Thanks to requests from staff and students in HCA, the Library has trial access to 4 digital primary source collections in November. From an Antiguan sugar plantation, politics and war in the 20th century, to a newly released Scottish newspaper archive for the second half of the 20th century.
All 4 databases can be accessed from our E-resources Trials page.
History Commons: Weimar and Nazi Germany
Weimar and Nazi Germany assembles documents that were sent to the UK Foreign Office from embassies, covert contacts, and other sources. Every FO 371 file categorized “Germany” or “Rhineland” dated 1918-1939 is included—available online for the first time. Materials include reports, correspondence, memoranda, communications, speeches, news clippings, international agreements, and analyses.
Trial ends: 30 November 2024
ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Scotsman Archive (1817-2002)
Founded in 1817, The Scotsman was established as a liberal weekly to challenge the establishment’s dominance of Edinburgh’s press. With a commitment to “impartiality, firmness, and independence,” the newspaper quickly rose to prominence for its bold reporting and objective stance. Transitioning to a daily in 1855, The Scotsman has since covered significant historical moments, from the Highland Clearances and the Industrial Revolution to world wars and the RMS Lancastria disaster. Today, it remains a highly respected publication, merging its rich journalistic tradition with modern digital platforms while offering in-depth analysis of local and global events.
Please note: The Library already has access to The Scotsman Archive from 1817 to 1950, this trial gives us access to the newly released coverage from 1950-2002.
Trial ends: 4 December 2012
Antigua, Slavery and Emancipation in the Records of a Sugar Plantation, 1689-1907 (British Online Archives)
This collection contains records pertaining to the Tudway family’s ownership of an Antiguan sugar plantation during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. The papers cover the period from the early slave trade to the post-slavery economy. The combination of statistical ledgers and narrative correspondence provides a unique insight into the operation and eventual abolition of the slave trade in the West Indies.
Content Warning: This collection contains racist or offensive terms. Owing to their historical importance, the sources are in their original state.
Trial ends: 5 December 2024
The British Union of Fascists: 1933-1953 (British Online Archives)
Featuring nearly 8,000 images, this collection contains a wealth of material charting the trajectory of both Mosley and the British Union of Fascists, between 1933 and 1953. It holds a cross section of personal papers from key members of the British fascist movement, such as Nazi propagandist William Joyce (commonly known as “Lord Haw Haw”). The collection also includes documents from various UK government departments which, throughout the 1930s and 1940s, sought to temper the influence of the BUF leader and his supporters. This includes documents detailing MI5’s surveillance of both Oswald Mosley and his wife Diana Mosley (née Mitford), which led to their eventual internment in 1940 after the Battle of France.
Content Warning: This collection deals with traumatic eras and events that users may find upsetting. Owing to their historical importance, the sources are in their original state.
Trial ends: 5 December 2024
You can access all 4 databases via the E-resources trials page.
Feedback welcome.
Please note, trial access to a resource is an opportunity for our staff and students to try a resource out and give feedback on its quality and usefulness. However, if we trial a resource this is not an indication that we plan to or will be able to purchase or subscribe to the resource in the near future.
Access is only available to current students and staff at the University of Edinburgh.
Caroline Stirling – Academic Support Librarian for History, Classics and Archaeology