Unpublished Sources and Manuscripts (including Oral Histories)

Using a Catalog

Sources/catalogs for books/published primary sources:   Miami's Catalog OhioLINK Worldcat RLIN COPAC (british libs) ttp://www.copac.ac.uk/copac/	Search Techniques
	Search for who might have authored the primary source, especially if it was an institution or a group, such as a labor union, organization, or government agency . Search both as a keyword and as an author Restrict your search by publication date(s) when the primary source was likely to have been published

 

Using an Index/Printed Catalog

• Subject Collections: A Guide to Special Book Collections and Subject Emphases as Reported by University, College, Public, and Special Libraries and Museums in the United States and Canada.
  King Ref Z731 .A78
  Subject, author and title listing of major manuscript collections held in libraries and archives across the United States.
• National Archives and Records Administration.
  http://www.archives.gov/
  The National Archives is the major documentary preservation agency of the United States. Included in this site are indexes to their collections as well as actual digitized collections. Enter the research room and browse.

Other Ways to locate manuscript and primary source materials

It is likely that an archive, historical society or other library in the location of your event etc. will hold uncataloged materials related to your event or issue. Look for a means of contact in the following sources. You will need to tell the student to contact someone at instution with the specifics of their reseach query and to be prepared to wait for a reply.

• Repositories of Primary Sources
  http://www.uidaho.edu/special-collections/Other.Repositories.html
• American Library Directory.
  King Ref  Z731 .A53
  Directory that provides contact information by state and county for libraries of all types including public, academic, and corporate.
• World Guide to Special Libraries.
  King Ref  Z675.A2 W67 1998
  Directory to locate libraries that would have archival or corporate materials in countries other than the United States.
• Directory of History Departments, Historical Organizations and Historians.
  http://bibpurl.oclc.org/web/45 or http://www.historians.org/pubs/directory/index.cfm
  Directory that includes addresses of historical associations in the U.S. and Canada. Often includes web addresses, which will allow faster, email communication.
• Unesco Archives Portal
  http://www.unesco.org/webworld/portal_archives/pages/index.shtml
  Online directory of archives, by type. Remember many countries may not provide a link to an English language website.
• British Archives: A Guide to Archive Resources in the United Kingdom.
  King Ref CD1040 .F67 2002
  Listing by city of archives and special libraries and their holdings