History Day Hints from Ms. Lindstrom in the Library/Media Center!

Places to Start: 

The following sources will give you good general introductions to your topic.  It is important to start your research with these kinds of sources because they provide you the “big picture” without too much detail. 

Book Sources

The STA Library has many reference books that are good starting spots for research.  Click here to search the STA Catalog! 

Electronic Databases and E Books Main Page

GALE Student Resources in Context 

GALE History Resources in Context

GALE Discovering Collection

Great Lives and Great Events  (E-Book)

Encyclopedia Britannica

Digging Deeper

After you have a good understanding of your topic, then it is time to move onto more detailed sources, which include books, primary sources, and newspaper/magazine articles that may assume you already have some background.

Here are some places to look. 

Full Electronic Databases Main Page

EBSCO MAS Ultra  

EBSCO Student Research Center

GALE Student Edition

GALE Junior Edition  

SIRS Researcher 

Book Sources

Other E-Books – use the E-Books link on the library home page

Your local library – use the Other Libraries link on the library home page

Inter-Library Loan – see Ms. Lindstrom

Reminders about Primary Sources

A primary source provides first-hand evidence.  It was recorded at the time of the event by someone who was personally involved or saw it happen (such as a news reporter).  Examples include speeches, letters, songs, acts of legislation, court decisions, diaries, interviews, artifacts, autobiographies, and photographs.  Here are some places to find them:

All of the electronic databases listed above sometimes include primary sources

NewsBank Historical Newspapers

New York Times Historical Newspaper (1851 to present, best for U.S. topics); NOTE:  You have to access this through the “back door” – go to http://www.nytimes.com" log-in search for Archives and use the advanced search to find information from the appropriate time period.

Use the primary source links under Website Pathfinders on the library home page

Use this link on the Minnesota History Day and National History Day web sites:

• Minnesota History Day
  This page has information specific to the History Day competition in Minnesota, as well as many other useful features.
• National History Day 
  This is the official site for National History Day.
  Contest Rules are at the NHD Contest sub-site.
  Be sure to scroll down to Research Links for links to hundreds of good sites.

Still Stuck?

If you still can’t find the information you need, please see Ms. Lindstrom, as there are other resources we can access!

Remember to keep track of your sources use Noodle Tools!

Other History Day Links - especially good for finding Primary Sources!

• National Archives Web Site
  This site is the home page for the National Archives, which has a wealth of primary sources available on line.
• Library of Congress: American Memory Project
  This has a huge collection of on line images from all aspects of American History.
• MHS Visual Resources Database
  This is the best place to find pictures of anything that might have happened in Minnesota. Thousands of images are available on line.
• Making of America
  This site has thousands of 19th century periodical available on line. The site is searchable, but very extensive, so it helps to know what you are looking for.
• Foreign Relations of the United States
  This is the definitive State Department set of documents on the foreign relations of the U.S. Several volumes from recent administrations are on line. These are indexed but not novice-friendly, so you need to know what you are looking for.
• PALS 
  This links to the Minnesota History Center collection catalog through the PALS database. This also connects to most college libraries in Minnesota. Just scroll through the Library bar to select the library you need.