How to Research American History

Researching American history is like becoming a tomb raider. Your job is to make your way into the bowels of major institutions or their digital archives in search of treasure. The treasure can be retrieved from all different kinds of places including personal artifacts, government documents, film, autobiographies, diaries, manuscripts, literary resources and film archives. The pieces of treasure are then strung together to make a timeline of an historical event or a road map to a particular time and place. Here is a list of possible locations for you to find your treasure.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Online digital archives or resources. The latest trend in archives is to go digital. Ten years ago, the only way to research archives was to go the building they existed in. To look at panoramic images of Chicago located at the Library of Congress ued to involve a trip to Washington D.C. Today, one merely types in the website address for the Library of Congress’ “American Memories” website.
   
   An internet search on “digital archives” turns up a website dedicated to President Herbert Hoover. Another search under “digital history” generates even more resources. Also, check with your librarian for searchable digital archives of government documents, newspapers or periodicals. Most of the large databases require institutional membership and your local library can provide you with access information. Also, you may be able to use your student identification to gain access from your home computer.
2. Libraries. Libraries often times have searchable microfiche of your local newspapers, census and other periodicals dating back into the 1800s. The census is an incredible wealth of information especially for western towns and cities that were just coming of age at the turn of the century. A census can provide names and addresses of where people live.
3. Historical Societies. Whatever isn’t at the library will be at the state or county historical society. Historical societies can offer a wide variety of resources that include one-hundred year old city directories, census, collections of correspondence of prominent citizens, and libraries of resources and diaries. Occasionally, the historical society houses government documents that include police blotters and court records. Each historical society is organized differently. Be sure to discuss your area of interest with one of the archivists or curators.
4. Museums. Museums are created for public history. Nevertheless, they also may house a research library. If a museum exists in the geographical location of your research interest, contact the curators to find if there are resources related to your topic.
5. Private Collections. One of the most intact collections of Native American regalia is owned by a private collector in Belgium. Usually, it is pure luck to happen across a private collection of artifacts or documents. Nevertheless, keep your eyes always open at garage sales, estate sales and antique stores. Sometimes, people don’t realize their grandpa’s old junk is valuable American history.
6. Government Agencies. Some government agencies choose to archive their documents instead of handing them to another agency to house. Depending on your topic, government reports and documents can be supply huge pieces to your puzzle.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to keep very good notes of the material reviewed. You want to be able to find it again. Also, you want to be able to use cite it properly in any writing done on your subject.

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