The starting point
Research notes often change as new sources arrive. Keep those notes apart from original documents and images so a correction does not alter the evidence it describes. A simple folder structure for originals, working copies and notes makes this boundary visible.
A useful way to read the evidence
Use a small revision log for important caption or date changes. Record the previous description, the correction and the supporting item. Keep separate copies of valuable files and periodically check that they remain readable. An archive is easier to trust when it shows how interpretations developed instead of presenting every current note as if it had always been part of the source.
Keep in your notes
- Preserve an original copy.
- Log significant description changes.
- Check separate copies periodically.