Reconstruct a documentary timeline
Locate an archival reference, consult a digitised edition and date versions of a web page.
Documents to open in this workflow
This order suggests a starting point; revisit a step if identifiers, dates or versions disagree. Access and reuse terms depend on each service.
Archives nationales · Salle de lecture virtuelle
Find fonds, inventories and digitised records held by the French National Archives.
What to record
Call number, fonds and creator, title, date range, description level, finding aid and access conditions.
Source-specific check
A finding aid describes holdings; it does not prove the exact content of an unconsulted item.
Open source portalGallica · BnF
Explore digitised BnF and partner collections to place historical claims in context.
What to record
Persistent identifier, title, author or publisher, edition date, cited page or view, holding institution and reuse terms.
Source-specific check
Digitisation date differs from edition date; a transcription or catalogue entry may differ from the page image.
Open source portalWayback Machine
Compare dated web-page captures and retain a link to a viewable version.
What to record
Original URL, capture URL, capture time and any missing or incomplete page elements.
Source-specific check
An archive shows a retrieved version at a time, not content accuracy or its creation date.
Open source portal
Matching condition
Separate production, edition, digitisation and capture dates; link archival reference and exact page.
If results disagree
If OCR conflicts with the image, keep the faulty transcription and cite the checked view without silently rewriting the archive.
Output to produce
Item timeline with views and disclosed corrections.
Separate documentary evidence, demonstrated links between documents and remaining inference. State the owner and review trigger.
Supporting methods
Producer references
Matching table to complete
This is a blank template, not a research result. Record the exact item and observation for each source before making the decision.
| Source | Document or exact URL | Date and version | Observation and passage | Scope and limit | Link established or unestablished |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archives nationales · Salle de lecture virtuelle | To record | To record | To record | To record | To record |
| Gallica · BnF | To record | To record | To record | To record | To record |
| Wayback Machine | To record | To record | To record | To record | To record |
Frequently asked questions
What link should be checked before matching results?
Separate production, edition, digitisation and capture dates; link archival reference and exact page.
What if sources appear to contradict each other?
If OCR conflicts with the image, keep the faulty transcription and cite the checked view without silently rewriting the archive.
Do the listed portals provide independent confirmation?
Not necessarily. Identify the producer and underlying document. Two interfaces distributing one item can check transcription but do not establish a fact independently twice.