LUCE LIBRAY

Research Guide

History 13 – The American Century

Doing research is a lot like detective work. A good detective starts by doing background research on his/her topic and then seeks as much information as possible from a variety of sources. Whenever possible the detective talks to people who might know the truth. Then the detective seeks even more information from even more sources, keeping careful notes on everything learned. Eventually the detective has to sort, both mentally and physically, though all of the theories and evidence that has been gleaned. The case is solved when the detective can present the facts that prove or disprove his or her theories.

Take a look at how the detective’s work compares to the Six Steps of Information Literacy.

1. Task Definition: What my Question?

2. Search Location: What are all the places and kinds of places to look?

3. Search Strategy: How to Look? What search terms do I use?

4. Validation: Are these sources reliable?

5. Synthesis: Have I organized and presented my material clearly?

6. Evaluation: Did I answer the question?

At Brooks you have access to tons of information, ranging from books and videos to online journal articles. This research guide suggests some sources to get you started but it can’t take the place of asking a librarian for help. Librarians are, after all, the original “search engines” trained to help you locate the information you need!

REFERENCE BOOKS:

Reference Books, such as these specialized encyclopedias, are always a good place to get started. From these types of sources you’ll find ways to broaden your research by identifying key dates, events, people, and places that are all components to your research. Try using these additional pieces of information as keywords as you continue your research.

American Eras: 1878-1899

Development of the Industrial United States

REF

978.8 B88

Encyclopedia of the Great Depression

REF

973.91 E58

20^th Century in American History (10 volume set covering major issues of the 1900s)

REF

973.92 S62

Sixties in America

REF

973.92 T96

Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War

REF

959.7 K98

Chronicle of America
REF

973.0202 L55

Dictionary of American History

REF

973.03 AD2A

The Bill of Rights: A History in Documents

REF

342.73

SECONDARY SOURCES:

These are the type of sources either in book or electronic format that are used to build upon your initial research. There are books in the Luce Library that are specific to all of your topics. Remember while looking them up in the catalog to use a variety of search terms. For example, if you were researching - Is Climate Change Real (not on your list) don’t simply use the words “climate change” whether searching on Google or the library catalog. Be a detective and brainstorm – come up with as many different search terms as you can think of.

Global Warming, Acid Rain, Al Gore, Greenhouse Emissions, Cap & Trade, Environmental Issues, Polar Bears, Icebergs, EPA, Glaciers, Rising Sea Level, Clean Energy, 1990s, etc. etc. etc.

Access the Luce Library Catalog here:

http://brsc.sirsi.net/uhtbin/cgisirsi/x/0/0/49

PRIMARY SOURCES:

Using primary sources, is like the detective going out and talking to people and asking questions. Primary sources are those that were firsthand accounts such as letters, speeches, newspaper articles, testimony, court documents, and autobiographies.

ProQuest Historical Newspapers is an excellent source for primary resources. It has New York Times articles going back to 1851. Choose ProQuest from the Library’s Electronic Resources Page.

Access the library’s Electronic Resources page here:

http://my/library/electronic_resources.htm

Another good source of primary resources is The American Memory Project produced by the Library Of Congress.

Access the American Memory Project Here:

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/index.html

PRIMARY SOURCE BOOKS:

Twentieth Century America: a primary source collection from the Associated Press

REF 973.92 T96

The Civil Rights Movement: an eyewitness history

323.1 W54

World War I Primary Sources

REF 940.3 P92P

OTHER ELECTRONIC RESOURCES:

The Luce Library provides you with access to millions of newspaper and journal articles. Some of the topics that are current to the last few decades will be extensively covered in these databases. Some of the older topics will be found in the more specific American History journals that are found in these databases.

Please do not hesitate to ask for help while using these databases such as EBSCO and INFOTRAC. While they are accessed via the internet do not confuse these sources as “the internet.” You may search specifically for scholarly or peer reviewed journal articles here.

You may have noticed that detectives often have a sidekick. That is the person with whom they go drink coffee and kick around ideas. Sometimes the sidekick will have a brilliant thought that helps the detective solve their mystery.

Think of us as your sidekicks. Stop by and see us or even make an appointment for your whole group to come in and we’ll show you some search strategies!