Helen Miller Bailey Library
History 12 Research
Guide
This research guide provides a list of resources and strategies to help you do research for suitable materials for sociology. The resources covered in this guide will include some that are available through the ELAC Library, and others that are available freely on the Internet. This is only a starting point; for more detailed information come to the library and ask for a consultation at the Reference Desk. Your research strategy might include some or all of the following:
How do I find an overview or general background information about my topic? Reference sources are a great place to start a research project. You can use reference sources to find definitions of terms that might be unfamiliar to you. You can also find topic summaries, context, and bibliographies for further reading on your topic. Listed below are a few of these sources available through the ELAC Library: American decades (e-Book) Also in the Reference Collection (REF E 169.12 .A419 1996 v. 1-10) American decades: primary sources (e-Book) Also in the Reference Collection (REF E 169.1 .A471977 2004 v. 1-10) Dictionary of American history (e-Book)
Also in the Reference Collection (REF E 174 .D52 2003 v. 6-11) Encyclopedia of American history
Reference Collection (REF E 174 .E53
2003 v. 1-10) Encyclopedia of the Great Depression (e-Book)
Also in the Reference Collection (REF E 806 .E63 2004 v.1-2) Great
events: 1900-2001 Reference Collection (REF D 421 .G627
2002 v. 1-8) How do I find books about my topic? The general call number for books on
history is E, though you might find materials in other locations as well.
This is good to know if you want to go straight to the book shelves and look
around to see what's available. However, if you want to locate a specific books, or books on specific topics try using the library's
online catalog. From the ELAC Library's web
site, click the "Our Library Catalog" link to look for books on
your topic. You can try typing your search words in the text box and clicking
the "Words or Phrase" button (this is called a keyword search).
Sometimes this method will bring back too many results, some of which might
be irrelevant. In that case, try doing a "Subject" search. You can
do a Subject search by typing your terms in the text box and clicking the
"Subject" button. If you don't get any results, try using some of
the examples of the Library of Congress Subject Headings listed below:
If you're
still finding too much material, try doing a "Power Search." Type
in one of the above terms in the "Subject" box, then type another
term that you might be interested in into the "Words or Phrase"
box. How do I find educational films about my topic? The library
also has a number of documentaries that can enhance and supplement your learning
of American history. Our visual resources are located in either the DVD
collection, which is shelved by the periodicals, or at the circulation desk.
To find DVDs, click on “Power Search” on the library catalog page. In the
“words or phrase” enter a word or phrase that describes your topic, for
example, “Great Depression.” Lower on the page you will find fields such as
language, format, type and location. In the “type” field make sure to select
“Video DVD” from the drop-down menu. Here are a
few selected DVDs from our collection: Decisions
that shook the world. Franklin D. Roosevelt DVD Collection (DVD D 753 .D53 2005) Hiroshima
DVD Collection (DVD D 767.25 .H6
H57674563 2006) Interpreting
the 20th century: the struggle over democracy DVD Collection (DVD JC 421 .R333 2004 v.
1-4) World
War I, the "Great War." DVD Collection (DVD D 521 .L58 2006 v.
1-3) World
War II: a military and social history. DVD Collection (D 743 .C45 2003 v.1 v.
1-3) The
complete DVD history of U.S. wars. Vol. 3
(1870-1950) & 4 (1950-2004) DVD Collection (DVD E1 81 .C66 2004 v. 3-4)
How do I find journal, magazine, newspaper, and other types of articles on my topic? You can find full-text articles and biographical information by using these electronic databases:
You can also browse our periodical
section for print journals. Here is a partial list of our journals on U.S.
history. Some are linked to their companion websites, which will enable you search
for an article on your topic.
Θ Important note: You will need a special username and password in order to access these databases remotely. Please come to the reference desk at the library to pick up the necessary access codes.
How do I find credible web sources on my topic?
In this section, "web pages" means the "free web"--web sites anyone can access--not web-based research tools like the databases that the library provides. The free web has a lot of great things to offer, but not all the sources found there are appropriate for academic research. How can you determine if the sources you've found are credible? Ask yourself the following questions: · Who created the site? · Can you determine if the author is an expert in the field? · What kind of an audience was the site created for? General adult population? Scientists? 3rd graders? · Can you determine if there is any kind of bias expressed in the site? Is the site trying to sell you a particular point of view? · When was the web page last revised? · What is the date range of the materials covered in the site? · What other resources (print & non-print) are available in this area? · What is the relative value of the web site in comparison to the range of information resources available on this topic? You can try looking for relevant web sites on your own using subject directories like InfoMine, Open Directory Project, and the Librarian's Internet Index. As well, you can try some of the web sites listed below:
American Heritage Is a companion website to the print magazine. Contains feature articles with historical photographs, a searchable archive of magazine articles, discussions, and blogs. It has special sections on presidents, invention & technology, historical places, events and entertainment. You may also browse the print edition in our periodical section. URL: http://www.americanheritage.com Franklin Delano Roosevelt Library Online Documents This site
provides access to correspondence, memos, fireside chat transcripts, state of
the union addresses, and photographs from the FDR Presidential Library.
Highlights include diplomatic files pertaining to URL:
http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/online14.html Harry S. Truman Library and Museum Documents Includes a
searchable database of over 14,000 photographs and links to numerous online
documents with topics such as the Decision
to Drop the Atomic Bomb, Desegregation
of the Armed Forces, Korean
War, Japanese-Americans
During WWII, Marshall
Plan, NATO,
Nuremberg
and Tokyo War Crimes Trials, Truman
Doctrine, Recognition
of the State of Israel, United
Nations, World
War I. Supporting materials include an online version of "Truman
and the Bomb: A Documentary History," edited by Robert H. Ferrell. URL: http://www.trumanlibrary.org/photos/av-photo.htm National Security Archive The Archive
also serves as a repository of government records on a wide range of topics
pertaining to the national security, foreign, intelligence, and economic
policies of the United States. This site includes declassified documents
pertaining to U.S. relations with Europe, Latin America, Middle East and
South Asia, China and East Asia in the late 20th century. URL: http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/index.html Smithsonian History and Culture Exhibits can
be browsed by topic. This site has special of exhibits of various topics
including history of
transportation, African
American aviators, Brown vs. Board of Education,
history of voting methods, history
of sweatshops, and Hall
of Presidents, which has a brief description and portrait of each president.
URL: http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/History_and_Culture/ Social movements overviews and bibliographies This
website contains articles that provide a historical overview of how various
social movements came to existence. Topics include animal
rights, children’s
rights, civil
rights, conservative
movement, environmental
movement, progressive
movement, women’s
movement, and others. By David
Walls, professor of sociology at Sonoma State University. URL: http://www.sonoma.edu/users/w/wallsd/
How do I get more help finding sources for my topic?
If you feel like you need help getting started, finding more detailed materials, or if you have any questions in general, please feel free to come to the library and ask a reference librarian for help.
April Ingram & Billy Pashaie: 2/17/08 © Helen Miller Bailey Library
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