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History Resources


A general guide to finding resources for historical research.
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Jessica Moore
Contact:
Research/Instruction Librarian
Berntsen Library
B113
651-631-5298

Background Reading

Background reading is an essential starting point to any research project. The purpose of background reading is to get an overview of your topic, and to begin to become acquainted with the key terms, names, and events associated with your topic.

Find and read an article in a subject-specific reference book or eReference database. The Berntsen Library collects reference books in both print and online formats. (*Note: Reference books are considered tertiary sources and are not typically referred to or cited in research papers.)

Use the eReference databases listed below to find background articles about your topic.

History e-Reference

Search one or more of the following e-Reference resources in order to get a good, authoritative overview of your history topic.