Research Guides: HIST 311: Becoming America, 1688-1776 (Fall 2024): The Best Research Projects

Love, Confusion, Rage

I love this topic and must study this
This make no sense and I cannot rest until it make sense.
Everyone else who studies is wrong, and the world must be informed.

This Course Reward Curiosity

Say I'm interested in the first use of the term "Americans" in historic documents.

I'll look at multiple types of sources to see 1) when it is first used 2) how it's used in differing contexts.

I'd then assess whether there is enough material to form an argument, and if the documents are strong/interesting enough for form the basis of a paper.

EXAMPLES:

America's Historical Newspapers (includes Early American Newspapers) This link opens in a new window
Newspapers from all 50 states with eyewitness reporting, letters, advertisements, obituaries, etc. Includes access to Series I (1690-1876), Series II (1758-1900), Series III (1829-1922), Series IV (1756-1922), and Series V (1777-1922). Coverage: 1690-1922.
Early English Books Online (EEBO) This link opens in a new window
Books and other items printed in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and British North America, and works in English printed elsewhere. Coverage: 1473-1700.
State Papers Online This link opens in a new window
Early modern British and European history. English government, including social & economic affairs, law & order, religious policy, exploration, crown possessions & intelligence gathering, as well as Britain's international relations and foreign policy. Includes English government documents, such as Privy Council Office records and letters of notable British political figures. Coverage: 1509-1714.
Virginia Gazette 1736-1780 This link opens in a new window
Published weekly in Williamsburg, VA between 1736 and 1780, The Virginia Gazette contained news covering all of Virginia and also included information from other colonies, Scotland, England and additional countries. The paper appeared in three competing versions from a succession of publishers over the years, some published concurrently, and all under the same title. As Williamsburg was the center of growing tensions in the Virginia Colony which led to the American Revolution, the newspaper was one of the centers of activity in the capital of Virginia, and dutifully published accounts.