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History

Liaison Librarian

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Kathleen Oakey

Kathleen is currently away on faculty sabbatical. Research questions can be directed to library@sheridancollege.ca for help.

Journals

Scholarly journals are important types of secondary sources in the study of history. They provide academic research studies, theories, and analysis. The library carries a wide variety of journals. Search the library or select a database below.

Identifying Scholarly, Historical Articles

Most assignments for history courses require journal articles that are scholarly and historical. But how do you know if your article meets the criteria? Here are a few things to look for:

When you find an article, check the journal. Journals focused on history often include the word "history" in the title. In addition, the Journal homepage or About this Journal page will include details about the subjects covered in the journal.

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Historians are typically academics engaged in the study of history. They are usually employed by a university or other research institution. Most scholarly publications will provide the authors credentials or affiliations. Look for the institution name next to the author name.

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Consider:

  • Language: Should be formal, and include concepts you have studied in class.
  • Length: Usually at least a few pages long
  • Thesis: Usually provided within the first few paragraphs or section

Avoid book reviews, news sources, or other types of articles.

For example:

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To learn more, go to Scholarly Sources.

Search Tips

1. Filter - Under All Items, select Articles.

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2. Subject Searching - go to the Advanced Search and search for words like "history" in the subject field. Try other keywords, too, like the era (ex. Renaissance), historical figures (ex. Winston Churchill), or events (ex. Black Death).

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Search the Library (scholarly journals only)

Databases

Journals