Help with History Dissertations

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Help with History Dissertations

• March
• 2004
• d.l.sowerbutts_at_durham.ac.uk

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Help with History Dissrtations
Most of the information in the booklet and on
the corresponding Web pages was prepared by
Beth Rainey and has been updated by staff in the
Main Library and in the Archives and Special
Collections Department at Palace Green
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Help with History Dissertations

• Primary sources
• Secondary sources
• Reference sources
• Bibliographical control of the material
• Dissertation work in Durham
• A few tips

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Primary Sources I

• Original manuscripts
• often unique and in one place
• Facsimile
• image printed, microfilm, electronic (Web)
• Transcript
• printed, microfilm, electronic (Web)
• may be accompanied by editorial material
• Translations

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Primary Sources II

• Contemporary printed material
• books, pamphlets, broadsides, newspapers
• Published calendars of manuscripts
• may include extensive transcripts
• Oral history, films, photographs

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Secondary Sources

• Books about the topic
• Journal articles
• Conference papers
• Generally the authors interpretation of facts

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Reference Sources

• Records of facts
• Less likely to be an individuals view
• Biographical sources
• Directories, membership lists
• Dates, chronologies, time-lines
• Election results
• Place names

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Bibliographical Control

• Records what exists, in what format and where
• For printed material usually at the item level
• For archives and manuscripts may be at the
  collection level
• Printed or electronic
• Can be manuscript itself
• card index, handlist

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Guides to Archives

• General
• Foster/Sheppard
• By collection
• By subject

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Bibliographical Control - Books

• British Museum/British Library
• Bibliotheque Nationale
• Library of Congress/NUC
• WorldCat
• RLG Union Catalog
• National bibliographies

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Bibliographical Control - Journals

• Electronic databases
• Web of Science, IBSS, ArticleFirst, ingenta,
  Zetoc
• RHS bibliography
• Printed journal indexes
• IBSS
• Revue dhistoire ecclesiastique
• Printed bibliographies

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Electronic Databases

• Usually only recent years
• Selected journals
• Special/local interest titles not covered
• Geographical and historical parameters can be
  difficult to formulate
• Names may not be treated consistently

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Printed Bibliographies

• Comprehensive coverage of limited field
• Often painstakingly compiled
• Likely to include journal articles and books
• May include primary sources
• Will cover older material
• Hierarchical presentation/indexes may give
  multi-faceted approach

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Finding Journal Articles

• Guides to abbreviations
• OPAC
• Electronic journals
• Jstor
• COPAC
• Union lists

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Bibliographical Control -Web

• Search engines
• Gateways
• General
• Specific
• PINAKES
• Links to collections and documents

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Dissertation Work in Durham

• Wide range of original primary sources
• Proximity of other local collections
• Good collection of published transcripts and
  editions (mainly at Stockton Road)
• Good collection of standard secondary sources
• Access to free material on the Web
• Fairly good access to restricted electronic
  material

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Primary Sources - Medieval

• Level 3 Dissertations
• Collections in translation
• Individual texts
• Records
• Calendars
• Internet sources

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Primary Sources - Medieval

• Postgraduate Research
• Durham Priory manuscripts on microfilm
• complementing manuscript codices in Dean
  Chapter Library
• Durham Palatinate
• microfilms of some Durham manuscript material in
  P.R.O. and elsewhere

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Primary SourcesEarly Modern I

• Over 60,000 pre-1850 printed books, richest for
  16th and 17th centuries
• Early English Books Online
• Selected microfilms of other printed books,
  1475-1640
• Complete microfilm edition of Thomason tracts,
  1640-1661

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Primary SourcesEarly Modern II

• Microfilm sets of state and personal papers from
  other collections
• Mickleton Spearman manuscripts
• Cosin letter books
• Diocesan records
• Howard of Naworth papers

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Primary Sources18th-19th centuries

• Sets of microfilms of Cabinet and political
  papers held in the P.R.O.
• Earl Grey papers
• Papers of local families
• Thorp correspondence
• Diocesan records
• Local newspapers

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Primary Sources19th-20th centuries

• Imperial history
• Sets of microfilms of Cabinet papers
• Papers of local families
• Diocesan records

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Primary SourcesImperial History

• Sudan Archive
• Supplemented by extensive collection of secondary
  sources
• MacDonald Papers
• Baring Papers

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Primary SourcesLocal History

• Diocesan records
• Papers of local families
• Pictures in Print
• Microfilms of Northern newpapers
• Local election material
• Local printing and book trade
• Collections in other local libraries

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Tips I

• Check access
• Make appointments
• Be sure you will be able to read the documents
  you need
• Language
• Handwriting
• Abbreviations and similar conventions

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Tips II

• Observe normal precautions when working with
  manuscript material
• Document your research carefully and accurately
• Consider using EndNote
• Library Staff will be happy to provide advice and
  assistance