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This paper explores the concept of common ground as it applies to researchers using primary sources. It examines common ground through two activities central to making sense of archives and locating sources: defining what an archives is and identifying and using access tools, and through one type of venue for explicitly establishing common ground: user education. Overall findings indicate that common reference points are often lacking between researchers and archivists. Archivists may also be assuming that users understand more about archival operations and access tools than is warranted. As a result, archivists may be overestimating the expertise of users and their ability to transfer knowledge from one repository to another. Finally, the author urges archivists to enter into a dialog on the purpose, scope, and content of archival user education offerings and work toward the development of a more fully …