Langsdale Library, University of Baltimore

HIST 300
Exploring the Past
Elizabeth Nix
Fall 2009

Individual course index /fa09/hist300_nix.htm

Introduction | Library Session Materials | Print Resources | Subject-specific databases | General/Multidiscplinary databases |Pratt Library databases |Book catalogs | Suggested Websites | General Reference Tools | Other helpful information

Introduction:
This guide provides information on locating and accessing print and online resources from Langsdale Library.

For questions, email us at langref@ubalt.edu or phone us at (410) 837-4274. You can also contact the librarians for these sessions: Tami Smith (410-837-5072 or tsmith@ubalt.edu) and Susan Wheeler (410-837-4299 or swheeler@ubalt.edu).

Library Session Materials:
These are presentations and handouts that were used during the library instruction sessions.

  • Handouts
  • HIST 300 Pre-Test
  • HIST 300 Post-Test

Search Strategy

Print and Web Resources

Maps and Citations

  • Section 001: Wednesday, 9/23 PowerPoint - Smith
  • Map Resources (PDF)
  • Archives and Museums in Maryland & D.C. (PDF)

    • Print Resources:
    For additional resources, see our How-To Guide for History.

    Dougherty, J. J. (Ed.). (1962-1980). Writings on American history: a subject bibliography of articles. Washington, D.C.: American Historical Association. (XZ 1236 .D68 1962-1980)

    Ireland, N. O. (1989). Index to America: Life and customs, 20th century to 1986 (Vols. 1-3). Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow, 1989. (XE 178 .I73 1989).

    Representative selection of many books found in major libraries from all areas and periods of the 1700s through the 1900s on general, not specific, topics. The indexing is arranged by subject with liberal cross-references.

    National Historical Publications and Records Commission. (1988). Directory of archives and manuscript repositories in the United States (2nd ed.). Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press. (XCD 3020 .D49 1988)

    Norton, M. B. (Ed.). (1995). American Historical Association's guide to historical literature (Vols.1-2). New York: Macmillan. (XD 20 .A55 1995)

    Presnell, J. L. (2007). The information-literate historian: a guide to research for history students. New York: Oxford University Press. (D16.2 .P715 2007)

    Turabian, K. L. (2007). A manual for writers of research papers, theses, and dissertations: Chicago style for students and researchers (7th ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press. (XLB 2369 .T8 2007)


    Subject-specific databases
    For a full list of databases see Langdale's Electronic Databases.

    America: History and Life [on campus] [help]
    Coverage: 1964 - present.     America: History and Life is a complete bibliographic reference to the history of the United States and Canada from prehistory to the present. The database comprises almost 400,000 bibliographic entries from over 2,000 journals published worldwide. 

    Historical Abstracts [on campus]
    1954 to the present: Information on articles, books, and dissertations about non-U.S. and non-Canadian history from 1450 to the present. Covers more than 2000 journals in 50 languages. Includes links to full text of selected journal articles.

    Humanities International Complete (EBSCO) [on-campus]
    Humanities International Complete is an essential collection for comprehensive coverage of the humanities with some full text content. Produced by Whitston Publishing (an imprint of EBSCO Publishing), this database includes all data from Humanities International Index (over 2,000 titles and 2 million records) plus unique full text content, much of which is not found in other databases. The database includes full text for more than 770 journals.

    JSTOR [on-campus]
    Electronic archive of core journals in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. Includes complete runs of journals with full-text of all articles published prior to the most current five years.

    General/Multidisciplinary databases:
    Use these to find full text periodical articles and/or citations to articles.

    Academic Search Premier  [on-campus] [help]
    Coverage: 1990 - present. Provides full-text for over 3,400 scholarly journals covering the social sciences, humanities, education, sciences, and more. Funded by the Maryland Digital Library (MDL). Need help? Read the Academic Search Premier Visual Guide.

    Biography Resource Center [on-campus] [help]
    The Biography Resource Center (BioRC) is a comprehensive database of biographical information on over 320,000 people from throughout history, around the world, and across all disciplines and subject areas. It combines more than 400,000 biographies from over 800 volumes.

     

    Historical Newspapers (Proquest)
    • [Historical] Baltimore Afro-American Newspapers[on-campus] [help]
      The Baltimore Afro-American (1893-1988) offers full page and article images with searchable full text. The collection includes digital reproductions providing access to every page from every available issue.
    • [Historical] Baltimore Sun [on-campus] [help]
      Includes complete issues of The Baltimore Sun,cover to cover from 1837 to 1985*. Search by keyword, more than 20 article types, date ranges, specific dates, author, and more. View news articles, photos, advertisements, classified ads, obituaries, cartoons, and more for added context. Print and download articles and images in PDF format.
      * - Final coverage range; files are still being uploaded. Actual coverage will increase incrementally as content from 1945 - 1985 is added during the fall semester. Project should be complete by late December 2009.
    • The New York Times (1851-2003) offers full page and article images with searchable full text back to the first issue. The collection includes digital reproductions providing access to every page from every available issue. Coverage: Sept 18,1851-Dec 31, 2003
    • The Washington Post (1877-1990) offers full page and article images with searchable full text back to the first issue. The collection includes digital reproductions providing access to every page from every available issue. Coverage: Dec 12, 1877-Dec 31, 1990

    Lexis-Nexis Academic [on-campus] [help]
    Coverage: 1970 - present. Features full text of many newspapers and periodicals.  Also offers business news, legal materials such as federal & state codes, case law and legal journals.

    Databases at Enoch Pratt Free Library:
    You will need resources from other libraries to complete your portfolio project. Enoch Pratt Free Library has some additional databases that can help you find information.

    NOTE: You will need a Pratt library card to access these databases. You can apply for a new card, or register your existing card from another Maryland Public Library. For information about library cards, go to: http://www.epfl.net/slrc/circ/index.html.

    Helpful Pratt databases include:

    • African American Biographical Database (All branches; in-library use only): contains narratives by African-Americans from various professions
    • African-American History and Culture
    • Ancestry Library Edition (All branches; in-library use only): contains Census records, military records, court, land and probate records, vital and church records, directories, passenger lists, etc.)
    • Black Studies Center
    • Digital Sanborn Maps
    • History Reference Center
    For a complete list of databases, go to the EPFL website: http://www.prattlibrary.org/findanswers/databases.aspx?by=name&value=all

    Book catalogs:
    Use these to locate books, journals (not individual articles), videos, and government documents.

    Catalog USMAI [help]
    Books, journals, government documents and other materials in the University System of Maryland, including UB.

    Catalog of U.S. Government Publications [help]
    Coverage: July 1976 - present. Search more than 500,000 records for electronic and print publications from the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the U.S. government. Includes links to full text where available.

    PrattCat
    Books, journals, government documents and other material available at all the branches of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore. You need need a public library card and a Pratt PIN to borrow books. For more information, please see http://www.prattlibrary.org/findanswers/index.aspx?id=2310.

    WorldCat [on-campus] [help]
    Coverage: Varies. International database of collections (including books, journals , dissertations, documents, and other materials) held by libraries worldwide. Maryland libraries that own copies of the items display at the top of the list of libraries so you can easily determine if local libraries own the material needed. Records of any type of material cataloged by OCLC member libraries. Includes manuscripts written as early as the 12th century.

    Suggested websites:
    These may provide useful information or agencies or organizations who may be sources of information.

    AMDOCS: Documents for the Study of American History.
    http://www.vlib.us/amdocs/

    Archives of Maryland Online.
    http://aomol.net/html/index.html
    Access to over 471,000 historical documents, including city directories, maps, etc.

    Librarians' Index to the Internet.
    http://lii.org/

    Library of Congress. American Memory Project.
    http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/

    Library of Congress. Prints & Photographs Online Catalog.
    http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/catalog.html
    From the website: "The Prints & Photographs Online Catalog (PPOC) provides access through group or item records to more than 50% of the Division's holdings, as well as to some images found in other units of the Library of Congress. Many of the catalog records are accompanied by digital images--about one million digital images in all."

    Maryland Historical Society http://www.mdhs.org/

    NARA: U.S. National Archives & Records Administration
    http://www.archives.gov/

    Voice of the Shuttle: History
    http://vos.ucsb.edu/browse.asp?id=2713

    General reference tools:
    These may assist you in your search for material or in evaluating and citing material found.

    How-To Series
    Series of subject bibliographies and tutorials.

    Evaluating Web Resources
    Tutorial for evaluating material obtained via the Internet.

    URI Library Skills Tutorial
    Learn how LC call numbers work, and practice putting books on the shelf in the correct order.

    Turabian Footnote/Endnote Guide
    A style guide from Georgetown University Library.

    Turabian Quick Guide
    From the official Turabian website; has basic examples for citing.

    Other helpful information:

    Accessing materials from home (Researchport)

    Library barcodes and UB computer accounts

    Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

    For more information email langref@ubalt.edu, call 410-837-4274 or Chat with a Librarian at http://langsdale.ubalt.edu/contact.htm.


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    hist300_nix