Library Research and Primary Sources

for IEFI Projects

Abbie Weil, Outreach Librarian

with thanks to Celia Caust-Ellenbogen, liaison for teaching with Special Collections

Key library sites

Unlimited free storage

Swarthmore affiliates get free "premium" Zotero

Use Zotero to organize your research materials, including saving and annotating PDFs, and generating citations.
See our Zotero at Swarthmore guide.
 

Zotero Groups

Set up a Zotero Group to share materials with multiple participants.

Great for group work. Ask a librarian for help getting started!

Venn diagram highlighting topics represented in Friends Historical Library (FHL), College Archives (SCA), and Peace Collection (SCPC). FHL: Quaker history & spirituality; Native American History. SCPC: Internationalism. SCA & Rare Book Room: Artists' books, Swarthmore Borough history. FHL & SCPC: Peace, nonviolence, pacifism, and conscientious objection. FHL & SCA: Swarthmore College History. All: African-American history; Women's History.

College

Archives

Rare

Book

Room

College Archives

College Archives

College Archives

This information is about the collection overall

This is the contents of the collection. Click on any item to learn more.

Click this button to get all the info you need to request materials

Your turn!

Navigate to Tripod or the Archives & Manuscripts catalog

Try a keyword and find a resource or collection of interest

Notice how you would acces the material

Is it online?

In the circulating collection?

In a Special Collection?

Prepare for your visit

Do:

  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request materials in advance
  • Talk to the archivist(s)

Don't:

  • Bring food or drink
  • Bring pens
  • Forget to record/photograph citation info!
  • Handle materials carefully
  • Place folders/materials flat on the table
  • Keep folders and pages in order

Swarthmore College Special Collections website

https://www.swarthmore.edu/libraries/special-collections 

  • Learn more about each of our four Special Collections
  • Link to our catalogs (yes, plural!)
  • Book an appointment

Using Archives and Special Collections (Tri-Co) Research Guide

https://guides.tricolib.brynmawr.edu/using-special-collections​

  • Link to our catalogs and appointment booker
  • Get tips on navigating our catalogs
  • Learn archival research skills: how to cite archival materials, read handwriting, evaluate primary sources

Public-facing

library programs

Events

Exhibits

Book displays

We plan our programming months in advance.

If you have an idea, talk to us at the beginning of the process.

Recap: Archives & Primary Sources

 

• Your research can built on what others have done and enter into conversation. Start by exploring available resources.

• TriCo Archives & Manuscripts lets you explore what's available at Swarthmore.

• Consult with the Libraries at the beginning of your project.

College Archivist David Obermeyer, doberma1@swarthmore.edu

Outreach Librarian Abbie Weil, aweil1@swarthmore.edu

Library research and primary sources for IEFI

By Swarthmore Reference

Library research and primary sources for IEFI

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