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HIST 3377: America in Midpassage

Get started researching topics in American History 1783-1877.

Librarian

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Kristina Claunch
Contact:
936-294-1520
kclaunch@shsu.edu
Library (NGL) Room 223G

Where to Find Diaries From This Period

Most books on America during this time period (between the American Revolution and the American Civil War) will have call numbers between E300 and E453.

You can browse for historical diaries in this call number range, either at the library or online. Instructions and advantages for both approaches are detailed below.

TIP: Whichever method you use to browse, unless you are specifically interested in the diary of a major figure like Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Calhoun, etc. (which you can find between E300 and E337), I recommend that you skip forward and begin browsing with call numbers around E338.

Tip When Skimming Titles

Keep in mind that your book must be a primary source, not a biography or memoir written down late in life or long after the events described actually occurred.

Thus, when browsing, focus on words like "diary" or "journal" (or perhaps correspondence, if you are interested in asking the professor to approve a collection of letters).

Be wary of words like "memoir," "biography," or "a life."

When searching the online catalog, use the phrase 'personal narratives' (including the single quotes!) in the search row labeled subject.

Search Method #1: Browse in the Library

The call number range from E300 through E453 represents only about one aisle of bookshelves, so browsing is not an overwhelming prospect. Look especially for titles with the word diary or journal.

One advantage to physical browsing is that it will most likely be faster than browsing through page after page of online results. Another advantage is that you can pick up a book and flip through it to better determine whether it meets the assignment requirements.

Unless you are specifically interested in the diary of a major figure like Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Calhoun, etc. (which you can find between E300 and E337), I recommend that you skip forward and begin browsing with call numbers around E338.

Search Method #2: Browse Online

To browse for a book online in the library catalog, start at library.shsu.edu and click "Find Books & More: Catalog" in the main menu (or just click the link on this page). When the main search page opens, click "Call Number Search" in the small box on the right.

In the call number search box, type a call number. You can just start at E300, or you can speed up the process a bit by typing E338. Then click "Search." What comes up will be a list of books in order by call number. You can browse through the titles using the "Next" and "Previous" link on the blue toolbar. Look especially for titles that contain the word diary or journal.

One advantage to browsing online is that you can find physical books as well as e-books in our collection. We have many historical diaries and journals in e-book format. One disadvantage to browsing online is that it will probably take you longer than browsing in person.

One warning when browsing online: It may be more difficult to tell whether a book meets the assignment requirements. It would be wise to write down at least two or three possible books, so that you have a back-up option if the first does not work out.

 

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