Define official documentary records, and provide an example of their use as an unobtrusive data source

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Official documentary records are originally created for a special limited audience, and eventually find their way into the public domain. Examples of official documentary records are: court transcripts, police reports, census information, financial records, interoffice memos, printed email messages, organizational newsletters, etc. These materials contain important and useful information that the researcher can use as data. An example of their use is Blue's investigation of gender ideology and the role of women in the early Ku Klux Klan using official documentary records. She used speeches and articles by the imperial commander of the women's Klan, leaflets, and recruiting material. Additionally, she used internal organizational documents such as descriptions of ceremonies, rituals, and robes and banners, membership application forms, and the WKKK constitution and laws.