LibGuides: History Subject Resource Guide: Search Tips and Tools

Special Collections and Archives

Hofstra University Special Collections

You might want to visit libraries which have collections of manuscripts, papers, organizational records, ephemera or other unpublished materials relating to the people, organizations and agencies involved in the events. These are often original, one-of-a-kind materials. Click on the link above for Hofstra University's Special Collections department.

Government Information

John W. Wydler Government Information Depository

Publications generated by a government body, public records, reports and statistics such as census records, laws, Supreme Court decisions and treaties are excellent sources of primary materials. The John W. Wydler Government Information Depository of Hofstra University is a virtual depository designated by the U.S. Federal government. Click the link above for information about the depository, guidance for using the collection, and contact information for additional help.

Congressional Publications This link opens in a new window
Database of congressional publications and legislative histories. Also includes member biographies, committee assignments, voting records, and financial data; and the full text of key regulatory and statutory resources.

Please note: Congressional Publications also provides access to many Congressional Research Service Reports (CRS). These reports are published to provide non-partisan research to U.S. congress. The reports are authored by experts and cover many topics. They are especially useful to students.

You can also find CRS reports here.

Search tips

⇒ 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

Search the catalog and online databases

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

Use the following databases to locate primary materials

Accessible Archives This link opens in a new window
America: History and Life This link opens in a new window
American Periodicals This link opens in a new window
American Prison Newspapers, 1800-2020 (Open Access) This link opens in a new window
Black Freedom Struggle in the United States This link opens in a new window Spanning 2,000 primary source documents related to African American history, from the movement to abolish slavery to the contemporary era, this collection is openly available to anyone interested in U.S. Black history, and the ways the past is reflected in current events.
Brooklyn Eagle This link opens in a new window
CQ Historic Documents This link opens in a new window
Historical Abstracts This link opens in a new window
Independent Voices This link opens in a new window
JSTOR This link opens in a new window
Hofstra subscribes to JSTOR Arts & Sciences Collections I through VII, as well as the Life Sciences Collection and JSTOR 19th Century British Pamphlets
Newsday Historical This link opens in a new window
New York Times Historical This link opens in a new window
Salem Press Reference Shelf This link opens in a new window
Student Activism (Open Access) This link opens in a new window
Times (London) Digitial Archive This link opens in a new window
Women and Social Movements International This link opens in a new window
Women and Social Movements in the United States Scholar`s Edition This link opens in a new window

HathiTrust

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.

Link to HathiTrust