Research Guides Fordham American Studies Begin Here

Welcome to the American Studies research guide at Fordham University Libraries. This page contains introductory resources for beginning research. If you need additional assistance, please contact one of the Reference Librarians listed below to set up a research consultation. Gardner, A., photographer. (1865) Abraham Lincoln, seated and holding a book, with his son Tad Thomas leaning on a table. , 1865.

[Feb. 5] [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2009630691/. Search the Library Catalog to locate print and electronic encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs, handbooks, etc. There are reference sources focusing on most: This page highlights resources for finding articles and using databases at Fordham University Libraries. If you are unsure about how to find something you need, feel free to Ask a Librarian to point you in the right direction.

Best bet databases for American Studies: Includes scholarly content on hundreds of the most significant people, events and topics in U.S. history. ► Explore other Research Guides or the Database list for additional options. The definition of a primary source shifts depending on context and academic discipline. Collect details about the people, places, events under review.

Background information provides keywords to use when searching catalogs & databases. Follow footnotes and bibliographies in secondary sources to find citations of primary sources. It is easier to search for specific items by citation or name than general search terms. This page is in the process of being updated. Please check back for updates. Use the Library Catalog or Classic Library Catalog to search for primary sources in book format such as creative works, speeches, essays, memoirs/autobiographies, letters, archival document collections, and/or image collections of historical objects.

► The most efficient way to find books and e-books is through the Library Catalog. When you find a book that looks interesting, click on the catalog record to see associated Library of Congress Subject Headings. Clicking on the subject heading links can help you find similar books. ► Books in the library catalog are also discoverable through OneSearch. Use the Source Type menu and select Books or eBooks. Reference & Instruction Department Fordham University Libraries Walsh Library ♦ Rose Hill Campus ♦ 718-817-3586 Quinn Library ♦ Lincoln Center Campus ♦ 212-636-6050 Fordham Westchester Library ♦ Fordham Westchester Campus ♦ 914-367-3061 library@fordham.edu ♦...

Do a brain dump: Note down what you already know about your topic, including Fill in the gaps in your knowlege: get background information from encyclopedias or other secondary sources. Wikipedia can be good here. Select the best places/ databases to find information on your topic. Look under the History Databases tab of this guide for article database suggestions. Or use UC Library Search to search for books and other resources.

Use nouns from your brain dump as search terms. Evaluate what you find. Change search terms to get closer to what you really want. This guide is selective and intended as a point of departure for research in American Studies. This guide contains, largely, resources listed by disciplines (Literature, Music) or topics (contemporary language) of interest to American Studies. Resources listed by resource type (Newspapers, Archives/Manuscripts, Government Documents, etc.) are available via the Library Research Guide for History.

Please feel free to email us with questions. We can make an appointment for you to come in, and we can talk at length about your project. Anna Assogba (assogba@fas.harvard.edu) Research Librarian and Liaison to Romance Languages and Literatures and to Religion, Lamont Library (With particular knowledge of Zotero and other citation management systems). Fred Burchsted (burchst@fas.harvard.edu) Research Librarian and Liaison for American Studies, Widener Library. HOLLIS is the center of the Library ecosystem. This is often the best first step to see if we have something.

In HOLLIS, click on "Online Access" or open the record and scroll down to the "Access Options" section. Check the HOLLIS section of this guide for more guidance.

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