Correlation between instrument collection and archive sources of the Faculty of Physics of the University of Barcelona

The collection of scientific instruments for teaching and research of the Faculty of Physics of the University of Barcelona is under study to increase the information and knowledge of each item. The main sources of information are related to text books and external sources such as databases, catalogues, other collections and museums, etc. But one of the most important sources of information about the origin and function of the instruments is present in the university itself, in the libraries and in the various archives. This paper illustrates, with examples, some strategies used for obtaining more information about several items of the collection.