The archives of a former governor of Pennsylvania were utilized by an engineering technology faculty member to conduct research needed to develop curriculum materials for undergraduate civil engineering technology students. The research was intended to assess how the Governor's administration addressed new dam safety laws and funded water infrastructure improvements in the Commonwealth. The use of the archives was supported by a grant provided by a related University center encouraging faculty

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... nd student use of the archives. The archives not only yielded useful information addressing the original purpose of the research, they also revealed other interesting aspects of the Governor's years in office, which were of interest to the faculty member. This other information encountered has potential for providing additional opportunities for scholarship. The primary source materials contained in the archives provided the researcher a deeper understanding of the issues involved in the topics studied. It also was felt to be a more rewarding research experience for the faculty member because of the discovery of relevant information and insights that were not originally anticipated at the start of the research.