Historical evidence can take a variety of forms. Among the most important types of historical evidence are primary sources. Primary sources consist of original documents, artifacts, or other pieces of information that were created at the time under study. Another important type of historical evidence is oral tradition.

Types of evidence

• Printed sources. Books, articles, papers, pamphlets, newspapers, directories and all sorts of miscellaneous material, which is most likely to be found in the local studies collection of your library.
• Archives.
• Oral testimony.
• Physical evidence.

Every image, object, building, written source and landscape is a piece of evidence that can help us understand the past. Analysing this kind of evidence is called ‘interpreting’.

Steps in Historical Research

1. Identify an idea, topic or research question.
2. Conduct a background literature review.
3. Refine the research idea and questions.
4. Determine that historical methods will be the method used.
5. Identify and locate primary and secondary data sources.

The following types of materials can be considered primary sources:

• Public Records. Census records. Church or Synagogue records. Divorce records. Education records.
• Personal papers. Journals. Diaries. Correspondence / letters.
• Organization records.
• Newspaper articles.
• Original research.
• Original works of literature.
• Photographs.
• Art.

Some examples of primary source formats include:

• archives and manuscript material.
• photographs, audio recordings, video recordings, films.
• journals, letters and diaries.
• speeches.
• scrapbooks.
• published books, newspapers and magazine clippings published at the time.
• government publications.
• oral histories.

the Declaration of Independence

Explore the Documents

• Declaration of Independence.
• Constitution of the United States.
• Bill of Rights.

Along these lines, therefore, a list of “the Four Major Founding Documents” that could be studied in class might be: 1) the Declaration of Independence, 2) the Constitution, 3) the Bill of Rights, and 4) the Federalist/Anti-Federalist Papers.

What Are Important Documents?

• Legal identification documents. Social Security cards. Birth certificates.
• Tax documents. Tax returns. W-2s and 1099 forms.
• Property records. Vehicle registration and titles.
• Medical records. Wills, powers of attorney or living will.
• Finance records. Pay stubs.

The Results of The People’s Vote: The most influential documents in American history.

• Declaration of Independence (1776) 29,681 votes.
• Constitution of the United States (1787) 27,070 votes.
• Bill of Rights (1791) 26,545 votes.
• Louisiana Purchase Treaty (1803) 13,417 votes.
• Emancipation Proclamation (1863) 13,086 votes.

Five Must-Have Legal Documents

• Guardianship Documents.
• Health Care Power of Attorney.
• Financial Power of Attorney.
• Living Will.
• Last Will and Testament.
• U.S. Legal Services Can Help!

There are 5 methods of filing:

• Filing by Subject/Category.
• Filing in Alphabetical order.
• Filing by Numbers/Numerical order.
• Filing by Places/Geographical order.
• Filing by Dates/Chronological order.

10 Home Office Hacks to Get You Organized Now

1. PURGE PAPER. Pile of Papers.
2. COLOR-CODE YOUR FILING SYSTEM. Create a Mail Organizer with File Folders.
3. CREATE A MAIL STATION. Bins Used to Sort Mail.
4. CREATE A PRINTING STATION. DIY Fauxdenza.
5. STORE IN CONTAINERS.
6. USE A LABEL MAKER.
7. CATEGORIZE.
8. ORGANIZE YOUR BOOKS.

Instructions

1. Gather All of Your Papers in One Spot.
2. Separate Your Papers Into 5 Categories.
3. Discard Documents You Don’t Need.
4. Organize the Archive File.
5. Arrange the Household File.
6. Set Up the Action File.

1. Go paperless with bank statements and bills. Pixabay/stevepb.
2. Purge your paper.
3. Shred personal documents.
4. Recycle your stacks of magazines and newspapers.
5. Create a filing system.
6. Put a recycling bag or bin near your front door.
7. Create a “Take Action” station for papers that need to be dealt with.
8. Store coupons in a binder.

Your best bet with storing important documents is a safe deposit box. Most banks or credit unions offer safe deposit boxes.

Click the File menu, select the Info tab, and then select the Protect Document button. Click Encrypt with Password. Enter your password then click OK. Enter the password again to confirm it and click OK.

Store documents flat in a cool, dry, and dark area. Papers should always be stored in acid-free, alkaline materials (like boxes, folders, or mats) or in polyester film folders. Never keep your documents in a damp or humid areas, such as basements, attics, or bathrooms.

Three years

Important papers to save forever include:

• Birth certificates.
• Social Security cards.
• Marriage certificates.
• Adoption papers.
• Death certificates.
• Passports.
• Wills and living wills.
• Powers of attorney.

Keep for 1 month: utility bills, deposits and withdrawal records. If you’re self-employed, you may need your utility, cable and cell phone bills for tax purposes. Otherwise, you can dispose of them as soon as you verify your payment was processed.

Federal law mandates that a provider keep and retain each record for a minimum of seven years from the date of last service to the patient. For Medicare Advantage patients, it goes up to ten years.

Importantly, while medical records can be destroyed after seven years, basic patient information must be retained for twenty-five (25) years after the last chart entry.

All licensed psychologists in California must retain a patient’s health service records for a minimum of seven (7) years from the patient’s discharge date or seven years after a minor patient reaches the age of eighteen.

When you or someone you are caring for is seriously ill, it is recommended that you keep EOBs for five years after the illness or condition is alleviated. If you or the patient is claiming or has claimed a medical deduction, keep the explanation of benefits for seven years.

Unlike medical bills, EOBs should be kept from three to eight years after your procedure, or indefinitely if you have a reoccurring condition.