The SSC reference staff has prepared a number of research guides to provide an overview of the major subject areas represented in the SSC. They highlight selected sources in those areas and are a good place to begin if you have not yet chosen a research topic. Note that these lists are not exhaustive. The SSC has especially rich holdings in many subject areas and these guides feature the more significant collections among them. We have also made an effort to include smaller amounts of materials that are "hidden" in collections and may easily be missed. Links to finding aids are provided if available online. If not online, the finding aid is available in the SSC, and you can contact us to request a copy. Unprocessed (definition) collections are generally not included here, although many are open for research. To search all of our open collections for more specific topics, see Searching SSC Collections under Doing Research.

Additional subject guides are available in the Sophia Smith Collection Reading Room and will eventually be added to this page. In the meantime, you can contact the SSC for copies (see below for title list).

African American Women (collections of and about)

Artists, Architects, and Filmmakers

Contemporary Women's    Movement

Diaries, Autobiographies and Commonplace Books

Family Papers

Women in Journalism

Labor in the U.S.

Women in Medicine and Health

Reproductive Rights and Women's Health

Social Work Archives   (digitized brochure)

Women's Suffrage Movement

Additional subject guides not yet online include:

• The Age of Reform, 1892-1940
• Courtship Letters
• U.S. Women in International Work
• Lesbians, Bisexual Women, Companions, and Romantic Friendship
• Local History
• Peace
• Religion
• Theatre
• U.S. Social History, 1810-1890

Contact the SSC for copies.

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