THE VAULT DOCUMENT
Historical Records
Historical records refer to documents, archives and preserved sources used to establish, examine or contextualise events, people, locations and claims documented within The Vault.
Historical records are among the most important sources of evidence because they provide information created during, or close to, the period being studied.
Within The Vault, historical records are used to investigate:
- Historical mysteries.
- Reported hauntings.
- Folklore and legends.
- UFO and UAP cases.
- Cryptid reports.
- Unusual events.
- Historic locations.
A historical record demonstrates that a document, account or artefact exists. The reliability and interpretation of that record must still be evaluated.
Role of historical records
Historical records may be used to document:
- Dates and events.
- Ownership and history of locations.
- Witness accounts.
- Contemporary reports.
- Investigations.
- Newspaper coverage.
- Government or institutional responses.
- Cultural beliefs and folklore.
Examples include:
- Newspaper reports describing a reported sighting.
- Diaries mentioning unusual events.
- Official documents relating to investigations.
- Historic maps showing locations.
- Letters describing personal experiences.
- Court records connected to legends or mysteries.
Historical records provide context and help separate later folklore from contemporary documentation.
Types of historical records
Newspapers and periodicals
Newspapers are frequently used sources for historical research.
They may provide:
- Contemporary accounts.
- Public reactions.
- Names of witnesses.
- Dates and locations.
However, newspapers should be assessed carefully because:
- Reporting standards varied historically.
- Sensational stories were sometimes published.
- Errors could be repeated.
- Headlines may exaggerate events.
A newspaper report demonstrates that a claim was published, not necessarily that the claim was accurate.
Personal writings
Personal records include:
- Diaries.
- Letters.
- Journals.
- Memoirs.
- Personal notes.
These can provide valuable first-hand accounts.
Consider:
- When was it written?
- Was it private or intended for publication?
- Was it written close to the event?
- Did the author have direct knowledge?
Official records
Official records may include:
- Government documents.
- Military reports.
- Police records.
- Court documents.
- Institutional archives.
These can provide important evidence, although they may also reflect limitations of the organisation creating them.
Books and publications
Books may provide:
- Historical summaries.
- Research collections.
- Investigative analysis.
- Folklore documentation.
Published works should be evaluated based on:
- Author expertise.
- Sources used.
- Methodology.
- Publication history.
Oral histories
Oral histories preserve:
- Personal memories.
- Community traditions.
- Local legends.
- Witness interviews.
Oral history is valuable but must consider:
- Memory changes.
- Story development.
- Influence from later retellings.
Evaluating historical records
Historical records should be assessed using several factors.
Authenticity
Consider:
- Is the document genuine?
- Who created it?
- When was it created?
- Has it been altered?
- Does the surviving copy accurately represent the original?
Provenance
The history of a record is important.
Consider:
- Where was it found?
- Who preserved it?
- How has it been stored?
- Is ownership documented?
A record with a clear history is easier to evaluate.
Reliability of the source
Different sources have different levels of reliability.
Factors include:
- Author knowledge.
- Access to information.
- Purpose of the record.
- Potential bias.
- Distance from the event.
Contemporary vs later accounts
Contemporary records are generally valuable because they are closer to the event.
Later accounts may still be useful but may be influenced by:
- Memory.
- Folklore.
- Previous publications.
- Changing interpretations.
Historical records and folklore
Many subjects within The Vault exist at the intersection of history and folklore.
A story may develop through:
1. A historical event. 2. Contemporary reporting. 3. Later retellings. 4. Popular culture. 5. Modern interpretation.
The Vault aims to document each stage separately.
Example:
Historical record:
"A newspaper reported witnesses claiming to have seen an unusual object."
Later interpretation:
"The event became associated with UFO folklore."
Historical records in paranormal research
Historical documents are often used to investigate:
- Alleged hauntings.
- Famous locations.
- Apparition reports.
- Historical mysteries.
Researchers may examine:
- Building histories.
- Death records.
- Newspaper archives.
- Personal accounts.
- Local histories.
Historical records can establish that reports existed, but they do not automatically verify paranormal explanations.
Limitations of historical records
Historical records have limitations.
These include:
- Missing documents.
- Incomplete archives.
- Biased reporting.
- Incorrect dates.
- Lost context.
- Later embellishment.
The absence of a record does not necessarily mean an event did not occur.
Similarly, the existence of a record does not necessarily prove every detail contained within it.
Historical records and evidence ratings
Within The Vault, historical records are assessed alongside other available information.
Factors include:
- Source date.
- Authenticity.
- Provenance.
- Reliability.
- Corroboration.
- Independent documentation.
- Alternative interpretations.
A well-documented historical record may strongly support that an event or claim was reported, while the explanation of that event may remain uncertain.
See:
Writing guidelines
When using historical records, articles should distinguish between:
The record itself
What the document states.
The interpretation
What researchers believe the record means.
Preferred:
"A newspaper article from 1902 reported sightings of an unusual figure."
Avoid:
"A newspaper article from 1902 proved a ghost was present."
Preferred:
"Historical records document reports of unusual activity at the location."
Avoid:
"Historical records confirm the location is haunted."
unless supported by evidence.