Research Guides American Studies Amherst College

Leo Migdal

-Dec 7, 2025, 9:49 AM

research guides american studies amherst college

This guide will help you find recommended resources for research in American Studies. Use the tabs on the left to navigate this guide. These sections will help you find different types of materials (ex: books, media, primary sources, data), along with starting points and strategies for your research. You can email or make an appointment with the research librarian on this guide, or see all research librarians by subject area. These core American Studies databases are good places to start looking! Citation is an important element in research and creating new knowledge: crediting the scholarship and community ideas that you're building on, and creating a path for your readers to follow your process.

The basic principle is to include all information necessary to track down a resource, but different citation styles format that in different ways: • Chicago-Style Citation Quick Guide online; also consult the print manual at REF Z253 .U69 2017 [humanities & some social sciences] • MLA Style Quick Guide and MLA guidelines from the OWL at Purdue; also consult the print manual at REF LB2369 .G53 2016 [humanities] • APA guidelines from the OWL at Purdue; also consult the print manual at REF BF76.7 .P83 2010 [social sciences] • ACS Style Guide basics from UW-Madison [chemistry] Find primary sources for American Studies in the following collections:

A primary source is essentially any record or artifact from a given era that provides original documentary evidence of the time—like a snapshot of a given experience, taken by someone who was there. Secondary sources, such as books or articles, often draw heavily from primary sources, such as letters, diaries, or interviews, to make representations or interpretations of a period under study. A few examples of primary sources include diaries, photographs, letters, government documents, and newspaper and magazine articles (from the period under study). Want to learn more? Visit the Primary Sources Research Guide. Use the main search box, Discover, on the Library homepage to search for books at Amherst and across the Five Colleges.

You can filter your results by library location or to view books and media only. Use the Place Request button to have material delivered to Frost for pickup. Start your research with our guides! Find the best resources, databases, and search tips, or get help from your research librarian. Get Research Help • Make a Research Appointment • The Research Process Click on the Mammoth to use our Librarian Chat Service!

Or Contact Us to find other ways to get help. Chat is currently unavailable. Contact Us for help! Stephanie Capsuto: Biology • Chemistry • Computer Science • Environmental Studies • Geology • Mathematics & Statistics • Neuroscience • Physics & Astronomy • Psychology

Research Guides American Studies Amherst College

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This Guide Will Help You Find Recommended Resources For Research

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