Archives and official records
Government archives, institutional archives, official reports, inquiries, diplomatic records and other primary documentation where relevant.
Evidence and provenance
Sources and Provenance
How source evidence is used during database review, what visible citations mean and how to verify important historical claims.
Provenance
Source coverage varies by record
The database has been assembled and reviewed over time, so individual records do not all carry the same level of visible source citation. Record-level citation coverage is being expanded. Where a record does not yet display a citation, important dates or claims should be checked against primary sources or reputable specialist works before scholarly use.
Reference types
Sources used during review
Appropriate sources depend on the subject. Review may draw on archival, museum, government, academic and established reference sources, with primary or specialist sources preferred when greater precision is required.
Museums and collections
Museum, library and collection catalogues can help verify objects, people, dates, images and historical context.
Academic and specialist works
Scholarly publications and subject-specific reference works are useful for chronology checking and questions requiring interpretation.
Established reference sources
Reliable reference works can support straightforward verification, while important or disputed claims warrant stronger evidence.
Images
Image provenance is separate from record provenance
Where historical images are displayed, source or licence information is provided alongside the image where available. An image credit documents the image; it should not be treated as the source for every historical statement on the same page.
Using the database
How to verify a database result
For research notes, record the page URL, relevant event or person, displayed date and date consulted. For formal academic citation, verify important claims against the strongest available primary or specialist source and cite that source directly.
If you identify stronger evidence or a conflict between a database record and documentary evidence, use Corrections & Contact.