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Humanities - History

Find journal articles, newspaper articles, book reviews etc.

Note: the search above won't find every article, for a more comprehensive search see the information below on databases.

To find relevant and good quality information for your assignments, projects and dissertations, searching databases is the most effective method.  Databases contain quality-assessed journal or newspaper articles on particular topics. The Library offers free access to a range of databases though you may need your GUID and associated password to use some of them, especially if you are off campus.  For help with searching databases effectively see Searching electronic resources.

Databases:

Follow the full details of this resource link on the catalogue entry to find out which databases are most relevant to your research area.  You may find all you need through the key databases, but the wider selection available through all databases will help when you need a thorough, detailed search. 

Internet Resources:
The internet is full of resources.  Here is a small selection of useful, good quality sites:

  1. American Memory - primary source materials relating to the history and culture of the United States. The site offers more than 7 million digital items from more than 100 historical collections.
  2. Avalon Project - primary source materials in the fields of History, Economics, Politics, Diplomacy and Government.
  3. Eurodocs - primary source materials which are transcribed, reproduced in facsimile, or translated.
  4. Historical Text Archive - high quality articles, books, essays, documents, historical photos, and links, screened for content, for a broad range of historical subjects.
  5. History Cooperative - journal articles, conference proceedings and links to websites containing primary source materials.
  6. History Online - available from the Institute of Historical Research, this site includes the Royal Historical Society Bibliography, as well as allowing you to search and browse for websites of proven academic value. 
  7. Internet History Source Books Project - primary source materials, with sections for medieval and modern history, as well as sections on a number of specialist topics eg Byzantium, Saints, Lesbian/Gay History etc.
  8. Intute – searchable and browsable database of links to online primary and secondary resources for historical research, all of proven academic worth.
  9. Librarian's Index to the Internet (History) - well-organized point of access for reliable, trustworthy Internet resources, which covers all historical periods, and which can be searched or browsed
  10. The World Wide Web Virtual Library (History catalogue) - catalogue of high quality web resources, can be searched or browsed by topic, area or era.

 

You may want to search the internet more widely to find resources.  You should, however, take time to ensure the information you have found is from a reliable source.  The Internet for History (a free of charge, teach yourself tutorial) will help you develop your internet information skills.

Research Help:
Once you have your research topic, you can start your search for information. The information sources highlighted in Key Resources should be your first step.  You may also find the Information Skills section of use. This provides helpful tips on doing a literature review, how to search databases and catalogues and managing your references.

If you would like some more advice on searching for information, please do email me at clare.paterson@glasgow.ac.uk.

Some of the resources that may be of use to your research may not be available directly from the Library.  You can order books, journals and theses which we do not hold; see the Need something that we don’t have? pages. 

Once you have your research topic, you can start your search for information.  The information sources highlighted in Key Resources should be your first step.  You may also find the Information Skills section of use.  This provides helpful tips on doing a literature review, how to search databases and catalogues and managing your references.

If you would like some more advice on searching for information, please do email me at clare.paterson@glasgow.ac.uk.

Some of the resources that may be of use to your research may not be available directly from the Library.  You can order books, journals and theses which we do not hold; see the section, Need something that we don’t have? 

What is referencing?

Referencing is the acknowledgement of sources you have read and used while writing your own essay, dissertation, article or thesis.
Referencing includes citing the sources you are referring to and quoting directly from throughout your work, and producing a bibliography of the sources you have read as part of your research. 

How do I cite references?

History has its own style guide giving guidance on formatting essays, footnotes, and bibliographies.  All students should use this guide.

Honours, postgraduate and PhD students should also refer to the Writing with Style guide.

There’s further guidance and practical exercises to help you develop your writing skills (including referencing) in the History Advancing Academic Writing moodle.

History’s style guide is based on the MHRA Style Guide which is widely used across the humanities.  However, you should always check your course handbook for the details of the particular style guide which you should follow.

How do I keep track of references?

If you keep track of the sources you consult as you go through your research, you will find building your bibliography and citing your sources much easier as you write-up.  The University offers access to reference management software which can help you do this. 

Why should I reference?

You must always acknowledge the sources you have consulted and are using in your own work.  Citing your sources:

  • gives credit to concepts and ideas from other authors
  • provides evidence of the extent of your reading
  • allows readers to follow up your sources easily
  • helps you avoid plagiarism

Use of sources without acknowledgement is called plagiarism, which is considered by the University an act of fraudulence and an offence against University discipline.  The University’s statement on plagiarism is published in the University Calendar.

 College Support Team Librarian for History

Clare PatersonClare Paterson
clare.paterson@glasgow.ac.uk‌
0141-330-6762
Room 912 (Level 9)

Please do contact me for help with finding information.  I split my time between the Library and Archive Services, but I am generally in my Library office on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

For general library enquires, you can use the Library Enquiry Service: Level 2, Main Library, email: library@lib.gla.ac.uk

You can also get more information on Library services through the Information for pages.