Independent verification

How to Verify an Archive Record

A step-by-step method for checking source links, record identifiers, byte hashes, context, limitations, and corrections.

1. Step 1

   Open the source

   Use the permanent public source link or record identifier. Do not rely on a screenshot, search snippet, filename, OCR text, or archive summary alone.

2. Step 2

   Compare identity and bytes

   Match the record ID, URL, filename, byte size, and SHA-256 when an actual digest is published. A matching digest proves only that compared bytes match.

3. Step 3

   Read context and status

   Check the visible claim status, authorship or attribution, surrounding thread or collection, dates, limitations, and contradictory material.

4. Step 4

   Check corrections

   Review the corrections page and notice register, then report a specific factual or accessibility problem with the public URL.

A matching hash verifies compared bytes only; it does not prove authorship, truth, authenticity, completeness, or legal effect.