LibGuides: History: Home

COVID-19 Updates

Please note: while we try to keep our guides as up-to-date as possible, the most current information on WSU Pullman Library operations and Services can be found at the links below:

For current information on library operations and services see Coronavirus COVID-19 Libraries Updates and Resources for more information.
For current information on getting or returning materials and remote access options see Special Circumstances: Remote Resources and Guidance.

Open Digital Collections - American West

Open Digital Collections - American West
Librarians, archivists, and curators are compiling an ongoing list of digital collections on the American West, in order to facilitate research when travel is not possible. Please share widely and offer suggestions for additions.

New Digital Collections

The American West
Sources from the Everett D. Graff Collection at the Newberry Library, Chicago, “provides original manuscripts, ephemeral material, maps, and rare printed works that will significantly enhance the teaching and research of Westward Expansion.”
HathiTrust Digital Library
A partnership of major research institutions and libraries to present their collections in digital form.
American Indian Histories and Cultures
Insight into interactions between American Indians and Europeans from their earliest contact. Material from the Newberry Library’s extensive Edward E. Ayer Collection; one of the strongest archival collections on American Indian history in the world.

Historical Research: Getting Started

The following books provide both basic and in-depth guidance on how to do historical research.

Research Methods for History, 2nd ed. by Simon Gunn & Lucy Faire, Eds.
Call Number: Holland & Terrell D16 .R37 2016
Publication Date: 2016
Encourages those researching the past to think creatively about the wide range of methods currently in use, to understand how these methods are used and what historical insights they can provide. This new edition has been expanded to cover not only sources and methods that are well-established in History, such as archival research, but also those that have developed recently, such as the impact of digital history research.
Using Non-Textual Sources by Catherine Armstrong
Call Number: Holland & Terrell D16 .A74 2016
Publication Date: 2015
Provides history students with the theoretical background and skills to interpret non-textual sources. Photographs, cartoons, maps, artwork, audio clips, film, places and artifacts are all explored.
Writing History: A Guide for Students, 4th ed. by William Kelleher Storey
Call Number: Holland/Terrell Libraries D16 .S864 2013
Publication Date: 2012
Writing History, Fourth Edition covers all aspects of writing about history, including finding and researching topics, interpreting source materials, drawing inferences from sources, and constructing arguments.
Going to the Sources by Anthony Brundage
Call Number: E-book; access from Search It
Publication Date: 2012
The updated fifth edition of "Going to the Sources." Focuses on the basics of historians' craft, introducing students to concepts including refining a topic, selecting sources, and engaging critically with their reading.
A Concise Companion to History by Ulinka Rublack, Ed.
Call Number: Holland/Terrell Libraries D13 .C629 2011
Publication Date: 2011
Addressing key themes and structures from new areas of inquiry as well as providing fresh treatment of established fields, this Companion marks a significant departure in a genre still shaped by stories that are predominantly Western.
Doing History; Research & Writing in the Digital Age by Michael J. Galgano; J. Chris Arndt; Raymond M. Hyser
Call Number: Holland/Terrell Libraries D13 .G215 2013
Publication Date: 2012
Whether you're starting down the path as a history major, or simply looking for a straightforward and systematic guide to writing a successful paper, you'll find this text to be an indispensable handbook to historical research.
Finding History by Christine Bombaro
Call Number: Holland/Terrell Libraries D16 .B693 2012
Publication Date: 2012
Finding History is a practical and modern guide to research for history projects, helping to sort through the available resources and technology for students, scholars, and librarians. Finding History includes practical, step-by-step instructions for discovering historical evidence using library catalogs, databases, and websites.

Libraries

History

COVID-19 Updates

Open Digital Collections - American West

New Digital Collections

Historical Research: Getting Started