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History 201: USA in the1930s: Methods

The Modern Researcher: A Classic

If you are not familiar with Jacques Barzun, today is your lucky day. Read this short Wikipedia article on him. He is amazing! He died last October (2012) at the age of 104! Here is a link to a conversation with Professor Barzun on writing history.The emcee mentions The Modern Researcher in the introduction.For a current biography see Jacques Barzun: Portrait of a Mind (2011).

Bibliographies on Historical Topics

  • The American Historical Association's Guide to Historical Literature (REF/D20/A53)
  • Combined Retrospective Index to Journals in History (REF/D/1/C74)
  • Reference Sources in History: An Introductory Guide (REF/D/20/F74/2004)
  • Select List of Publications of the National Archives and Records Administration (GOVPUBS. AE 1.113:3/2010) Includes a chapter on military history.
  • United States History: A Multicultural, Interdisciplinary Guide to Information Sources (Main E/178/P45/2003)
 

Methods

Up until now, you have been, for the most part, consumers of history. To evolve from a consumer to a producer of history, one needs to learn the craft, the methods of researching and writing history. In this class you are going to learn about some of the tools scholars and students have used for decades to access the historical information. Some of this information is primary, some is secondary and some might be tertiary. Keep in mind that this is only an introduction. Like anything, you learn to the degree that you are willing to ask the tough questions and keep digging. Also, all of the librarians are dedicated to helping you get the most out of your education. We encourage you to ask for help when you are frustrated or stumped. And, if we can't help, we will refer you to people who perhaps can. Good luck.

Doing History

  • Clues, Myths, and the Historical Method  (MAIN/D/16/G5213)
  • Constructing the Past: Essays in Historical Methodology  (MAIN/D/16/F32513)
  • The Contemporary Relevance of History: A Study in Approaches and Methods (MAIN/D/16.8/B3145)
  • Digital History: A Guide to Gathering, Preserving, and Presenting the Past on the Web (Archives/D/16.117/C64/2006)
  • Eyewitnessing: The Uses of Images as Historical Evidence (Main/H/61/H83/2001)
  • Going to the Sources: A Guide to Historical Research and Writing (REF/D/16/B893/2002)
  • Historians' Fallacies; Toward a Logic of Historical Thought (Main/D/16/F53)
  • The Historical Method of Herodotus (MAIN/D56.52/H45L38)
  • Historical Research: A Guide (REF/D/16.25/M32/2002)
  • Landscape of History: How Historians Map the Past (Main/D/16.8/G23/2002)   
  • The Measure of Reality: Quantification and Western Society, 1250-1600 (Main/D/202/C76/1997)      
  • The Modern Researcher  (REF/LB/2369/B28) (2nd copy in MAIN)
  • Which Road to the Past?: Two Views of History (MAIN/D/16/F69)
  • Writing, Teaching and Researching History in the Electronic Age(MAIN/D/16/W95/1998)