Finding Books

• The best way to find a book on your topic is to start with a search in the Library Catalog. Once you've found something of interest, you should also browse the stacks in that particular area.
• Possible Subject Headings to use in the Library Catalog:
  

  Sample Subject Headings:

[Name of town] Mass. -- Aerial views
[Name of twon] Mass. -- Buildings, structures, etc
[Name of town] Mass. -- Description and Travel
[Name of town] Mass. -- History
[Name of town] Mass. -- Maps

[Name of county] Mass. -- Census
[Name of county] Mass. -- Description and Travel
[Name of county] Mass. -- Directories

Massachusetts -- Maps, Topographic

Searching for Articles using E-Resources A - Z

Periodical Indexes (Secondary Sources):

America History and Life

Social Sciences Citation Index

Periodical Indexes and Newspapers (Primary Sources):

Periodical Contents Index (1770-1991)

Reader's Guide Retrospective (1890 -1982)

New York Times Historical Backfile (1851-2004)

Springfield Daily Republican (1851-1946) [MH Microfilm]

Boston Daily Globe (1872-1960) (UMass Microfilm]

Collections (Primary Sources)

United States Congressional Serial Set

Early Encounters in North America

Historical Statistics of the United States

Digital Sanborn Maps (1867-1970)

Major Five College Microforms (MH Reference Desk)

Town Reconnaissance Survey Reports (Massachusetts Historical Commission)

 

Local Archives

Mount Holyoke College Archives

UMass Special Collections and University Archives

Connecticut Valley Historical Museum

Massachusetts Historical Society

Citing and Evaluation Websites

Getting Started On Research MHC Guide

Guides for Citing Sources

Evaluating Web Sites

Having trouble finding what you need? Go to LITS and chat with a librarian at the Reference Desk. Or, with advance notice, set up an appointment to meet with Bryan Goodwin, History liaison.