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Research Resources: Children in American Society

Step 1: Consult a Reference Work

Reference Books are good places to find out what happened when, look up a statistic, or get a brief overview of historical people, places, and events. They provide overviews of historical topics, refer you to key articles and books, and supply important names, dates, and terms.

Biographies

The Encyclopedia of American Social History
Call # HN57.E58 1993, Social Sciences Reference, 2nd Floor Paterno.

The Family in America: An Encyclopedia
Call # HQ536.H36 2001, Social Sciences Reference, 2nd Floor Paterno.

Online Reference Shelf
See especially the Gale Virtual Reference Library which includes, Encyclopedia of Recreation and Leisure in America, The Encyclopedia of American History, St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, and The Encyclopedia of Children and Childhood in History and Society

Statistical Sources

Gallup Brian & IPoll, http://www.libraries.psu.edu/eres/PSU_azlist.html
Two separate databases. Each provides public opinion surveys

Historical Statistics of the United States, Colonial Times to 1970
Online
Also: Statistical Abstract of the U.S., 1878-present

For more data sources (Statistics), see:
Advertising Guide
Statistics Guide

Step 2: Find out what others have written on Your Topic

FINDING BOOKS
To find BOOKS (and other materials) at Penn State use the library's catalog, The CAT

Use WorldCat to search for materials in libraries worldwide. Use the "Request via ILL" link to have items delivered to you.

E-Books page

Book Reviews

Searching for Scholarly Articles on Your Topic

To find articles on your topic search the databases listed below. If the article is not online, search The CAT to see if the library owns the journal, and where is located.

Step 3: Locate Primary Source Documents

Now that you have read what others have written, it is time to research some relevant historical documents. It is likely that you will have some leads from the books and articles you have consulted, but you will also want to discover some sources on your own. Below are some types of historical collections available in the University Libraries.

United States Government Publications

The U.S. Government issues thousands of reports on legal, social, and political issues. Most are in the Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor, Paterno. Some government documents appear in The CAT, others require specialized access tools.

CONGRESSIONAL DEBATES appear in the Congressional Record, 1874-Present. Print volumes can be found in the Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno. Debates since 1986 are online in Lexis-Nexis Congressional (see below)

LEXIS NEXIS CONGRESSIONAL, http://www.libraries.psu.edu/eres/PSU_azlist.html. An index to many Congressional documents including hearings and reports. Also the full-text of the U.S. Serial Set (executive branch documents). Most Congressional publications are in the Social Sciences Library, 2nd floor Paterno.

EXECUTIVE BRANCH DOCUMENTS (reports from the Justice Dept., Labor Dept., etc.) are often listed in The CAT. Search by topic, or agency or by the President as AUTHOR. Many early documents are in the Serial Set (see Lexis Nexis Congressional above). Also see the American Presidency Project and the Declassified Documents Reference System

COURT DECISIONS and LAWS are online via Lexis Nexis Academic Universe, http://www.libraries.psu.edu/eres/PSU_azlist.html#azlist

Not Finding the Document You Need? Some historical government documents can be tricky to track down. For assistance ask at the Social Sciences Reference Desk, 2nd Floor Paterno or contact:

Stephen Woods, Government Documents Librarian, 2nd Floor Paterno. 814-865-0665.
Eric Novotny, History Librarian, 2nd Floor Pattee. 814-865-1014.

Contemporary News and Magazine Articles

Magazine and news articles published shortly after an event can provide a snapshot of contemporary opinion.

Early 20th Century New Sources, http://www.libraries.psu.edu/eres/PSU_azlist.html

Recent 20th Century News Sources, http://www.libraries.psu.edu/eres/PSU_azlist.html
Dates of coverage vary, but typically go back only to the 1980s.

NOT EVERYTHING IS ONLINE. The library has many newspapers and magazines in print or on microfilm. Use an INDEX to find articles in these sources.

Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature, Arts & Hums. Index Tables, 2nd Floor Pattee
An index to articles in over 200 American magazines. Goes back to 1890.

Alternative Press Index. Call # HN1 .A48, Social Sciences Reference, 2nd Floor Paterno.
An index to articles published in liberal magazines. Published since 1969.

Business Periodicals Index. Call # HF5001.B97, Business Library, 3rd Floor Paterno.
An index to articles published in business magazines. Goes back to 1958.

Looking for ADVERTISEMENTS? Try our Advertising Guide, You can also browse paper copies of many "mainstream" American magazines on Level B of the Pattee Stacks.

Questions?
Ask at any Reference Desk, or contact Eric Novotny, ecn1@psu.edu, 814-865-1014, Office: W321 Pattee

 

For help or to send comments, email Eric Novotny, Humanities Librarian for History, at ecn1@psu.edu; IM: HistoryLibrarian
last updated: 12/1/08
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