Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies

Summer Institute on Conducting Archival Research

The Summer Institute on Conducting Archival Research (SICAR) is a five-day seminar in which Ph.D. students receive training in conducting archival research. Although archival research is an integral part of many academic disciplines, it is virtually never taught at the graduate level. In an effort to address this deficiency, the George Washington University began the Summer Institute in 2003. SICAR welcomes students working on disertation topics related modern history and international affairs. In 2010, the Summer Institute will continue to welcome participants from various disciplines including history, government and politics, international relations, sociology, anthropology, and public policy, as well as area and regional studies. Preference will be given to students who have defended their dissertation proposal and who are about to embark on archival research.

The Summer Institute is directed by the faculty of the GW Cold War Group and researchers at both the National Security Archive and the Cold War International History Project. SICAR is generously funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

To apply to SICAR 2010, click here.

Pictures from the 2007 Summer Institute on Conducting Archival Research

Testimonials from previous participants

"Aside from all of the incredible insight into conducting fieldwork, whether it is archival or even interview based, SICAR provides a truly one-of a kind opportunity to network with leading scholars and experts in the broad and very interdisciplinary field of archival research. The contacts and scholar exchange alone made this seminar truly exceptional… In our training as academics (particularly my field of political science, there is a glaring omission — how does one actually go about the business of doing dissertation research. SICAR contributes greatly to the fulfillment of this gap."
– Michele Leiby, Ph.D. candidate in political science, University of New Mexico

"The program was outstanding. It increased my awareness of the archival opportunities for students working in international history, and gave me the chance to network with historians and scholars working in related fields."
– Charles Sharpe, Ph.D. candidate in history, University of Pennsylvania

"At SICAR, we learned everything from how to prepare, plan and strategize archival research to filing for the release of classified documents under the Freedom of Information Act… But most importantly, the director of the program, Dr. Hope Harrison, served as a mentor to all of us, often asking speakers questions that we needed to answer but didn't know how to ask. She also spent time with each participant during breaks and meal times, made personal introductions to speakers relevant to our fields, and offered her own research experiences and advice… In short, SICAR's lessons will enhance my anthropological research on torture, memory and transitional justice in Argentina. SICAR is extremely well organized and provided a rich learning experience. Every participant I spoke with felt the same way about the program — we all were surprised by how much it exceeded our expectations. (Who knew that archival research could be so exciting and stimulating?!)"
–Rebekah Park, Ph.D. candidate in anthropology, UCLA