History
History is the gathering, organizing, and interpretation of evidence (documentary, physical, or authoritative oral report) of past events. To be manageable, the general field can be divided in many ways, so researchers should be aware that the geographic division in these subject guides between American and world history is rough and contested. Many kinds of information sources, such as news sources and government documents, may be primary sources for some purposes but secondary sources for others.
The databases listed on this page are useful for general history research.
Getting started with academic research | Recommended databases | U.S. history | World history | Primary sources
Historical Abstracts from EBSCOhost
Historical Abstracts from EBSCOhost
Historical Abstracts indexes citations, abstracts, and full text from journals, books, and dissertations that cover the history of the world (excluding the United States and Canada) from 1450 to the present, including world history, military history, women's history, history of education, and more. Full text available as HTML and PDF. The database allows limiting results to specific time periods (not just publication dates). You can limit to peer-reviewed sources. 1800s-present.
America: History and Life from EBSCOhost
America: History and Life from EBSCOhost
America: History and Life is an index of literature covering the history and culture of the United States and Canada, from prehistory to the present. The database includes citations and links to journal articles, dissertations, primary documents, and book and media reviews. Some content is available full-text (PDF and HTML). Allows limiting to peer reviewed articles, those with references, and to historical periods (date ranges). 1863-present.
Humanities & Social Sciences Index Retrospective from WilsonWeb
Humanities & Social Sciences Index Retrospective from EBSCOhost
Humanities & Social Sciences Index Retrospective indexes citations and abstracts from journal articles in the humanities, social sciences, and some sciences. 1907-1984.
Reader's Guide Retrospective: 1890-1982 from EBSCOhost
Reader's Guide Retrospective: 1890-1982 from EBSCOhost
Reader's Guide Retrospective indexes citations to articles published in popular magazines and newspapers published in the United States.
Oral History Online from Alexander Street Press
Oral History Online from Alexander Street Press
Oral History Online is both an index of full-text interviews and other oral history narratives and free oral history information online. The narratives cover diverse subjects, including civil rights and race relations, labor history, African American history, women's history, immigration studies, political history, American Indian history, regional history, and more.
PBS Streaming Video Collection
PBS Streaming Video Collection
This collection of streaming videos is the digital counterpart to our VHS collection of PBS shows. Complete list of titles. The collection covers a broad range of disciplines in the humanities, arts, social sciences and sciences, but is particularly strong in American history and American studies.
Iter Bibliography
Iter Bibliography
The Iter Bibliography includes literature pertaining to the Middle Ages and Renaissance (400-1700). It indexes citations for books, journal material (articles, reviews, review articles, bibliographies, catalogues, abstracts, and discographies), as are citations for dissertation abstracts, and essays in books (including entries in conference proceedings, Festschriften, encyclopedias, and exhibition catalogues). Use the Check for full text link to connect to Get VText. 1784-present.
Gerritsen Collection--Women's History Online, 1543-1945 from Chadwyck-Healey
Gerritsen Collection--Women's History Online, 1543-1945 from Chadwyck-Healey
The Gerritsen Collection contains full-text (PDF and TIFF) journals, books, and pamphlets covering the social science aspects of feminism and the women's rights movement. 1543-1945.
- Bruce Pencek
- College Librarian for Social Sciences & History
- (540) 231-5806 (Lane Hall 311 office -- during regular office hours)
- (540) 231-2140 (Newman Library 3050 office -- for most purposes)
- bpencek@vt.edu
-
3050 Newman Library
311 Lane Hall
Blacksburg, VA 24062-9001
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Freely accessible database, available to anyone without restriction Sponsored by VIVA, the Virtual Library of Virginia. Mobile interface available, see description for link. Screencast tutorial available, icon linked to list. Contents of this database are in Summon.
Resource provides Get VText links to access full text.
Resource provides open access publishing opportunities and open access publications.
Resource provides self archiving opportunities and open access documents.