Douglas D. Schumann Library & Learning Commons: HIST 3800: American Urban History: Getting Started

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What's Here?

This course guide will show you how to conduct research for primary and secondary historical sources. Always use the library website to get to library subscription online resources - this ensures you can access all resources from off-campus.

Types of Information

Primary, Secondary, and Tertiery Sources
This chart makes it easy to recognize the difference between the three major source types.
Scholarly vs. Popular
What makes something scholarly? If it's scholarly, does that make it better? Find the answers here.
Websites
Websites are great resources but need to be carefully evaluated. Company websites, blogs by professionals, and gray literature are just some of the valuable resources you'll find on the web.

Background Information - Encyclopedias

Credo Reference
Encyclopedic coverage in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities
Encyclopedia Britannica
Find background information on your research topic.
Oxford Art Online
Art, architecture, and design encyclopedia
Oxford English Dictionary
Unsurpassed guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of the English language