical geographers and historians.
TYPES OF ARCHIVAL SOURCES
HISTORY
History is well known to be the concrete knowledge of the past, deeper
insight into history, notes how the past affect our lives in the present, sources
might include the future.
In analysing history, it has been understood that there are different forms of
gaining historical knowledge, the topic centres on Archival Sources for Historical
Reconstruction, an insight might take the word Historical Reconstruction to mean
debunk the lies in history, make meaning to Archival sources and their relevance to
history.
A look into “Historians use of Archival Sources: Promises and Pitfalls of
the digital age”, The title makes reference to the topic under review,
Starting from an individual, the theory even though unbelievable is
considered an Archive, how beings evolved to man even though could still be
considered Archival information as in recent times, studies have shown that the
early man kept remnants of itself, thereby making the theory that being developed
through ages to what we call the Homo Sapien Sapien(man). Archival sources are
in different forms, the Oxford dictionary states archives could be in the form of
media or literary information, other sources may include the earth or substances
produced from the earth, man can be considered to be an Archive or parts of a
man, even some materials used by a particular individual- public figure or not are
considered Archives, archives vary in different ways.
CALLIGRAPHY/WRITING: Albertine Gaur’s book titled the history of writing
informs the student, writing had existed even in the dawn of Human history,
known as the art of representing data without the intermediary of language, it
would be safe to visualize the creation of man and the history of writing: writing
evolved with the creation of man as the hands are used for writing also, writing is
the art of representing data, it could be in the form of geometrical patterns and
designs. Herodotus known to live in the 6th century BC tells the story of a Scythian
ruler was known to have sent the gift of a bird, mouse and a frog with seven arrows
to Darius, through writing. The gifts were labelled as an act of surrender or
declaration of defiance.
Message sticks were an essential part of aboriginal culture, thus
writing reveals a high level of storage can be reached, modifying or
decorating objects or artificially creating decorated objects are noted as the
writing of the aboriginal culture.
The Moche, Pre-Inca people from Peru used beans marked with
dots, parallel lines for sending their messages these wampum belts were
woven by the pre-Inca people on a bow-loom in a manner of analogous
weaving. Colours were also termed as writing: Black, signifies death,
danger, hostility and sadness. White stood for happiness, Red stood for War.
The present day Nigeria, was in a manner of kingdom and villages,
from Nollywood: The pre-colonial Nigeria, red stood for negative among
some Nigerian tribes, The Nigerian flag, considered to be an Archive which
means, Green stands for fertile soil, white stands for unity, Green also stands
for good
Among the Yoruba, six cowrie shells means “I am attracted”.
Writing is the primary source of all information and preservation of
knowledge.
The Arab region contributed to writing, it is significant in the writing
of the Koran, known as Islamic Calligraphy. The prophet was known to have
passed away in 632 AD, began a way to leave the lessons the prophet had
taught, there was hardly any script even in Basrah, the calligraphic style
chosen for the writing of the Koran. It was noted, only one old script existed
in an Arab region.
LITERARY SOURCES: autobiographies are included in Archival
sources, Olusegun Obasanjo documented his experience of the Nigerian
Civil war, informing he was the commander of three marine commando
divisions and Phillip Effiong noted his activity in the war, his transported the
defunct Biafrans to Lagos, they were lodged in an hotel and catered for,
although they did not pay, Obasanjo sorted out their bill, in the archival
source, Re-Integration True or False by Phillip Effiong.
 Adolf Hitler’s account of his rule in Germany, it was noted that he
was the leader of Nazi Germany, although defunct when heard of it is
likened to a strength filled military organisation, it was also stated he wanted
to rule the world, his plot failed. He was known to have attempted
conquering most of Europe and orchestrated the world war I and II with the
aim of conquering the world.
PICTURES AND POTRAITS: Costume 1066-1990’s by John
Peacock, pictures the mode in which dressing evolved through Era’s, ending
with the Elizabeth II era, when women started to wear trousers and men
started wearing shorts. The archival source started with the Henry I, prior to
that era, Men wore long cloaks similar to male gowns and women dressed in
heavily long gowns, till the Henry I era. The dressing of men and women
escalated with the sense of style, the student likes to refer it as ‘people open
eye to see the life' the Edward III era, a new style of cloaks began to reign
and shortly after the word ‘Knight’, significantly pointed shoes began to
reign in Richard II era 1377-1399, during the times pointed shoes began to
reign in Nigeria, the early year of the 21st century, the student noted the
pointed shoes “I look up to God".
WRITTEN RECORDS: these includes manuscripts, edited notes and
letters archived to be history, these written records tell the situation of a
particular event, the instance of the gift of a bird, mouse sent to Darius, the
king of Persia is an archival source, no notes were recorded to have been
found but the gift portray the message, I would like to simplify it to the
apology letters of the historic times as the example can be likened to history.
It arose during my undergraduate years, the question arose when
did history begin as a course of study?, how were documents archived?,
what is the importance of archives?.
Linguistics as an archival source for Historical Reconstruction.
The review on linguistic evidence an archival reconstruction will be
added to this assignment.
African history, a centre for historical reconstruction based on
linguistic evidence includes its contribution to recovery aspects of the past,
the thought on linguistic evidence and historical reconstruction cannot
entirely be nullified as in Albertine Gaur’s book, it has been understood
writings of the old has been understood by certain archivists and historians,
 when evaluate. A challenge, evidence necessary for evaluation would not be
found in using just Linguistics alone.
A likened thought could be the Oyo empire was, destroyed with the
coming of the white man and hypocrisy among the yoruba nation.
Linguistics also arises the thought, how did the White man and the African
man communicate to the extent of moulding a statue in honour of the white
man’s death.
Archive is a collection of historical documents or records providing
information about a place, institution or group of people, Internet archive is a non-
profit library of millions of books (pdf), movies, software, music, websites. Top
collections at the archive includes: American Libraries (3,474,831) items, the
librivon free Audiobook collection (15,826) items.
The definition of archive as a long term storage device, disk, magnetic tape
or a computer directory or folder that contains copies of files or backup for future
reference. According to King’s.cam.ac.uk, archives are a collection of items which
form evidence of the activities of a person or institution.
A building where historical records are kept.

POTENTIALS AND CHALLENGES OF ARCHIVAL SOURCES

Archival Source Potential Challenge
Finance Many archival sources
have become financially
dependent on researchers
who use them.
Major Sources for Archival sources are
Historical Reconstruction Primary sources, having
been created at the tune
of the events they are
described by participants
or witnesses of those
events.
Lack of Proper A librarian hypothesised
preservation “for reasons of vanity", a
larger percentage of1
users found them to be of
little advantage
(historians), the events of
the past, present was
found to be if little use,
thereby discarding
archives with little
reference for the future
Archivist Viewpoint Antoinette Burtan “the
complex processes of
selection, interpretation
and creative invention
that archival work
entails” it would be hard
to write any account of
postcolonial Africa from
a purely empiricist
viewpoint.
Destruction The absence of Archival Achieve Mbembe “The
sources haunts the state destruction of state
in the form of a spectre. records inscribed the
memory of the archive
and its records in a
double register,
producing a form of
double register.

Source: Samuel Fury Chlds Daly

 CHAPTER THREE
CHALLENGES OF ARCHIVAL SOURCES FOR HISTORICAL
RECONSTRUCTION
A potential to the use archival source for History, it enables the researcher
to locate and find information, in documenting the research on historians use of
Archival source, they were largely considered very important by individuals,
archival sources are primary sources of history having being made/created at the
time of the particular event, they describe the activities of the event, considered to
be unique. Archives are also selected as evidence of significant historical events,
they are being looked after with the hope they should last hundreds of years.
Unlike literary sources, Archives are usually original and Research ascertains
materials are used as archives as they are originally made by the particular
individual, not some other source. From my perspective, places such as the
museum can be considered Archival sources as they are known to store materials
saying the story behind the particular material. (It was noted that Maj. Gen.
Murtala Muhammed was assassinated by the Col. Dimka, in a car, the car which he
was using at that time is an archive, so also the assassination of the head of state
Maj. Gen. Sani Abacha, it was noted he was poisoned with an apple, the fact that
history does not lie exists, Professor Okorobia added that books and pictures lie
thus it has not been ascertained as to the validity of the previous events mentioned,
the stance of fallacy presents a challenge to archival sources.
The question posed a thought as to the student’s mind, “what
challenges could there be in archival sources for historical reconstruction?”, upon
research, there were many as they included
Geographic Location- this instance poses an issue as economic factors,
theft among others hinders archivists from conducting research.
A CHALLENGE OR POTENTIAL: History also has it that Gen. Sani
Abacha was disliked by members of his governing council and he liked women,
thus ascertaining to the reason he was poisoned with an apple given to him, her
photograph was taken by Seydou Keita, a citizen of Mali. Other sources claimed he
died of a heart attack. The believable story about his death has been given, archives
supports history a potential to Archival sources for historical reconstruction
 Archives helps a great deal in debunking these lies, just as there are lies in
history, pictures lie- the use of Photoshop, rumours exists. Presently there are
imaginable ways individuals can make recent history for their interest. A challenge
to history and historical reconstruction. This challenge is posited to Archival
sources, the efforts of Archivists in preserving historical materials(archives) are
wasted, making the availability of archivists scarce, the occupation is not heard of.
Presently, archivists are hardly noted, perhaps there was a time in the
human era, where you ask a child “what do you want to be in future, the child
replies I want to learn how to find something and keep it". Presently all children
want to become a doctor, lawyer or any professional, any science course as I would
put it, the importance of the past is not studied, we believe the past is gone, the
present is the future.
Forgery: Prof Okorobia’s lecture, he summarily stated, people lie.
FORGERY can be carried out principally for economic purposes but this poses a
challenge to historians and archivists alike, extreme caution has to be made in
digging out artifacts as it leads to the study and career, Archives and Archivists
becoming defunct. The internet is also blamed for presenting lies.
Forgery, presents a challenge to the discipline and to the career.
Adolf Hitler’s view on history, to my knowledge poses a challenge to the
discipline, considered an Archive, due to his impact and status in the world both
past and present, Hitler was a dictator, better termed wicked, he lacked the feeling
of refreshment and compassion decided the world should cut out all luxuries,
stating the politicians of Germany to be bourgeois. His view affects archival
sources, it poses a challenge to history and historical reconstruction, the way
people view history is not truly the way history is, due to demeaning efforts of past
leaders and present leaders following their footsteps, there is the feeling of
discouragement to partake in any historical activity.
Archival sources answers the issue “why is there still corruption in
Nigeria”, earlier it was as though the leaders of the olden days were not corrupt at
all” Archival history with sources reviews the politicians of the old were corrupt,
The headlines of a particular news that filtered the website newspaper was the
regaining of Abacha's billions of dollars, looted while he was the military head of
state, Presently, if basic Nigerians and the Nigerian news circulate news of
infidelity which includes corruption have filled the air, the basic Nigerian may
conclude this country is bad, but it was better before, there is the adage that
presents the belief as false, the case is not so with the study.
FORGERY: Prof. Okorobia’s lecture, he summarily stated, people lie.
Forgery can be carried out principally for economic purposes but this poses a
challenge to historians and archivists alike, extreme caution has to be made in
digging out artifacts as it leads to the study and career Archives and Archivists
becoming defunct. The internet is also blamed for presenting lies.
Forgery, presents a challenge to the discipline and to the career.

CHALLENGE
The topic demands the need for a case study(ies), the writer once
concluded that the case study has to be on a particular event. The event to consider
the potentials and challenges of Archival sources for Historical Reconstruction will
be Adolf Hitler and the Germans.
Hitler, it was stated his belongings were burnt to ashes after his death, this
paper would provide relevance to more about Hitler and his propaganda, Adolf
Hitler was the leader of Nazi Germany, presently hearing of the Nazi, they seem
related to a strength filled military power. The reality behind Hitler’s domineering
nature although he was known to have orchestrated world war I, he was in prison
from 1924 and began writing what would be later considered as one of the world’s
dangerous books Mein Kompf (My Struggle), after his death, his work was banned
in Germany. I never took note of the Holocaust event which claim 40,000 lives
orchestrated by Adolf Hitler.
The relevance of Adolf Hitler’s literary archive which depicts History to
be the man's struggle for survival, removes any relevance as to the reason Hitler is
remembered in history, based on my perspective, I like to think he was corrupt
under the guise of strictness, during Hitler’s regime, there was no significant
international development rather conflict and wars, the superpowers of Europe
which included France, Great Britain and Russia, eliminated Germany from all
economic benefit the colonies were of economic benefit to superpowers, hereby
removed them from all international organization and avoided them. Germany was
a sole country after the world war.
 Reviewing archival sources for historical reconstruction in Arthur
Marwick's piece, he stated history does not require any advanced skills, history is
open to any man, however there must be guidelines for the study of history.
According to Marwick, history must be for everyone and not locked up behind the
walls of academia.
CONCLUSION
Archival sources have been a major source for History and historians in the
Reconstruction of the human past, information needed in recent times the
Calligraphy, portraits, manuscripts, recordings has been documented in these
sources, it has served as a wealth of knowledge in our reconstruction of history.
Nevertheless, there has been many challenges confronting our use of these
materials(archives) ranging from: theft, copyrighting, forgery, propaganda, false
representation of the human past. These reasons, the historian has been made to
critically examine these sources before depending on it for historical
reconstruction.
Notwithstanding, archival sources has sowed a great deal of importance to
humans as without it, so much of the information and knowledge gained today
would not have been.
 Reference
Adolf Hitler: Introduction by Telford Taylor
Costume 1066-1990’s John Peacock
Daniel Trohler (2019) History and Historiography, Approaches to
Historical research in Education
Wendy Duff, Barbara Craig, Joan Cherry(2010) Historians use of Archival
sources Promises and Pitfalls pdf
Phillip Effiong (1983) Re-Integration True or False?
Roche (p. 170-173) Chapter 9 Historical research and Archival sources pdf
The national archives(2016) Archives principles and practice for non-
archivists pdf
Samuel Fury Chlds Daly (2017) Research note Archival Research in Africa
p. 311-320.