Subject Guides - History

History

Welcome to the History Subject Guide

The StMU Library is here to support you with your academic research needs. These subject guides are curated to provide you with the information you need to get started in your course.

Credible. Reliable. Curated.

This guide is an excellent starting point for research, but please contact us if you can't find what you are looking for. We're happy to assist you by email, phone a virtual meeting or, if you're near the Library, stop by for a visit.

KEEP INFORMED

Stay on top of the latest research from your favourite journals and databases with email alerts.

FIND EVIDENCE

Books, journals, and databases help you locate background information, peer-reviewed articles and reference resources.

USING GOOGLE

The web is a goldmine if you know where to look. We've done the mining for you to compile online resources that will make your work easier.

Below are some suggested databases for History.

Databases

Databases allow you to search collections of journals, articles, books, topic reviews, evidence-based summaries and drug information. StMU databases include Core Databases which are curated collections focusing on a specific subject area and Multidisciplinary Databases which provide broad subject coverage in all areas of undergraduate study.

Core Databases

Gale In Context: World History

Gale In Context: World History reaches back to the ancient world—and forward to today’s headlines—to deliver a chronicle of the people, cultures, events, and societies that have formed the history of the human race. Rare primary sources, reliable reference, and multimedia content are aligned to curriculum and put this vast subject into context for students.

JSTOR Arts & Sciences 1

JSTOR’s first collection includes core journals in economics, history, political science, and sociology, as well as in other key fields in the humanities and social sciences.

JSTOR Arts & Sciences 2

This collection adds depth to many disciplines introduced in Arts & Sciences I with core titles in new disciplines such as archaeology, classical studies, and geography.

Oxford Bibliographies Online: Classics

Oxford Bibliographies provides faculty and students alike with a seamless pathway to the most accurate and reliable resources for a variety of academic topics. Written and reviewed by academic experts, every article in our database is an authoritative guide to the current scholarship, containing original commentary and annotations.

Oxford Bibliographies Online: Medieval Studies

Oxford Bibliographies provides faculty and students alike with a seamless pathway to the most accurate and reliable resources for a variety of academic topics. Written and reviewed by academic experts, every article in our database is an authoritative guide to the current scholarship, containing original commentary and annotations.

Oxford Bibliographies Online: Renaissance and Reformation

Oxford Bibliographies provides faculty and students alike with a seamless pathway to the most accurate and reliable resources for a variety of academic topics. Written and reviewed by academic experts, every article in our database is an authoritative guide to the current scholarship, containing original commentary and annotations.

Multidisciplinary Databases

EBSCOhost Academic Search Elite

Covering all major academic disciplines, Academic Search Elite is a rich resource spanning a broad stretch of academic subjects with thousands of full-text journals and abstracted and indexed journals.

Project Muse Premium Collection

The Premium Collection is MUSE’s foremost collection of high quality, peer reviewed, interdisciplinary journals in the humanities and social sciences.

Streaming Services

Films on Demand (InfoBase)

Films On Demand is a streaming video service containing outstanding educational programs. Many programs from the History Channel, Biography Channel, BBC, PBS and other news channels are included in this collection.

National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

This collection includes documentaries, animations, experimental films, fiction and interactive works. It showcases films that take a stand on issues of global importance that matter to Canadians—stories about the environment, human rights, international conflict, the arts and more.

Library Databases vs the Internet

There is nothing wrong with using the internet. You can find very helpful resources on the web but you should know where and when is the right time to use the internet versus a Library database.

LIBRARY DATABASES
  • Free access is provided to all StMU faculty, staff and students through subscriptions.
  • Credible, reliable and evidence-based information which is most often peer-reviewed.
  • Databases use subject headings and filters to organize their content, allowing for precise searching.
  • Save your results to easily cite and organize your research.
THE INTERNET
  • The internet provides access to vast amounts of information, much of which can be misleading and irrelevant.
  • It is not always clear who authored the information you are reading. Hint: Focus on reputable sources like government and non-profit organizations or authorities in your field like professional associations and subject experts whose credentials and institutional affiliations are clearly stated and easily verifiable.
  • Predatory journals can be very tricky to identify and are not reputable. For tips on how to assess whether or not a journal is scholarly and peer reviewed check out our tutorial on evaluating information.
  • Some information is free but not all. If you are asked to pay for an article, don't. Fill out an ILL Request and we will get it for you for FREE.
NEED HELP

Don't hesitate to ask We're happy to assist you in person, by phone, or by MS Teams.

OFFSITE ACCESS

Anytime, anywhere StMU students, staff, and faculty have access to all of the online resources offsite. Simply enter your credentials.

Having problems with offsite access? Make sure you're selecting OpenAthens when given an option. Check out our guide on OpenAthens External Authentication for detailed support.

Journals

The StMU Library provides access to hundreds of scholarly journals to keep you up to date with the latest evidence, research, and discussion in your field. If we don't have access to the article you're looking for, fill out an ILL Request and we'll bring in a copy for free. Below you will find links to core, full-text Education journals as well as information about assessing articles found on the web.

eJOURNALS

Immediate online access
Browse the A-Z listing of all journals available to the StMU community.

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Full-text access is available on campus.

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Core Journals

Canadian Historical Review

Founded in 1920 as Canada’s national history journal, the Canadian Historical Review focuses on publishing articles and book reviews examining the history of Canada, including imperial, transnational, and comparative perspectives. Otherwise, the journal’s objectives remain today fundamentally what they were almost a hundred years ago: to publish high-quality, authoritative, and innovative articles in both English and French, based on original research and sound methodology. These articles are to reflect the best of the diversity within Canadian historical scholarship while, at the same time, speaking to our broad readership. In addition to research articles and the broadest selection of book reviews on Canadian-related historical subjects, the journal also promotes scholarly dialogue and debate through “Forums,” and “Historical Perspectives” features. These deal with methodological and historiographic questions that concern the diffusion of historical knowledge in the Canadian context from respectively either a single or multi-author perspective.

Historical Methods

Historical Methods reaches an international audience of historians and other social scientists concerned with historical problems. It explores interdisciplinary approaches to new data sources, new approaches to older questions and material, and practical discussions of computer and statistical methodology, data collection, and sampling procedures. Articles published in Historical Methods are often intended to describe a new data infrastructure project, offer insights on a new source of historical data to guide others in the use of the same data, or discuss ways to operationalize data or to implement new methodological approaches that others may emulate with similar data. In addition to its longtime interest in quantitative approaches to historical questions, Historical Methods also encourages submission of articles which address topics in the digital humanities and the rhetoric of social scientific history.

Historical Research

Published since 1923, Historical Research, flagship publication of the Institute of Historical Research, is a leading generalist history journal, covering the global history of the early middle ages to the twenty-first century.

Historical Studies

Historical Studies is an annual peer-reviewed publication of the Canadian Catholic Historical Association. It publishes articles on the history of Catholicism in Canada or on topics that have a connection to the Canadian Catholic experience. Periodically, the journal will also publish historiographical articles that summarize and assess new trends and developments in Catholic history, as well as reviews of new books that significantly affect our understanding of Canadian Catholic history.

Print resource: Periodical   BX1419 .A1 C35222

International Review of Social History

Published for Internationaal Instituut voor Sociale Geschiedenis. International Review of Social History, is one of the leading journals in its field. Truly global in its scope, it focuses on research in social and labour history from a comparative and transnational perspective, both in the modern and in the early modern period, and across periods. The journal combines quality, depth and originality of its articles with an open eye for theoretical innovation and new insights and methods from within its field and from contiguous disciplines. Besides research articles, it features surveys of new themes and subject fields, a suggestions and debates section, review essays and book reviews.

    • Print resource: Periodical   HN1 .I58

Journal of Mediaeval History

The Journal of Medieval History is a major international periodical devoted to all aspects of the history of Europe in the Middle Ages. Founded in 1975, it has a distinguished record of publication encompassing research articles, as well as historiographical essays, ‘state of research’ studies, editions of short texts and review articles on all aspects of historical enquiry between the fall of Rome and the Renaissance.

    • Print resource: Periodical   D111 .J67

Past & Present

Founded in 1952, Past & Present is widely acknowledged to be the liveliest and most stimulating historical journal in the English-speaking world. The journal offers a wide variety of scholarly and original articles on historical, social and cultural change in all parts of the world; challenging work by young historians as well as seminal articles by internationally regarded scholars; a range of articles that appeal to specialists and non-specialists, and communicate the results of the most recent historical research in a readable and lively form; a forum for debate, encouraging productive controversy; and the examination of particular problems and periods as well as wider issues of historical change.

    • Print resource: Periodical   D1 .P37

Renaissance Quarterly

Renaissance Quarterly is the leading American journal of Renaissance studies, encouraging connections between different scholarly approaches to bring together material spanning the period from 1300 to 1700. The official journal of the Renaissance Society of America, RQ presents about twenty articles and over five hundred reviews per year, engaging the following disciplines: Americas, Art and Architecture, Book History, Classical Tradition, Comparative Literature, Digital Humanities, Emblems, English Literature, French Literature, Germanic Literature, Hebraica, Hispanic Literature, History, Humanism, Islamic World, Italian Literature, Legal and Political Thought, Medicine and Science, Music, Neo-Latin Literature, Performing Arts and Theater, Philosophy, Religion, Rhetoric and Women and Gender.

    • Print resource: Periodical   CB361 .R45

Social History

Journal of Social History is a quarterly journal founded in 1967 by Peter Stearns. As a top-ranked journal in the field of social history, it is widely recognized for its high-quality and innovative scholarship and has from its beginnings served as a catalyst for many of the most important developments in the history profession as a whole.

 

The Journal of Social History has served as one of the leading outlets for work in this growing research field since its inception over 40 years ago. JSH publishes articles in social history from all areas and periods, and has played an important role in integrating work in Latin American, African, Asian and Russian history with sociohistorical analysis in Western Europe and the United States.

William and Mary Quarterly

The William and Mary Quarterly is the leading journal of early American history and culture. Founded in 1892 and published by the Omohundro Institute in Williamsburg, Virginia, it is one of the oldest academic journals in the United States and was one of the first ten archived on JSTOR. Today, the Quarterly ranks among the most-cited journals covering a specific time and place and is one of the most-respected and most-acclaimed historical journals in the world.

    • Print resource: Periodical   E186 .W45

Using Journals Through the Catalogue vs. Journals Found on the Internet

There is nothing wrong with using journal articles you've found on the internet, there's plenty of high quality information out there. But, there are a few things you should know about Academic, Open Access, and Predatory journals before you start.

SCHOLARLY, ACADEMIC, AND PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS
  • Scholarly, academic, and peer-reviewed journals contain articles written by and for faculty, researchers, and scholars in a particular field.
  • These resources are typically published by academic organizations, utilize specialist or scholarly language, and adhere to strict standards of referencing throughout.
  • Not all scholarly and academic journals are peer-reviewed.
  • To see if a print journal is peer-reviewed, check the 'publication information' at the front of the journal.
  • For electronic journals, information regarding the peer-review process can usually be found on the 'About the Journal' or 'Notes for Authors' page of the journal's website.
  • Peer reviewed articles are identified in the Library catalogue.
  • Streamline your search process by limiting searches to limit results to include only peer-reviewed journals and articles.
JOURNALS & ARTICLES ON THE INTERNET
  • The internet provides access to vast amounts of information, much of which can be misleading, irrelevant, or fails to meet the standards of academic rigour.
  • It is not always clear who authored the information you are reading. Before using articles found on the web. be sure to verify the credentials and institutional affiliation of the author.
  • Focus on Open Access journals published by reputable sources such as academic institutions and professional organizations.
  • Predatory journals can be very tricky to identify and are not reputable. For tips on how to assess whether or not a journal is scholarly and peer reviewed check our tutorial on evaluating information sources
  • Some information is free but not all. If you are asked to pay for an article, don't. Fill out an ILL Request and we will get it for you for FREE.

Books

Libraries are filled with books! Many prefer holding a hard copy book instead of an electronic version. Don't worry, we have both available depending on what you like best.

Books are ideal information sources to consult when looking for a comprehensive overview of your topic. Don't see what you are looking for? Ask us about InterLibrary Loans to find a book from another library.

Books

Physical Collections

D1-2027 History (General)
 

D111-203 Mediaeval history
 

D(204)-(475) Modern history, 1453­
 

DA1-995 History of Great Britain
 

DB1-3150 History of Austria. Liechtenstein. Hungary. Czechoslovakia
 

DK1-949.5 History of Russia. Soviet Union. Former Soviet Republics

Subjects:

Church history
 

Motion pictures and history
 

Plants and history
 

Public history
 

History — Methodology
 

History — Religious aspects
 

History, Ancient
 

History, Modern
 

History in art
 

History in literature
 

History in mass media

Keywords:

18th century
 

Archives
 

Decolonisation
 

Urban history
 

Western approaches
 

Architectural history

Libraries are filled with books! Many prefer holding a hard copy book instead of an electronic version. Don't worry, we have both available depending on what you like best.

Books are ideal information sources to consult when looking for a comprehensive overview of your topic. Don't see what you are looking for? Ask us about InterLibrary Loans to find a book from another library.

eBOOKS

Click and read Immediate access anytime, anywhere.

PRINT BOOKS

Available to all Place a Request in the catalogue for quick pickup or visit the library to browse the stacks. .

OTHER LIBRARIES

You can borrow from them too Search and Request books from our SAIL partners (U of C, AU, and BVC) from within the STMU catalogue.

Web Resources

The internet has a wealth of information. Explore grey literature, Open Education Resources and digital repositories to discover information about your subject from all over the world. Below you will find a curated list of web resources.

Below you will find a curated list of web resources.

Online Resources

ArchiveGrid

ArchiveGrid is a database for searching for historical documents, personal papers, and family histories held in archives around the world. Thousands of libraries, museums, and archives have contributed nearly a million collection descriptions to ArchiveGrid. Researchers searching ArchiveGrid can learn about the many items in each of these collections, contact archives to arrange a visit to examine materials, and order copies.

Canadian Parliamentary Historical Resources

Free searchable database of digitized versions of parliamentary publications from the 1st Session of the 1st Parliament (1867) until coverage at ourcommons.ca and sencanada.ca begins.

Canada Declassified

Canada Declassified is a digital repository of government records declassified under the Canadian Access to Information Act. Our holdings span from the Second World War through the Global War on Terror, with the bulk of our records from the cold War era. The records maintained on this website are open-access and fully available to students and scholars around the world.

GREY LITERATURE

It's not always black and whiteGrey literature falls into a 'grey area' of materials produced outside traditional publishing channels. Learn more about grey literature in the Research Tips tab.

NEVER PAY

Request and you shall receive If you have located an article online that the StMU Library does not have access to through our databases and journals, submit an ILL request and we'll locate a copy at no charge.