How to access NCRS Archives?

[Troy P.]

I'm looking for some info for the update of an NCRS Technical Information and Judging Guide.

NCRS apparently has a lot of old documents in its archives. How does one go about searching the archives or othewise accessing this treasure trove of data?

As an alternative, I'd be interested in being steered to any and all Techncial Service Bulletins or whatever they were called for 53-55 Corvettes. I have already read every issue of Chevrolet Service News for 54 and the few for 53 that I have access to and the info I'm looking for is not there. In addition to the Service News I'm sure Chevy sent out some other type of document to direct dealers how to fix certain problems reported from the field. I had one on improving the weather tightness of the 53-55.

[Joe M.]

Re: How to access NCRS Archives?

Troy, click on Foundation tab at the top of the home page and scroll down to NCRS Archives.

[Terry M.]

Re: How to access NCRS Archives?

Troy, click on Foundation tab at the top of the home page and scroll down to NCRS Archives.

Good going Joe. I didn't know about that page. I believe, however, it is not entirely up to date. Some of the NCRS Archives are also at the National Corvette Museum, and more and more are going there as time goes on.

[Gary C.]

Re: How to access NCRS Archives?

Terry,

NCM will receive the NCRS archives (some already) and NCRS will retain a copy of the archives stored at the AACA library.

The NCRS archives list is what's currently inventoried at the AACA library.

Gary
....

[Terry M.]

Re: How to access NCRS Archives?

Terry,

NCM will receive the NCRS archives (some already) and NCRS will retain a copy of the archives stored at the AACA library.

The NCRS archives list is what's currently inventoried at the AACA library.

Gary
....

I guess in my haste I failed to touch ALL the details, but I did state more and more is going to the NCM all the time. Perhaps I am too picky, but I would have expected some reference on that page in whatever vague form to the NCM since the first archival material went to them early spring of last year. At least they proudly showed it to me at the C5/C6 Bash at the end of May 2012, and at that time they had processed what they had for preservation and access.

My intent was not to revisit ALL the details of what has been an almost decade long, and more ugly than it ever should have been, debate. I was simply offering Troy, not knowing where he is located, some options. There is substantially more detail to go into,-- some you know and some even you and I don't -- but it didn't seem to me like that would be helpful to Troy, or anyone else including you and me, at this time.

[Troy P.]

Re: How to access NCRS Archives?

No mention of the NCM in the archives section. Just directions to contact the AACA. Have to try that next I guess.

[Terry M.]

Re: How to access NCRS Archives?

No mention of the NCM in the archives section. Just directions to contact the AACA. Have to try that next I guess.

The NCM will not have any items from NCRS that the AACA does not have. However, both organizations may have other items donated by people that are not a part of the NCRS collection. In the case of the AACA those other items, if any, will not be a part of the on-line data base linked from the page Joe referenced. The AACA may have another on-line data base; I know they were talking about doing that, but that is a huge task and I don't know if they ever got anywhere with it. The NCM does not as far as I know have an on-line data base. To determine what they have you will have to send an email or visit yourself. I recommend an email -- at least to start with. There are contact phone numbers for Betty on the NCM web site, but I strongly suggest email.

I believe the chances of finding something like that (relevant donated material not a part of the NCRS collection) are greater at the NCM than they are at the AACA, but if you don't find what you want in the AACA on-line index linked from that page you will have to make direct contact. If it were me I would proceed in this order 1) Check the AACA on-line index (linked from the page Joe linked to) next 2) contact Bill Sangray (contact information from the a fore mentioned page). Bill processes donated items before they got to AACA and the NCM, so there is a chance, however slight, he has something in process that will help you. 3) contact the NCM archivist: Betty@corvettemuseum.org 4) contact the AACA Library directly -- they have an on-line site. Google or the like is your friend. When we gave the NCRS Collection to the AACA Library they indicated they would charge NCRS members the same rate they charge their own members for research time. I don't recall the numbers from back then and they are likely to have changed anyway since then, but their research services are not free.

For what it is worth: When I am unable to find what I want in my own files, or with on-line research including here on the TDB, I have done the following. In the past when I have done research for a specific part of NCRS (that is TIM&JG, or as Restorer Editor for a specific article) I got much farther by presenting some indication of my office -- an email to the archivist from the National Team Leader or a letter about your subject of interest from the National Team Leader, the Team Leaders NCRS business card (I am not sure if we still have those, but we used to.), my Editors business card and so on. The people who are professional archivists have a lot of requests for information and in order to do their daily tasks they have to pick and chose who they help. All of their organizations have a budget, and like anyplace else now days they don't have enough help. Anything you can do to rise to the top of the pool requesting their time will help your case.

Additionally, it will help your case to be very specific about what you are looking for. I don't mean the subject matter; I mean the document(s). If you can not be specific you will get more results if you spend your own time and effort and go to the location yourself. Archivests are trained in document preservation, storage and repair. They do nto necessarily know anything about Corvettes or the engineering behind them. Even if you have to present yoruself to look for what you want some modest advanced communication may reduce the time you need to spend. The archivist might be able to pull some materials from the shelve for you to start with, or at least will have thought about your area of interest before you arrive. THis will give you the added advantage of confirming the hours of operation and who might be there to help you.

Sorry this is so long. I could offer you more tips, but i suspect I have lost most of the audience already -- time for me to give it a rest.

[Troy P.]

Re: How to access NCRS Archives?

I appreciate the level of detail, Terry. Better informed = better results.

[Terry M.]

Re: How to access NCRS Archives?

I appreciate the level of detail, Terry. Better informed = better results.

Good luck Troy.