History Subject Resource Guide

⇒ Search by KEYWORDS

• Use keywords that represent the major concept(s) in your topic.  A keyword search searches for those concepts anywhere in the catalog or database record
• Once you have located some relevant items, you can do a more refined search using the subject terms (sometimes called descriptors) that appear in those records

⇒Search by SUBJECT

• Subject terms are standardized terms developed to describe materials listed in the catalog or database.
• Subject terms are not always commonly used terms.  Searching by keyword first is an easy way to determine relevant subject terms
• You can then click on the link in the subject field of the record or use the search box to search by subject.  The catalog and most databases will have a drop-down menu where you can choose to search by subject (or descriptor).

⇒GUIDED (OR ADVANCED) SEARCH

• Combine subject terms and/or keywords to search for primary materials using the drop-down menus located in the advanced search screens of the catalog or databases. 
• Consider limiting your search by publication date.  Use the time period you are researching.  Materials published within that timeframe MAY BE (but are not necessarily) primary--you will need to evaluate if they are first-hand accounts.
• Try using keywords that represent the type(s) of materials you are looking for such as

Use DISCOVERY to locate primary source materials.  Click on the Books/eBooks tab to start.

Use the following databases to locate primary materials

HathiTrust is a partnership of large, research libraries that have digitized large portions of their collections--it is a good source for primary documents, many of which are in the public domain. Printing is limited but you can view entire documents online.