2nd years – more training available in TT!

Working towards your 2nd year thesis? There are still a few more training sessions left in Trinity Term to prepare you for researching over the Long Vacation…

Referencing: Choosing and Using software

Wednesday 24 May 14.00-17.00

Location: 13 Banbury Road, Isis Room

Formatting your in text citations, footnotes and bibliography correctly for your thesis or publication is a chore. Reference management software makes it easier and saves you time. This introductory session gives an overview of how reference management works, explores the pros and cons of a wide range of software packages and gives you the opportunity to try out five different packages (RefWorks, EndNote, Zotero, Mendeley and Papers) so that you can work out which one is best for you.

Objectives:

  • Understand how reference management software works and what it does
    • Understand the pros and cons of a range of reference management packages
    • Add, edit and organise references using a number of different tools
    • Add citations to documents and create bibliographies using a number of different tools
    • Make an informed decision about which reference management package works best for you

>Book a place 

Sources for Medievalists
Tuesday 30 May 14.00-16.15

Location: IT Services, 13 Banbury Road, Windrush Room

Presenters: Isabel Holowaty, Hilla Wait, Eva Oledska, Charlotte Goodall, Helen Scott

A general introduction to the vast range of electronic resources which are available for all historical periods for British and W European history: bibliographical databases, biographical / reference research aids, ebooks and ejournals, web portals, and collections of online primary source materials.

Subjects to be covered include:

• Bibliographical databases
• Bibliographical / reference research aids
• E-books and e-journals
• Web portals
• Collections of online primary source materials

> Book a place

Newspapers and other online news sources from the 17th-20th centuries
Wednesday 7 June 09.30-12.30
Location: SSL, Information Skills Training Room
Presenters: Angela Carritt and Isabel Holowaty

Newspapers are a valuable resource for researching, not only news but also many other aspects of society. In this session we will introduce key historical and contemporary sources of news and how to make best use of them.

Subjects to be covered include:

  • The value of newspapers in research
  • The difficulties of using newspapers in research and effective search techniques
  • Using a range of sources for searching and reading historical newspapers
  • Using a range of sources for searching and using historical audio-visual news sources
  • Using a range of sources for searching and reading contemporary newspapers

    > Book a place

Places still available for 2nd year Historians’ Research Skills Course

Places are still available for 2nd year Historians on the Research Skills for your Thesis course!

Are you preparing for researching your thesis over the summer months? Get a head start on the skills you need to make the best use of your time!

This 2-hour session is designed to equip students working on their dissertation with the key information skills in order to make best use of electronic information and discovery resources. A range of databases, e-journals and web portals will be explored as well as advanced features in SOLO and tools for literature searches. Hands-on practise time will be offered.
Week 1: Wednesday 27th April, 2-4pm
Week 3: Wednesday 11th May, 2-4pm [REPEAT]
Venue: RSL Training Room
Presenters: R D’Arcy-Brown, B Jenkins
> Book a Place (SSO required)

RAI Travel Awards for primary source research in the US

[re-blogged from the VHL blog post by Jane Rawson.]

If you’re an Oxford student writing your thesis on an American topic in History or Politics, and are thinking about travelling to conduct primary source research in the United States, you might like to consider applying for a travel award from the Rothermere American Institute.

Full details of the awards and how to apply may be found on the RAI website. The deadline for submission of applications is 12 noon on Friday 12th June.

Trinity Term training opportunities for 2nd year historians: book your places now!

Do you have right research and information skills for your undergraduate thesis? Let the libraries help you on your way!

Second year undergraduate historians currently working towards their theses are encouraged to attend the following training sessions for Trinity Term. They will provide you with valuable information and support which will stand you in good stead for your research, now and in the future.

The programme on offer aims to help you with locating and utilising a variety of source materials, whilst equipping you with knowledge on some of the key research tools available. Workshops are available run by History Faculty Library staff as well as by our other colleagues in the Bodleian iSkills strand; the schedule includes training on subjects such as:

Aside from highlighting some of the key resources available locally, these sessions will also provide opportunities for refreshing and upgrading information searching skills. There will be chances to explore databases, e-journals and web portals, along with advanced searching in SOLO and the benefits of using reference managing databases such as RefWorks to help you with your citations during dissertation research. Staff will be on hand to provide step-by-step demonstrations as well as hands-on time in most sessions.

Further details and booking information can be found via the HFL website.

HFL Undergraduate Training

Can’t come to a course?

The handouts and slides of sessions will be made available on HFL WebLearn > Guides & presentations.

Need specialist help?

Isabel Holowaty, Bodleian History Librarian is happy to discuss what sources and literature searching tools are best suited to anybody studying British and Western European history. Email her at isabel.holowaty@bodleian.ox.ac.uk to arrange a one-to-one session.

If you are studying history outside Britain and Western Europe, you can find your subject specialist here.

Do you have the right language skills for your chosen subject? 

The Language Centre has a lot to offer for historians wishing to upgrade their language skills or simply to start learning a language. More on this.

Do you know where to find past History UG thesis?

Are you preparing to write your UG history thesis? A selection of past Oxford undergraduate history theses are held in the Upper Camera Office where you can request to view them.

Search “Final Honour School of Modern History: undergraduate thesis” in SOLO.

SOLO - searching for UG theses

Related links

 

Trinity Term training opportunities for 2nd year historians: book your places now!

Working on your thesis? Do you have right research and information skills? Do you need to brush up your Français?

Second year undergraduate historians currently working towards their theses are encouraged to attend newly announced training sessions for Trinity Term. They will provide you with valuable information and support sure to stand you in good stead for your research.

The programme on offer aims to help you with locating and utilising a variety of source materials, whilst equipping you with knowledge on some of the key research tools available. Workshops scheduled include:

Aside from highlighting some of the key resources available locally, these sessions will also provide opportunities for refreshing and upgrading information searching skills. There will be chances to explore databases, e-journals and web portals, along with advanced searches in SOLO and the benefits of using RefWorks to manage your citations during dissertation research. Staff will be on hand to provide step-by-step demonstrations, with opportunities for putting theory into practice also provided.

For further details on these workshops, along with booking information, please visit the HFL website.

tt3

Can’t come to a course?

The handouts and slides of sessions will be made available on HFL WebLearn > Guides & presentations.

Need specialist help?

Isabel Holowaty, Bodleian History Librarian is happy to discuss what sources and literature searching tools are best suited to anybody studying British and Western European history. Email her at isabel.holowaty@bodleian.ox.ac.uk to arrange a 1:1.

If you are studying history outside Britain and West Europe, find your subject specialist here.

Do you have the right language skills? 

The Language Centre has a lot to offer for historians wishing to upgrade their language skills or, quite simply, start learning a language. More on this.

Calling all 2nd year historians: Thesis Fair 6 March 2-4pm

Next week is Thesis Week!

The Thesis Fair aims to help you locate relevant source materials for your thesis and to show how to make good use of tools and resources available to you.

Networking and exploring the Conservative Party Archive stall

Exploring the Conservative Party Archive stall

This year the Thesis Fair stalls include:

  • medieval, early modern and modern sources
  • visual Resources
  • global history: India, Africa & Commonwealth, US, Latin America, etc.
  • legal History
  • RefWorks for reference management
  • maps for historians
  • history of Science and Medicine
  • collections in the HFL and college libraries & archives, and many more…

Come along and speak to experts or make an appointment with them. It’s a great opportunity to browse at your leisure, explore sources you thought existed and network with others.

Related links:

Catalogue of the papers of Harold Macmillan, 1889-1987 – now online

Harold_Macmillan_number_10_officialYou’ve never had it so good.

The catalogue of Harold Macmillan’s papers, held in Bodleian’s Department of Special Collections and Western Manuscripts, now online.

Previously there was only a typescript catalogue.

Please note that there are strict access conditions but they are available for research.

Undergraduates can use the Bodleian’s Special Collections but will need to register first.

> Catalogue of the papers of Harold Macmillan, 1889-1987

Screenshot from the entry of the Harold Macmillan Papers catalogue at https://archives.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/repositories/2/resources/2545.

Overview of his papers:

A    Diaries, 1915-1986

B    Constituencey papers, 1924-1986

C    Ministerial and Prime Ministerial papers, 1940-1963

D    Political papers, 1924-1986

E    General correspondence, 1912-1986

F    Miscellaneous papers, arranged by subject, 1916-1987

G    Speeches, 1925-1986

H    Interviews and broadcasts, 1942-1985

I    Memoirs and literary papers, 1918-1986

J    Printed material

K    Photographs, 1889-1984

L    Press cuttings, 1950-1984

M    Audiovisual material, 1949-1987 and n.d.

Related resource:

Macmillan Cabinet Papers 1957-63 [Oxford subscription]

Macmillan Online offers direct access to documents from the highest level of Government during the Macmillan Administration. Topics covered include the Berlin Crisis, 1958-1961, the Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962, the Commonwealth Immigration Act, 1962, and the Profumo Scandal, June 1963. With some 30,000 images of original documents, taken from CAB 128 and CAB 129 as well as selected files from PREM 11 and CAB 124, this project is as important a source for world history as it is for British politics.

WISER Sources for US History – Tuesday 28 May, 10:45am

Did you know that Oxford has one of the best collections for US History in the UK? Looking for a topic for your thesis? Want to meet an expert?

Learn all about Oxford US studies collections and sources for early America right up to the 1990s which are held in the stunning Vere Harmsworth Library. Jane Rawson, Vere Harmsworth Librarian, has extensive knowledge of the collections and is a fount of information. You can meet her at the following session:

WISER Sources for US History – Tuesday 28 May, 10:45am-12:15pm

IT Services, 13 Banbury Road

A session introducing information sources for the study of colonial America and US history up to 1990. Starting with finding tools to locate material, examples of source materials will then be shown including archival, microform, printed/online collections and useful web portals and audiovisual collections.

Presenter: Jane Rawson, Vere Harmsworth Librarian

Book your place now

WISER US History poster

New DIGITAL MICROFILM SCANNER available in BOD Upper Reading Room

Modernising old technology

Are you using microform collections and really wished you can take the images away as PDFs? Then make your way to the Upper Reading Room, Old Bodleian Library!

URR Digital microfilm scannerIn URR, you can now use a new Digital Microfilm Scanner which reads microfilms, microfiche and microcards and makes digital copies which can be saved as PDFs.

It is not currently possible to print directly from the scanner, but the images can be saved onto a USB drive for transfer to a laptop or another library computer and from there printed via PCAS.

You can manipulate the images to some extent (switch negatives to positives, etc.) and you can zoom and resize to your liking.

A guide to how to use the scanner and its various functions is available with the equipment. Currently access is based on first-come, first-serve.

The Vere Harmsworth Library already has this new and wonderful technology so from SOLO you can order microform collections to either the Upper Reading Room or the VHL.

What microfilm collections are held in the Bodleian Library?

A guide to microform holdings in the Bodleian Library. 5th ed. (2002) [Available in most reading rooms – ask staff]

All microfilms are catalogued in SOLO. Suggested advanced searches:

microfilm searches in solo - example

Examples of microform collections for Medieval history

IRHT Répertoire d’incipit de sermons latins, antiquité tardive et moyen âge, 273 fiches.  [BOD Microfiches 804]

Examples of microform collections for Early modern history

Flugschriften des frühen 16. Jahrhunderts. [microfiches] hrsg. H-J. Köhler et al. (Zug: IDC, 1978-87) [BOD Microfiches 400]

Contains 5,000 pamphlets in German and Latin, printed 1501-1530 within the Holy Roman Empire and in libraries, museums and archives of West Germany and West Berlin. Annual registers at BOD 25821 e. 63 and at BOD 25821 e. 64; Bibliographie der Flugschriften des 16. Jahrhunderts, Part i, Hans-Joachim Köhler (Tübingen, 1991-) accompanies this series. See also http://www.bsb-muenchen.de/mikro/litup396.htm for guidance on using this set. Online index.

Flugschriften des späteren 16. Jahrhunderts, 1531-1600. [microfiches] Series I and II, hrsg. H.-J. Köhler et al. (Leiden: IDC, 1990-)  [BOD Microfiches 870]

Continues the previous collection and contains 3,666 pamphlets. Particularly good for events such as anti-papist movement, persecution of Jews and Witches and religious and political upheaval following the Reformation. Each year’s instalment consists of microfiches in binder with a guide and annual register.

Examples of microform collections for Modern History

Archives of the British Independent Labour Party

Accompanied by Archives of the Independent Labour Party, 1856-1975: a detailed guide to the microform collections (Reading, 1990)

  • Organisational and regional records, 1856-1955. 25 reels.  [BOD Films 1647]
  • Series I: Pamphlets and Leaflets. 512 microfiches [BOD Microfiches 1006-1010]
  • Series II: Minutes and related records. 176 microfiches (I: national administrative council minutes and related records 1894-1950; II: Branch minutes and related records 1892-19500 [BOD Microfiches 835]
  • Series III: The Francis Johnson correspondence. 21 reels. [BOD Films 1554]

Archives of the British Labour Party

Accompanied by Archives of the British Labour Party, 1873-1973: a detailed guide to the microform collections (Reading, 1990).

  •  General correspondence and political records. Various parts  [Check guides]
  • National Executive Council minutes. 1900-64. Part 1-9.  [BOD Microfiches 787]
  • Pamphlets and leaflets. Parts 1-5. 582 microfiches.  [BOD X.Films 81]
  • Speeches and statements. Part 1: 1964-1973. 197 microfiches [BOD X.Films 82]

Archives of the British Liberal Party

  • Pamphlets and leaflates, parts 1-4
  • National Liberal Federation Annual Reports, 1877-1936. 481 microches + guide. [BOD X.Films 90]

Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiter-Partei (NSDAP): Akten der Partei-Kanzlei der NSDAP [microfiche]: Rekonstruktion eines verlorengegangenen Bestandes; herausgegeben vom Institut für Zeitgeschichte. (München: Saur: Oldenbourg, c1983-1992).  [BOD Microfiches 562]

Der Kirchenkampf: the Gutteridge-Micklem collection at the Bodleian Library, Oxford. 515 microfiches. (London : Saur, [1988]). [BOD Microfiches 809 & B1.30 O.71]

Includes materials, assembled from private collections, which detail the attempts of the German clergy to maintain a separate identity under the Third Reich. These materials document two struggles: that of the evangelical church against the Nazi attempt to impose a unified Reichskirche; and the struggle within the church to establish and define its own development and structure while under siege.

The collection includes books, periodicals, pamphlets, correspondence, reports, memoranda and manuscripts. Most of this material originated in the Bekennende Kirche, but there is also coverage of the Roman Catholic Church, the National Socialists and their various subsections, as well as other German and British Christian churches.

Also included are unique manuscripts describing the precarious situation of the pastors, bishops, religious publishers and printers whose lives and livelihoods were threatened by the Third Reich. There are lists of pastors who were imprisoned or suspended from duty, press service reports and banned literature.

Stenographische Berichte über die Verhandlungen des deutschen Reichstages, 1867-1918.  [BOD Microfiche 869]

Die Protokolle des österreichischen Ministerrates, 1848-1867. 1171, 41, 36 microfiches + 12 vols. (Hildesheim : Olms, 1999-2004).  [Check SOLO]

The French Revolution research collection; editor-in-chief, Colin Lucas. 19,161 microfiches in 12 sections. (Oxford: Pergamon,[1989-1995]) [Check SOLO]

Section 1. Newspapers / editor, Hugh Gough — section 2. Memoirs and autobiographies / editor, Colin Lucas — section 3. Basic printed collections / editor, Colin Lucas — section 4. Bibliographical and research tools — section 5. The Pre-revolutionary debate / editor, Jeremy Popkin — section 6. Political themes / editor, Alison Patrick … [et al.] — section 7. Resistances to the Revolution / editors, Colin Lucas [and] Roger Dupuy — section 8. Religion / editor, Timothy Tackett — section 9. The reorganization of society / editors, Isser Woloch … [et al.] — section 10. The economy / editors, Colin Lucas … [et al.] — section 11. War and colonies / editors, Jean-Paul Bertaud … [et al.] — section 12. Culture / editor, James Leith.

Voices from Wartime France, 1939-45: Clandestine Resistance and Vichy Newspapers. [microfilm]. 206 reels. [BOD Films 2062 + Guide: URR K.8.42]

A research collection which constitutes the sum of the French press that actually reached Britain during the Occupation of 1940-44. It is the record of what was known by the British about the hearts and minds of the French people at the most dramatic period of their shared history. This collection offers the complete French holdings of the British Library, acquired through a variety of intelligence, clandestine and neutral sources, offering as full a view of life during the War as was possible at the time.

Parlamento: rendiconti del Parlamento italiano. Discussioni del Senato del regno, 1848-60; 1861-70. 2nd ed. 150 microcards. [BOD Microcards 41 (1948-60); microcards 42 (1861-70)]

Parlamento: atti (afterwards rendiconti) del Parlamento italiano. Discussioni della Camera dei Deputati, 1848-60; 1861-70. 574 microcards. [BOD Microcards 43 (1948-60); microcards 44 (1861-70)]

Cortes: Congreso de los Diputados: diario de las sessions 1810-1921/22. 6406 microfiches. [BOD Microfiches 302]

Boletin oficial de estado, 1966-69; 1977-78; 1980-85 (Madrid, 1966-86). [BOD Films 1128 (1966-86); Microfiches 837 (1987-)]

Annuario estadístico de España. 1859-64 (various). 256 microfiches. [BOD Microfiches 302]

Any questions?

Why not ask the History Librarian