HIST 415: Environmental History of Modern America: Finding Articles & Books on Environmental History

First, don't restrict yourself to library databases. Primary source collections are often found free online, depending on the subject you are researching.

Second, when you use library databases you will get limited results if you try to search for "primary sources" because the Library of Congress does not use that subject heading. If a "Primary Sources" category is not available (JSTOR provides one that is very useful!) Try searching these subject headings instead:

• sources
• personal narratives
• documents
• speeches
• memoirs or autobiographies
• diaries
• letters or correspondences
• oral histories

SOME ADVICE ON AUTOBIOGRAPHIES:  You will get limited results searching for the word "autobiography" since the Library of Congress does not use that subject heading.  Try searching for "biography" but then look to make sure that the author is also listed as a subject. That is your clue that the person is writing about him or herself, and that is a primary source.

DOCUMENTARY HISTORIES:  There are collections of documents relating to various subjects, such as Agriculture in the United States: A Documentary History.  Search WorldCat or Resource Sharing (IDS) for these by typing your subject along with the phrase "documentary history" in quotes. 

DOCUMENTARY FILMS:  Be wary of "documentaries" (films) because sometimes they are primary sources but sometimes they provide analysis that is secondary.

PUBLICATION DATES:  Be aware that publication dates can be misleading. A new edition of a book published in 1952 is still a primary source even though its publication date is 2009.  Look for a books original publication date, which is usually listed as well.

Alan Witt (Geneseo's history librarian) is best reached by emailing him at witt@geneseo.edu. Ask for a research consultation, and he will work with you to set up a time that works for both of you, either in person or via Teams. He does have some limited offices hours from time to time, but email is the quickest way to get an appointment.

After getting into Google Newspaper Archive (http://news.google.com/newspapers), follow these directions:

TYPE YOUR TOPIC

Look through your results to find articles. If there are too many articles that are not from your time period, you can try to add the year to your search strategy, or add more words describing the event you are researching.

Alternatively, you can search through the text of a specific newspaper by locating the title in the alphabetical list. Just make sure that the date you are looking for is in the range given for the paper.

A note about archives  -- As you search databases and the web for primary sources, you might come across materials in archives . Look closely at archive's web pages to see if they have digitized any documents. Also take note if the "Finding Aid" is online; you can use the Finding Aid to identify specific documents and contact the archives to see if they will scan the item and send it to you. Another thing to look for is microfilm; if any of the material is on microfilm, we may be able to get it for you on interlibrary loan.