Spring 2008 - D. Horowitz
reference contact: Pamela Skinner x2961

FIND BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Use scholarly encyclopedias for an overview of your topic, a list of suggested readings, and (sometimes) a lead on primary source material.

FIND BOOKS

5 College Library Catalog

To start your subject search, click on SUBJECT BEGINS WITH and try such search terms as those listed below.

• Note that the "correct" subject heading isn't always obvious.
• If a subject search doesn't work, try a keyword search to find a few relevant titles. Then click on the subject headings on those records to conduct a more comprehensive subject search.

WorldCat - Use WorldCat to expand your search for books, theses, etc. beyond the Five-College area. Watch for items that are owned by only one library: such unique material is often not obtainable via interlibrary loan. If you plan to use interlibrary loan to request books and theses, please allow at least 2 weeks for delivery.

FIND ARTICLES

Use the databases below to identify articles and essays (secondary literature) on your topic.

• Use the SC Links buttons within the databases below to see if Smith has the article you need either in electronic or print format.
• If you identify an article from another source, use the Journal Locator to locate the article online or in print.
• If you need to use interlibrary loan to requests articles, allow a week or so (though often the articles arrive within days).

The major database for American history:

America, History and Life - Lists articles, book reviews, collections, and dissertations published from 1953 to the present. Links to articles in J-STOR, ProjectMuse, and other full-text sources.

Recommended Aggregators/Full-Text Sources:

J-STOR - Full-text articles from major history journals, among other disciplines. Coverage lags roughly 3 years behind printed version of the journal.

ProjectMuse - Full-text articles from major history journals, among other disciplines. Coverage limited to issues from the past 5-10 years.

Other possibilities:

Academic Search Premier - 1965 to present - A mix of scholary and popular articles

Communication & Mass Media Complete

Film & Television Literature Index with Full Text

PAIS (Public Affairs Information Service) International - 1937 to present - Good for legislative affairs and foreign policy

PsycINFO - 1887 to present - The premier database for psychology, psychiatry and allied disciplines

Women's Studies International - 1972 to present

Consult the library's subject pages for other possibilities; from the library's homepage, click on Find Resources/Choose Subject.

LOCATING PRIMARY SOURCE MATERIAL

• If you would like to work with primary source materials in the original, consider using Smith's women's history archive, the Sophia Smith Collection. This page describes their major subject collections, including the records of Ms. Magazine and the Gloria Steinem Papers.
• For topics relating to issues/activism at Smith College, the College Archives has a wealth of material, including records relating to the faculty and administration, plus student publications, letters, diaries, etc.
• In addition to materials in the Sophia Smith Collection, there is an abundance of primary source material in Neilson Library.
• Use secondary literature for leads on primary sources.
• As you search the online catalog; watch for the words "personal narratives," "interviews," "correspondence," "diaries," "pamphlets," and "sources" as part of the subject headings. Other clues may be buried in the title, authorship, date of publication, etc.
• The form your primary source material takes will vary from topic to topic. It may be a diary, correspondence, or personal writings; newspaper accounts or editorials; or the records of a secular or religious organization. It may be a law, court case, or other legal document. For some topics, there will be compilations of significant documents.

Databases with full-text:

Chicago Defender Historical - 1905 to 1975 - Complete archive of digitized articles, editorial cartoons, photographs, advertisements, etc. from this nationally significant African-American newspaper.

Los Angeles Times Historical - 1881 to 1986

Nation Archive - 1865 to present - PDF page images and searchable text.

New York Times Historical - 1851 to 2004

Washington Post Historical - 1877 to 1991

Indexes for government documents:

CQ Almanac - 1945 to 2006 - Full text - Provides summary & analysis of major legislation considered by the U.S. Congress. Good for an overview and for identifying bill & public law numbers.

CQ Press Political Reference Suite - Full text- Integrates several reference titles including Congress and the Nation, Historic Documents, and Supreme Court Yearbook. Good for an overview.

GPO Access - Full text - Includes the text of bills, Congressional Record, Federal Register, GAO Reports, Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, and more.

LexisNexis Congressional - 1789 to present - Indexes Congressional publications, including hearings with testimony, bills, and laws

National Security Archive (George Washington University) - The Archive collects and publishes declassified documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. It 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.

US Congressional Serial Set - 1817 to 1980 - Reports, documents, and journals of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives; constitutes a rich source of primary source material on all aspects of American history.

Indexes listing additional articles "contemporary" magazines:

Periodicals Index Online - 1770+

Readers' Guide Retrospective - 1890 to 1982

Statistics:

Historical Statistics of the United States - also print: ref HA 202 .H57 2006
Covers population, work & welfare, the economy, and government.

US Historical Census Browser (University of Virginia)

Internet Sites with Primary Sources:

American Memory (Library of Congress)
You may search the collections by subject, time period, format, or region.

Best of History Web Sites: American History
Identifies reputable websites by topics and time period.

Digital History (University of Houston)

EVALUATING AND CITING SOURCES

• Remember to cite your souce, when either quoting directly or paraphasing.
• Cite your source whenever you present an idea that isn't your own.
• Websites must be cited in your notes/bibliography; if you cut and paste--or
  paraphrase--from a website, cite the webpage.
• When in doubt, cite your source.
• Use this link to connect to online versions of Turabian, MLA Style Guide, etc.:
  Style Manuals & Citation Guides
• For help with your writing, remember the writing services available at the Jacobson Center.

Using Primary Sources on the Web: Evaluating Primary Source Websites (Instruction & Research Services Committee, Reference and User Service Association History Section, American Library Association)

Evaluating internet resources (Univ. of Maryland)

REFERENCE DESK HOURS

Click here for Neilson Library reference desk hours.

CONTACT THE REFERENCE LIBRARIAN

Contact Pamela Skinner, the instructor for your library session: pskinner@email.smith.edu

YOUR FEEDBACK

Click here to provide feedback on this library session.

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