Doing research in Asian American history

Research workshop for HIST 10

Simon Elichko • they/them • Social Sciences & Data Librarian

What we'll talk about today:

• How you can use research resources from Swat, the TriCo, and other colleges
   
• Key tools for finding secondary sources and how to use them

  Swat             Haverford      Bryn Mawr

Library resource networks: TriCo and beyond

Useful tools for finding
secondary sources:

Library catalogs

• Tripod   (books available from the TriCo Libraries)
• Worldcat  (books available from libraries in the US and beyond)

History-focused databases

• America History & Life   (journal articles about US history)
• Historical Abstracts   (journal articles about history beyond the US)
   

Databases

• JSTOR
• Project Muse

Finding history books related to your topic

Tripod Library Search

Go to: swarthmore.edu/libraries

Search for Aloha Betrayed

Finding history books related to your topic

Brainstorm your topic

Take a couple of minutes and think about what you might like to write about for your final project.

What week of class did you enjoy the most so far? What would you like to learn more about?

Finding history books related to your topic

Tripod Library Search

Start on tripod.swarthmore.edu

Go to Advanced Search

Choose Books + Media

Change "Any Field" to Subject

Search for "20th century" and history

Once you have results, use filter for Region

Finding history books:
key questions to ask

• Who?  Who is this book about?
  Who wrote it? (Are they a historian?)
   
• When?  What time period does it focus on?
  When was it written?
   
• What?  What aspects of the topic are emphasized?
  What kind of sources did the author use?

Find journal articles related to your topic

Research Guide for HIST 10

Start at Tripod (tripod.swarthmore.edu).

Choose Research Guides (top of page), then search for Asian American History.

Go to the database America, History and Life

Develop your research skills
& get support with your projects

Meet with Simon

Schedule at bit.ly/selichk1

Email them at selichk1@swarthmore.edu

(including if you need an alternative meeting time)

Use the chat in Tripod to get help from librarians and Research & Information Associates (RIAs).

You can email librarian@swarthmore.edu.