The Library Research Guide: History Junior Seminar

Published Sources

Library Catalogs: Reed Library Catalog | Summit | WorldCat

Books and other materials published during any specific historical period can be discovered through library catalogs. These sources may provide first-hand accounts, observations, and analysis from the time period.

Begin a search by keyword, author, or title. Note: In a catalog, "authors" can be personal authors, names of organizations, names of conferences or conventions, or names of companies.

To get only material published during a particular time period: use the Limit option to specify a publication date range.

Try adding the following phrases to your search:
- Sources
- Manuscripts
- Correspondence
- Archives
- Personal narratives
- Interviews
- Church records and registers
- Early works to 1800
Look for clues like "maps", "plates", "ill" in the cataloging record.

Electronic Primary Source Materials at Reed We subscribe to or own a number of excellent primary source collections. Many will not be relevant to you for this particular class. A handful that might contain useful sources;

Early English Books Online (EEBO) - Contains digital facsimile page images of virtually every work printed in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and British North America and works in English printed elsewhere from 1473-1700
Eighteenth Century Collections - Includes books, pamphlets, essays, broadsides and more. Works published in the UK during the 18th century plus thousands from elsewhere
Early American Imprints I, 1639-1800

Atlases, Maps & Images

China historical GIS - Ongoing project to create a database of historical administrative units for different periods of Chinese history.

American Geographical Association Library Digital Collections

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs - Prints and photographs are searchable. Try a combination of keyword and subject searching.

Bibliography of Photo-albums and Materials related to Photography in China and Tibet before 1949

Geography and Map Research Center (Library of Congress)

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology China in Maps exhibit

Asia and the Pacific Rim in Early Prints and Photographs (New York Public Library Digital Library)

Formosa: 19th-century images

Archival Papers & Collections

The unpublished papers of people, organizations, or institutions may be collected and preserved in archives and special collections. Papers frequently include correspondence, manuscripts, speeches and public statements, and other records of activities. Significant archival papers and collections are sometimes published. Archival materials may also be available in microfilm or microfiche collections or in digital collections.

WorldCat
Many libraries contribute summary descriptions of their archival collections to WorldCat. Summaries typically include a description of the size and scope of the collection, where it is housed, and a note about the existence of finding aids. When finding aids are available at the institution’s web site, a link may be provided. Use the advanced search option and limit type of material to "Archival Materials." This is also a good way of locating microfilm or microfiche editions of archival materials.

ArchivesUSA
A current directory of over 5,000 repositories and nearly 120,000 collections of primary source material across the United States. Use ArchivesUSA to search and read descriptions of a repository's holdings and to find contact information.

Online Archives of California
The Online Archive of California (OAC) is a digital information resource that provides access to manuscripts, photographs, and works of art held in libraries, museums, archives, and other institutions across California. The OAC includes a single, searchable database of "finding aids" to primary sources and their digital facsimiles, if any. Primary sources include letters, diaries, manuscripts, legal and financial records, photographs, maps, architectural records, artwork, scientific logbooks, electronic records, sound recordings, oral histories, artifacts and ephemera.

Repositories of Primary Sources
A project of the University of Idaho Libraries to identify the web sites of archives and special collections. Browse by geographic location.

East & Southeast Asia: Annotated Directory of Internet Resources
This site connects to many relevant websites including postcard images, photographs, police, customs, and many more academic websites.

U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

[British] National Archives

A couple of things to remember about primary source websites:

websites associated with archives might not be available in English
websites might include only transcriptions
you must take extra care to evaluate the sources you find on the web
some digital archives can be very complex to search, requiring the same kinds of skills that would be required of the historian working in a physical archives.

The website Using Primary Sources on the Web has more about how to effectively evaluate and find primary sources on the web.

History
Junior Seminar

Spring 2009

Finding Primary Sources

Published Sources

Atlases, Maps & Images

Archival Papers & Collections

Spring 2009 Finding Primary Sources Published Sources • Atlases, Maps & Images • Archival Papers and Collections Published Sources Library Catalogs: Reed Library Catalog \| Summit \| WorldCat Books and other materials published during any specific historical period can be discovered through library catalogs. These sources may provide first-hand accounts, observations, and analysis from the time period. Begin a search by keyword, author, or title. Note: In a catalog, "authors" can be personal authors, names of organizations, names of conferences or conventions, or names of companies. To get only material published during a particular time period: use the Limit option to specify a publication date range. Try adding the following phrases to your search: Sources Manuscripts Correspondence Archives Personal narratives Interviews Church records and registers Early works to 1800 Look for clues like "maps", "plates", "ill" in the cataloging record. Electronic Primary Source Materials at Reed We subscribe to or own a number of excellent primary source collections. Many will not be relevant to you for this particular class. A handful that might contain useful sources; Early English Books Online (EEBO) - Contains digital facsimile page images of virtually every work printed in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and British North America and works in English printed elsewhere from 1473-1700 Eighteenth Century Collections - Includes books, pamphlets, essays, broadsides and more. Works published in the UK during the 18th century plus thousands from elsewhere Early American Imprints I, 1639-1800 Atlases, Maps & Images China historical GIS - Ongoing project to create a database of historical administrative units for different periods of Chinese history. American Geographical Association Library Digital Collections Library of Congress Prints and Photographs - Prints and photographs are searchable. Try a combination of keyword and subject searching. Bibliography of Photo-albums and Materials related to Photography in China and Tibet before 1949 Geography and Map Research Center (Library of Congress) Hong Kong University of Science and Technology China in Maps exhibit Asia and the Pacific Rim in Early Prints and Photographs (New York Public Library Digital Library) Formosa: 19th-century images Archival Papers & Collections The unpublished papers of people, organizations, or institutions may be collected and preserved in archives and special collections. Papers frequently include correspondence, manuscripts, speeches and public statements, and other records of activities. Significant archival papers and collections are sometimes published. Archival materials may also be available in microfilm or microfiche collections or in digital collections. WorldCat Many libraries contribute summary descriptions of their archival collections to WorldCat. Summaries typically include a description of the size and scope of the collection, where it is housed, and a note about the existence of finding aids. When finding aids are available at the institution’s web site, a link may be provided. Use the advanced search option and limit type of material to "Archival Materials." This is also a good way of locating microfilm or microfiche editions of archival materials. ArchivesUSA A current directory of over 5,000 repositories and nearly 120,000 collections of primary source material across the United States. Use ArchivesUSA to search and read descriptions of a repository's holdings and to find contact information. Online Archives of California The Online Archive of California (OAC) is a digital information resource that provides access to manuscripts, photographs, and works of art held in libraries, museums, archives, and other institutions across California. The OAC includes a single, searchable database of "finding aids" to primary sources and their digital facsimiles, if any. Primary sources include letters, diaries, manuscripts, legal and financial records, photographs, maps, architectural records, artwork, scientific logbooks, electronic records, sound recordings, oral histories, artifacts and ephemera. Repositories of Primary Sources A project of the University of Idaho Libraries to identify the web sites of archives and special collections. Browse by geographic location. East & Southeast Asia: Annotated Directory of Internet Resources This site connects to many relevant websites including postcard images, photographs, police, customs, and many more academic websites. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration [British] National Archives A couple of things to remember about primary source websites: websites associated with archives might not be available in English websites might include only transcriptions you must take extra care to evaluate the sources you find on the web some digital archives can be very complex to search, requiring the same kinds of skills that would be required of the historian working in a physical archives. The website Using Primary Sources on the Web has more about how to effectively evaluate and find primary sources on the web.
Created by: Rachel Bridgewater, History Liaison & Douglas Fix, History Professor