Historical & Archival Research Flashcards
7 cards from real CPI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Historical & Archival Research flashcards as text
What is the purpose of creating a 'historical event map' during a paranormal site investigation?
Answer: To spatially correlate documented historical events with the specific locations where paranormal activity is reported
A historical event map spatially correlates documented historical events with reported paranormal activity locations, helping investigators identify meaningful patterns or connections.
A CPI is researching a site associated with reports of disembodied voices in a specific room. Local records show it was once a telegraph office. Which skill would help interpret Morse code transcripts found in the archive?
Answer: Familiarity with historical communication technology and the ability to decode or research Morse code content
Understanding historical communication technology and being able to decode or research Morse code transcripts allows investigators to extract meaningful content from period-specific archival materials.
Which of the following is a common pitfall when relying on genealogy websites like Ancestry.com for paranormal historical research?
Answer: User-submitted family trees may contain errors or unverified information that should be confirmed against primary sources
User-submitted family trees on genealogy sites often contain errors or unverified data that must be cross-checked against original primary source documents for reliability.
An investigator finds a historical document written in a 19th-century cursive script that is difficult to read. What is the recommended approach?
Answer: Use paleography skills or consult a specialist trained in reading historical handwriting styles
Paleography—the study of historical handwriting—or consulting a trained specialist allows investigators to accurately transcribe and interpret difficult period cursive scripts.
What role does the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) play in a paranormal investigator's archival research toolkit?
Answer: It provides a legal mechanism to request unreleased government records that may document unusual incidents at federal sites
FOIA allows individuals to formally request access to unreleased federal government records, which may include incident reports, inspection records, or other documents relevant to a site's history.
A CPI is investigating a lighthouse with reports of a keeper's ghost. Which specialized archive would most likely hold the lighthouse keeper's personal logbooks and duty journals?
Answer: The National Archives Record Group 26, which covers US Coast Guard and Lighthouse Service records
National Archives Record Group 26 holds records of the US Lighthouse Service and Coast Guard, including keeper logbooks, correspondence, and station journals.
Why should a CPI document all archival sources using a standardized citation format during a paranormal investigation?
Answer: Proper citations ensure findings can be verified, sources can be re-examined, and the research maintains credibility and reproducibility
Standardized citations allow all research findings to be independently verified, sources to be re-examined by others, and the investigation to maintain credibility through transparent, reproducible methodology.