1. Sources for History research Presented by Laura Jeffrey & Richard Pears June 2006

2. ∂ Learning outcomes After this session you will be able to identify the range of secondary and published sources available select the most appropriate sources for research subject search efficiently using catalogues and bibliographical databases

3. ∂ What information do you need? Define research area: People, period, place Focus: i.e. politics, society, religion, economics, etc Information: facts, theories, historiography, data, images, artefacts, etc.

4. ∂ Break down the subject into searchable areas Sample question: What was Ronald Reagan’s role in the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe?

5. ∂ Where will you find information?

6. ∂ Some sources of information BooksInternet pages JournalsStatistics DatabasesNewspapers Theses Government publications ManuscriptsContacts: staff, organisations

7. ∂ Start here! http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/history/ http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/history/

8. ∂ How to find information: Books Use the Library Catalogue: http://library.dur.ac.uk / http://library.dur.ac.uk / All material held in Durham University Libraries Author, title, keyword, subject searching Reserve, recall, renew items in Library Obtain items from store Export citations for your bibliography

9. ∂ Using the Library catalogue

10. ∂ Locating other sources Use the references and bibliographies cited in other books Look for other works by cited authors Look for published collections, e.g. Surtees Society, Camden Miscellany, Calendar of State Papers

11. ∂ Using bibliographic databases Search engines indexing thousands of journals, theses, working papers Often include book reviews Sometimes link to full text Download references to relevant sources, then search for these in the Library catalogue See list at http://aesica.dur.ac.uk/delores/databases/databasessubject.asp?subject=History http://aesica.dur.ac.uk/delores/databases/databasessubject.asp?subject=History

12. ∂ L Using Historical Abstracts

13. ∂ Using journal databases - JSTOR

14. ∂ Online exercise Use the online resources available from the Library’s History web pages to locate information on your subject. Go to http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/history/ http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/history/

15. ∂ Recap What sources will you need for your research? How will you find this information?

16. ∂ Getting help Library web pages: http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/history/ http://www.dur.ac.uk/library/history/ Contact us:richard.pears@durham.ac.ukrichard.pears@durham.ac.uk l.k.s.jeffrey@durham.ac.uk Speak to your tutors

17. Good luck!