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HIST 2792/ AMST 2792: Introduction to Public History: Finding Context

Library Research Guide for Stephen Vider's course

Try an Academic Encyclopedia

Subject Encyclopedias are great for:

  • choosing a topic
  • getting an overview of the timeline
  • gaining new terminology about the issue
  • finding more sources on a topic through the bibliographies

Some Basic Research Tools

Use authoritative dictionaries and reference sources.

Wikipedia might be a handy tool in some cases, but it's not what your professors would call a reliable or authoritative reference source. The library resources listed below provide access to scholarly information on a range of subjects. Use the Library Subject Guides to find many more.

American Social & Cultural History

The list is only a selection. Browse the shelves adjacent to a given title for more.

Online encyclopedias