To begin the process of interpretation, you may find it useful to list the information you find as well as questions that arise from the document. Making these lists can help you to sort out your thoughts and then to evaluate the information and evidence.

Consider the example below of a runaway slave poster and the lists of information and questions you might ask yourself in order to interpret evidence.

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Interpreting this manuscript:

Information:

• Runaway slave named Dolly
• Physical description of Dolly
• Dolly was a "house servant"
• Missing as of April 7, 1863
• Disappeared from a street corner in Augusta, Georgia
• Dolly's owner was Louis Manigault of Charleston
• $50 reward offered
• Dolly had been photographed

What other information is found in or on this document?

Inferring the Evidence:

• What does the inclusion of the photograph suggest about Dolly? About her owner?
• What does the owner's characterization of Dolly, both her physical and social attributes, imply about the owner's views of her?
• What are the owner's motivations in offering such a high reward for Dolly?
• What does the content suggest about the system for capturing runaway slaves? Who are the people involved?
• Why was it important for Mr. Manigault to describe Dolly as a "house servant"? Is this distinction important? Why?
• How does the fact that this document was written after the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation affect your understanding of the content?
• What is significant about Mr. Manigault's belief that Dolly was enticed by a white man?

What else can you infer from this document?

When interpreting evidence and collecting information, you should challenge your assumptions and approach the materials with both skepticism and an open mind. Furthermore, be aware of the natural tendency to impose your modern day values on the thoughts and feelings of people of the past. Try to interpret the materials with the knowledge that commonly held values and beliefs do change over time.

As you use the documents, you may ask yourself questions such as:

• What information is contained in or on the document?
• Is there intentionally hidden or missing information?
• What does the information tell me about the context in which the materials were created?
• How does the context affect my understanding of the details in the document?
• What evidence am I extracting from the information?
• Are my ideas supported by the evidence and information? If not, should I modify my ideas?

You may find it useful to record your answers to some or all of these questions. These notes may then help you to organize your thoughts and focus your research project.