This guide provides some useful starting places and strategies for doing research for this course. We're happy to consult with you on any aspect of your research, from developing a research question to finding, evaluating, and citing sources. Email Karen or Carol or make a calendar Zoom appointment with Karen.
Databases can contain a combination of full-text (ready to read online) and citation information that can lead you to articles, book chapters, or books. It's always a good idea to search in more than one database. Even when there is considerable overlap in content, the different features of each database can help you find different sources. Check out our full Database A-Z list and sort by Subject to find other databases for your topic.
Search Tip: Some databases search a relatively small amount of information about each source by default, rather than the full text of the source itself. Trying a variety of keywords is often essential to getting good results in many databases. Make note of relevant keywords and subject terms that come up in your initial searches, and use those terms to find more.
Start with a keyword search. Once you find a book that's relevant to your topic, click on the title and look for the Subjects listed for that book to help you find "more like this" and explore related aspects of a broader topic.
Example: Keyword search: protest* AND song*
Subject terms for the books that come up in this keyword search lead you to many more books on aspects of the topic, for example:
Music -- Political aspects -- United States
Protest Songs -- History and Criticism
Protest Songs -- United States
Popular Music -- Political Aspects
Rap Music -- Political Aspects
(For tips on keyword searching, such as using the asterisk * for wildcard searching, see the Search Tips & Tutorials page of this guide.)
The American Historical Association has put together this page on finding and evaluating archival resources that can be a good start for your search: Finding and Evaluating Archives
Can't find what you're looking for at Wellesley?
Use Interlibrary Loan to request directly from libraries worldwide.