Library Guides: National History Day Research @ UW Libraries: Finding Books @ UW Libraries

Before you make your campus visit, use UW Libraries Search to find relevant books (both secondary sources and primary sources such as published diaries).

UW Libraries Search

Using UW Libraries Search to Find Books

By Topic - Type in the keywords that broadly describe your topic. For example: eisenhower civil rights. On the results screen use the "Resource Type" options on the left toolbar to limit your results to books. This will eliminate any articles that were found.
By Title - search for a specific book by title. Type in the first few words of the book title in quotations. For example: "death in the delta". if you don't see the book on your list of results then use the "Resource Type" options on the left toolbar to limit your results to books. This will eliminate any book reviews that were found.
By Author - search for books written by a specific author. Type in the last name followed by the first name of the author in quotations. For example: "whitfield stephen". On the results screen use the "Resource Type" options on the left toolbar to limit your results to books. This will eliminate any book reviews and articles that were found.

Finding Primary Sources Using UW Libraries Search

To find these primary sources use the Advanced search option on UW Libraries Search

By AUTHOR-- search for books written by key participants and organizations by changing the box label from "Any field" to "Author/creator"

By SPECIAL SUBJECT HEADINGS -- do a keywords search for your topic/event and in the second box change the label from "Any field" to "Subject" and use one of these special subject headings that designate primary sources: personal narratives, correspondence, diaries, interviews, sources. Some terms may work better than others depending on your topic.

By DATE -- narrow your search by year of publication by using the Start Date and End Date options.

Books as Primary Sources

The UW Libraries has a strong collection of published primary sources dealing with history. These include:

Books written by participants

Thoughts on African colonization by William Lloyd Garrison
Southern Horrors and Other Writings: The Anti-Lynching Campaign of Ida B. Wells, 1892-1900 by Ida B. Wells
Hate Crimes: ADL Blueprint for Action by the Anti-Defamation Leage

Published collections of correspondence and diaries

Memoirs & autobiographies

Reprinted of collections of primary source material

Books written during the period for your topic (e.g., books written about child labor between 1915 and 1930)

The Child Labor Policy of New Jersey (1909)
Child Labor and Education (1912)
Child Labor in City Streets (1912)

Using Books @ UW

You must have a UW Library Card in order to check out books. Washington State teachers can apply for a UW Library Card by submitting a letter to the UW Libraries' Cashier's Office stating your need to use the UW Libraries’ collection on official school letterhead.

If you do not have a UW Library Card, you must use the book within the library building. Copiers and scanners are available. A DawgPrints card is needed in order to use the copiers and printers and can be purchased in the Allen Lobby.

You can also use the interlibrary loan service at your public library to request books from the UW. Check with the librarian in your public library.