New to the Library: Digital archives on gender and sexuality

I’m happy to let you know that over the summer the Library purchased two digital archive collections that will be of interest to students and staff looking at gender and sexuality studies, Archives of Sexuality and Gender: International Perspectives on LGBTQ Activism and Culture and Sex and Sexuality: Research Collections from The Kinsey Insitute Library and Special Collections.

You can access both databases via the Digital Primary Source and Archives Collection guide and the Databases A-Z list. Continue reading

On trial: East African Newspapers

*The Library now has permanent access to this resource. See New! East African Newspapers.*

Thanks to a request from staff in HCA the Library currently has trial access to East African Newspapers from EastView, featuring key newspapers from the region from the 1940s to the early 2000s.

You can access the East African Newspapers via the E-resources trials page.

Trial access ends 2nd April 2023. Continue reading

On trial: British Online Archives collections

Did you know the Library currently has trial access to a number of databases from British Online Archives?

British Online Archives are one of the U.K.’s leading academic publishers. Their goal is to provide students and researchers with access to unique collections of primary source documents.  Their databases cover 1,000 years of world history, from politics and warfare to slavery and medicine.

At the Library we currently have trial access to 7 databases from BOA. All can be accessed from the E-resources Trials page:

Britannia and Eve, 1926-1957
Trial ends: 3rd March 2023

Screenshot of homepage from 'Britannia and Eve, 1926-1957'. Continue reading

On (long term) Trial: More Gale Primary Sources

During the summer the Library was able to purchase two Gale primary source databases to add to our collections: U.S. Declassified Documents Online and The Telegraph Historical Archive, 1855-2016. Because of this, Gale have offered us free long-term trial access to 7 more of their digital primary source databases through their Gale Accelerate programme.

Screenshot of Gale Primary Sources homepage with Search box.

The Library has access to these 7 databases until 12th July 2023.
They can be accessed from our E-resources trials.
They can also be accessed via the Digital Primary Source and Archive Collections guide or Newspapers, Magazines and Other News Sources guide, as appropriate.

So what do we now have access to?
(In alphabetical order) Continue reading

On trial: British Online Archives

*Access has now been extended until 31st March 2022.*

I’m pleased to let you know that British Online Archives (BOA) are providing free trial access to its entire collection of digital primary sources until 28th February 2022.

You can access British Online Archives via the E-resources trials page.
Access is available on and off-campus.

Trial access ends 31st March 2022.

BOA provide students and researchers with access to unique collections of primary source documents. Their website hosts over 3 million records drawn from both private and public archives. These records are organised thematically, covering 1,000 years of world history, from politics and warfare to slavery and medicine. Continue reading

Spotlight on Secret Files from World Wars to Cold Wars

Are you interested in British intelligence, foreign policy, international relations, and military history in the 20th century? Then Secret Files from World Wars to Cold Wars: Intelligence, Strategy and Diplomacy may be just what you’re looking for.

Secret Files from World Wars to Cold Wars provides access to British government secret intelligence and foreign policy files from 1873 to 1953, with the majority of files dating from the 1930s and 1940s.

You can access Secret Files from World Wars to Cold Wars via the Databases A-Z list or Digital Primary Source and Archive Collections guide. Continue reading

Discovering ProQuest Primary Sources

Looking for primary sources and historical documents for your dissertation or research project? Interested in finding out more about how to search some of the primary source databases you have access to at the Library? Looking to use archive newspapers for your research?

ProQuest are giving our students and staff the opportunity to join their training team for a series of seminars exploring their extensive Primary Source collections, which you have access to from the Library. In each 30-minute tutorial, you will take a deep dive into key ProQuest resources and will learn the best search strategies, tips and tricks for getting the most relevant results for your research projects. This is a really great opportunity to learn from the experts how to use these fantastic resources and find relevant material for you. Continue reading

ProQuest Access 350: 600 years of world history

*Access has now been extended until 31st July 2024*

I’m very pleased to let you know that University of Edinburgh Library has set up a new subscription with ProQuest that gives you access to almost all available ProQuest digital primary source databases until 31st December 2021.

ProQuest Access 350 allows you to explore 600 years of world history online and will help enrich learning, teaching and research at the University across a range of subject areas and topics including History, the Arts, Literature and Social Sciences.

Continue reading

On trial: Gale Primary Sources (even more content!)

I’m very pleased to let you know that the Library has been given extended trial access to an extensive range of primary source databases and collections from Gale. This is an exciting opportunity to access a wide range of these digital primary sources that wouldn’t normally be available to us but also compliment the wide range of primary source databases we already have access to from Gale.

You can access all of these trial databases via the E-resources trials page.
Access is available on and off campus.

Trial access to these databases ends 30th June 2020. Continue reading

On Trial – The Making of Modern Law: Foreign, Comparative, and International Law, 1600-1926

Thanks to a request from staff in HCA the Library current has extended trial access to The Making of Modern Law: Foreign, Comparative, and International Law, 1600-1926 from Gale. This resource provides you with instant, full-text access to primary source documents previously found only at the largest and oldest repositories.

You can access The Making of Modern Law: Foreign, Comparative, and International Law from the E-resources trials page.
Access is available on and off-campus.

Trial access ends 30th June 2020. Continue reading