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HIST 301: The Historians Craft (Sheriff, Spring 2024)

Reference Books

Indexes and Reference Books

There is an entire genre of books that exist to list and highlight primary sources.

Registers
Wills
Court Records
Marriage Records
Death Records
Inventories
Genealogy Indexes
guidebooks
deeds
lists
Index (Ex)

Don't be afraid of microfilm collections either!
Example

Finally, Reference books often have bibliographies that list primary source collections and archives of interest. Examples:

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Online This link opens in a new window
Biographical reference for deceased women and men notable in British history. Includes notable figures from British colonies that later gained independence, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Mahatma Gandhi, Michael Collins, and others who lived within the British Empire. Coverage: 400BC-present.