History: Home

Instead of using Wikipedia, you can use some of these encyclopedias and reference sources to learn background on your research topic. In addition to background information, you can also find lists of additional scholarly sources using these resources. 

To find more reference resources, go to the Finding Background Information tab of this guide, or check out our A-Z Databases list of History encyclopedias!

You can find secondary sources (interpretations of historical evidence) using these databases. Each database will contain different secondary sources, so be sure to search multiple databases to find what you need!

To find more specialized secondary resources, check out the Finding Secondary Sources tab of this guide, or one of our other research guides in history!

You can find primary sources (first-hand historical accounts from people who experienced it) using these databases. Each database will contain different primary sources, so be sure to search multiple databases to find what you need!

To find more specialized primary resource databases, check out the Finding Primary Sources tab of this guide, or one of our other research guides in history!

You can find both physical and digital books using these resources. If you are looking for a book that we don't have, use Request-It to get it sent to you, fast and free!

There are three types of sources you will use in historical research: primary, secondary, and tertiary sources.

Primary sources is your historical evidence, and provides first-hand accounts of your topic. Primary sources are the closest sources of information to the historical topic and period you are researching.

Secondary sources are the interpretations of others, made using both primary sources and other secondary sources. These interpretations are not intended to provide historical evidence, but rather make an argument about history.

Tertiary sources, such as encyclopedia articles, are sources that provide summary reference information about a historical topic. They do not provide historical evidence and do not make a historical argument.

If you want to learn more, check out the video at the link below!