A Research Roadmap

1
A Research Roadmap

• Summary of Information by
• Jodi Vandenberg-Daves
• University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

2
What is the significance of your topic in History

• You answer that by doing background research
  using first secondary sources to understand the
  context.
• You then you find primary sources of information
  to creatively interpret that history for yourself.

3
Whats the first step in presenting History?

• Research
• Defining, identifying, getting your hands on, and
  interpreting primary sources.
• Doing background evaluations of secondary sources.

4
Whats the difference between Primary and
Secondary sources? (general guidelines)

• A secondary source is a book or article written
  by an author who is NOT an eyewitness or a
  participant in the historical event or period.
  Examples textbooks, biographies, and reference
  works.
• A primary source is material written or produced
  during the time period of the person or event.
  Examples Diaries, interviews, legal documents,
  photos.

5
Secondary Sources

• They give you background and lead you to primary
  sources.
• They help you understand how to place your topic
  in the larger historical perspective and context.
• The help you understand why your topic is
  important and how it relates to economic, social,
  and political developments of the period.
• Authors of secondary sources develop their
  interpretations and narratives based on primary
  sources or the work of other historians by using
  them as a secondary source.

6
Secondary Sources

• Reference Books Encyclopedias, Biographical
  Dictionaries, Atlases
• Periodical Literature Magazines, newspapers
• Textbooks
• General Historical Works and Monographs For
  example books on the History of Astronomy or A
  Guide to Historical Literature. Monographs are
  books dealing with relatively narrow topics and
  are typically intended for people with some
  background in the subject. They are typically
  published by Universities or Scholarly
  organizations.
• Journal Articles Smaller essays on specific
  topics For example - American Historical Review,
  Journal of American History, Journal of Economic
  History, Past and Present, etc.

7
Primary Sources

• Letters, Diaries, and other First-Person
  Narratives.
• Manuscripts / Collections of organizations,
  Individuals, and Families sources are
  historical societies, churches, non-profit
  organizations, universities.
• Songs and Hymns
• Photographs
• Tools, Machines, Furniture, and other Artifacts
• Court Proceedings
• Government Records
• Newspapers and Magazines with eyewitness accounts
• Oral History Interviews

8
Where do you find sources

• Library remember to use interlibrary loan
  programs
• Reference works, textbooks, historical works,
  monographs, special collections, historical
  novels, newspapers, magazines, journal articles,
  video documentaries
• National, State Local Historical Societies and
  Archives
• Manuscripts
• Letters Diaries
• Oral Histories
• Photograph Collections
• Records births, marriages, commissions, etc.
• Archives
• National Archives, Churches, Fraternal
  Organizations, Ethnic Societies, Corporations,
  Veterans Groups, Charities
• Popular Films, Documentaries, Art Museums,
  Historical Locations

9
Where do you find sources

• Internet
• The National Archives and Records Administration
• The Library of Congress
• The Smithsonian Institution
• History Education Resources
• US Holocaust Museum
• Colonial Williamsburg
• The History Channel
• State Historical Societies Humanities
  Organizations
• Chautauqua Organizations
• State History Day Groups

10
Yesterdays News

• Auto accident - Terry Bradshaw passes away.
  Shreveport, LA Newspaper

11
Real News fromYesterday

• Auto accident - Terry Bradshaw Passway. Police
  Report