HU3900: Shakespeare & Company

Use different types of information to get broad coverage of your topic. Historians use primary materials to build their research. See the Primary Sources guide for information on primary literature and how to find it.

Examples include:

• drawings,
• maps,
• interviews,
• personal journals,
• autobiographies, and
• more.

Specific search tools for visuals/images:

• Database: JSTOR - search keywords then choose tab: Images from Articles
• Online Archives: Theo Brown Diaries - images from diaries WPI alum who was a lead engineer at John Deere
• Online Archives: NASM Archives Technical Drawings
• Web Search Tools: picsearch | FaganFinder Image Search Engines
• Browsing: Books, magazine archives (Ground Floor): Scientific American, The Engineer, etc.
• Science Illustration Research Guide (at U of CA Santa Cruz)

Tractor Drawing by Theo Brown

• Biography Resource Center
• Encyclopedia Britannica
• Core reference titles in print include: Dictionary of Scientific Biography
• More ...

Reference Materials

Encyclopedia Britannica - timelines, historical context Oxford Reference Online More ...

Theo Brown Class of '01

Find Books

Selected subject headings: Scientific illustration -- History. Visual communication in science. Medical illustration -- History. {topic} -- Public opinion. Caricatures and cartoons. Communication of technical information -- Graphic methods. Visual communication. How to Search: Search the Library Catalog for items at WPI WorldCat to search beyond our library JSTOR, QuickFind, and other article databases are good places to find book reviews Google Books - view snippets, or limited previews of copyrighted books, and full text of public domain books.

John Deere Collector's Center

QuickFIND - Multi-database Search for Articles & Books

Start with QuickFIND multi-database search to retrieve results from 11 databases (including the library catalog & Worldcat for books) on your topic with one search. There are 3 ways to search:

1. Library homepage,
2. Databases by Subject categories (History),
3. Advanced.

Find Articles

Articles are considered primary sources (only if presenting original research findings) or most are considered secondary sources which anaylze, provide commentary on, or critiques of primary sources.

All databases listed are WPI subscriptions.

Start with QuickFIND - for History Databases and check out Google Scholar, a web search of scholarly sources.

• 1890-1982 (in QuickFIND by may be worth searching separately): Readers' Guide Retro: References to articles in general interest magazines back to 1890. Click on FullTextFinder to track down full articles or, in most cases, options to obtain the full text. Locations could be:
  • Ground Floor of library for periodicals, microfilm/fiche
  • Founders Storage (in Library Catalog record, click Request for retrieval within one day)
  • Interlibrary Loan for items not at WPI
• America, History & Life and Historical Abstracts: References to articles on historic topics. Click on FullTextFinder to track down full articles or options to obtain the full text.
• JSTOR - articles online full text
• Engineering Index: 1884-1969 in Print on Ground Floor or Engineering Village (1969+)

Only Finding a Citation? Getting the Full Text

• Is the journal online or here in the library? Use FullTextFinder to link to full articles or retrieval options within database results or search our Journals, Magazines, & Newspapers list
• Visit another library: Search WorldCat to find one
• Request delivery from another library: Interlibrary Loan.

Give Credit! Cite Your Sources

Try RefWorks, to create a database of your personal references, which can be output into APA, MLA, Chicago or other citation formats for your bibliography. It integrates with Word and will help you create in-text references too.

Browsing the Library's Print Collection

• Floor maps - 1st floor T 15 section is a nice place to start
• Library of Congress Classification outlines call number categories for browsing
• Bound journals down on Ground Floor; Current journals all the way up on 3rd!
• Archives - Third Floor

Questions?

• Stop by the reference desk or set up a research consultation.

George C. Gordon Library - Worcester Polytechnic Institute
100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609-2280
Phone: +1-508-831-5410 - Fax: +1-508-831-5829 - Library Questions