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History 446
America Between the Wars

 

Reference Works | Locating Books | Locating Primary Resources |
Finding Newspaper Articles | Finding Magazine Articles | Popular Culture | Scholarly Articles | Full-Text Journals |
Libraries and Research Collections in Pennsylvania

 

Reference Works

Reference works provide useful overviews of key topics, people and events.

Online Reference Shelf
See especially the Gale Virtual Reference Library

Biographical Sources

Statistical Sources

 

Locating Books

Books and More

To find materials at Penn State use the library's catalog, The CAT . Use "I Want it" to request items from other campuses.  Use WorldCat to search for materials in libraries worldwide. Use the "Request via ILL " link to have items delivered to you.

Search E-Books

To search for Book Reviews see the following web guide, http://www.libraries.psu.edu/instruction/format/bookreviews.htm

 

Locating Primary Resources

There's no foolproof recipe for locating primary sources, but one approach is to search the library's catalog (The CAT) for historical figures as Authors (e.g. Margaret Sanger, Franklin Roosevelt). Other terms to try in your CAT search; " documents ", " sources ", " oral history ", " diaries ", " personal narratives " or " letters ".

Primary Source Collections on Microfilm, (News and Microforms Library)

Penn State Special Collections Library

Government Documents

Speeches


Finding Newspaper Articles

Finding Newspapers

In addition to the news databases on this page, the library has many newspapers on MICROFILM in the News and Microforms Library, Ground Floor of West Pattee. Two collections to be aware of:

Hampton University Peabody Newspaper Clippings File (roughly 1873-1940) MICRO 4 HAMP, News & Microforms, Ground Floor, West Pattee
For articles on specific topics consult the printed guide, Call # CD3569.H364H36

The Right-Wing Collection of the University of Iowa Libraries, 1918-1977 For types of publications consult the printed guide, Call # Z7163.I7 1978
Search The CAT for location of specific titles

To see which newspapers we have in our collection by state or time period use NewsCAT


Finding Magazine Articles

American Periodicals Series, 1741-1900+ (some magazines go to the 1930's)

Nation Archive Premium Edition (1865-). (full-text of the weekly liberal newsmagazine)

Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature, an index to articles in over 200 American magazines
Arts & Hum. Indexes, 2 nd Floor Pattee

 

Popular Culture: Novels, Movies, Songs

You can use The CAT to determine if Penn State owns a copy of a movie, novel or album - this works best if you know the title or the name of the author/artist.

To find songs when you do not know the title or artist browse on the subject heading "Popular Music" and add the decade you are interested in (for example, Popular Music, 1921-1930). You can also search for more specific genres, e.g. "Jazz, 1921-1930".

To find movies it's best to search by either the title or director.
Film Reviews

To locate novels by subject try the Fiction Catalog (Call # Z5916.W74)

Use the sources on the American Social History by Eras and Decades guide to find lists of popular books, films, and songs.

 

Scholarly Articles

America : History & Life Articles in academic history journals published since 1954

ATLA Religion Index Articles on religious movements, religion and politics, etc.

LGBT Life an index to sources in gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender studies

HAPI: Hispanic American Periodicals Index

International Index to Black Periodicals Full Text

PsycInfo Articles and books on psychological topics

Sociological Abstracts Use to find articles in Sociology books and journals

Women's Studies International Index to books and articles about women

 

Full-Text Journals

History Cooperative, JSTOR, Muse and Periodical Archives Online provide full-text of selected academic journals. Check each database to see the titles they include and the years. America : History and Life links to history articles in these journals.

 

Libraries and Research Collections in Pennsylvania

The PA State Library maintains an extensive list of libraries in Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations maintains a directory of County Historical Societies.

 

Questions????
Contact Eric Novotny, ecn1@psu.edu, 814-865-1014,
AIM: HistoryLibrarian
Spring 2008 Desk Hours : Arts & Humanities Desk,
Monday, 12-2, Tues, 3-6, Thursday, 10am-12noon
I am typically in the library from 8-5. Stop by my office
(W321 Pattee) or make an appointment!

 

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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