HSTRY 498: Race & Radicalism in US History: Primary Sources: Newspapers & Magazines

When searching any full text database such as a historical newspaper you may find the following strategies useful to narrow your search down to more relevant items.

• When available use the Advanced Search option -- this gives you the flexibility of doing more complex searches
• Limit your search by publication year
• If you get too many results see if there is a way to search just the headline/title of an article
• Some databases allow you to search for words within close proximity to each other -- check the database's online help to see if there are adjacency/proximity operators
• If available limit your search by publication type such as articles, editorials, advertisements
• Be aware of changes in language and spelling over time. For example articles written in 1965 will use USSR or Soviet Union rather than Russia; Negro rather than African American.

To find the full text of the article (if not provided directly in the database), click on the "Check for Full Text" button and work your way through the screens.  If we do not have an online version of the article then request a scan of the article. See the FAQ: How do I request a book/article we don't have? for more information.

Strengths

• Newspapers focus more on local or national issues and events rather than foreign countries. Magazines tend to be more national in scope -- news magazines (such as Time) and politically oriented magazines (such as The New Republic) cover everything from politics to wars while specialized magazines provide insight into cultural issues and material culture and cover sports, entertainment, fashion and more
• Commentary, cartoons and letters to the editor provide public opinion information
• Photographs and other graphics
• Advertising included in magazines are useful primary sources especially for the study of consumerism, gender roles, material culture, history of technology, and popular culture. Display and classified newspaper advertisements provide Information about local prices, rents, jobs, etc. 

Keep in mind

• Newspapers & magazines usually do not provide in-depth analysis nor do they provide scholarly context for an issue. They really do focus on the who, what, where and when rather than the why of an issue or event.

For more information on using newspapers see: Analyzing Newspapers, Newspapers & Learning to Do Historical Research Prowling the Periodicals.