Ephemera and its Types as an Information Source

Abstract

In order to create a complete research, it is important to support the scientific studies with a variety of sources. In this context, ephemera like documents which particularly document the details of everyday life and with strong characteristics that can be used in cultural history, should be evaluated as information sources.

Ephemera, which came up in the 16th century, and whose importance continuously increased with the change in the paradigm of scientific research, is being discussed in terms of the approach to the subject and its resource value as well as its definition and its types. This information source has especially been defined in diff erent professional points of view by collectors, archivists, librarians and museum curators. Additionally, ephemera has been evaluated in terms of its types and doubtlessly these include diff erent types archives, libraries and museums can add to their collections.

In this article whose essence is to draw the attention of Turkish archivists to the subject of ephemera, the definition of ephemera and its definitional problems have been investigated and ephemera has been redefined to refl ect the archival point of view, has been classified with diff erent perspectives and the types that can be admitted to the archives has been mentioned.