Tag Archives: archives

Discovering ProQuest Primary Sources

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Looking for primary sources and historical documents for your dissertation or research project?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 →

Bread Rationing: a surprising and timely subject

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Today’s post, highlighting the wide range of newspaper archive databases the Library has and how these can be used to research a particular topic or event, is written by Louise Peterkin, Helpdesk Assistant, University of Edinburgh Libraries. During lockdown Louise also worked part-time with the Library Academic Support team.

I was delighted to be asked to write a blog showcasing the University’s wide range of databases and primary sources. These have been bolstered considerably in the last few months with the exciting addition of 365 new databases through our new ProQuest 350 Access subscription.

Looking for inspiration as to what to write about I searched Google for important events in history that fell between July and August. 22 July 1946 – Bread rationed for the first time in the UK leapt out at me. I always thought bread had been rationed during World War 2? I was keen to find out more.

Screenshot of “Bread Rationing Begins; and Other News Events of the Week.” Illustrated London News, July 27, 1946, 101. The Illustrated London News Historical Archive, 1842-2003.

I researched the topic through the University’s databases, starting with our newspaper archives. We have access to ProQuest Historical Newspapers, which includes access to The Guardian (1821-2003), The Observer (1791-2003) and The Scotsman (1817 -1950) and Gale Primary Sources and Gale News Vault which contain access to many historical newspapers including to the Daily Mail Historical Archive (1896-2004) and Times Digital Archive (1785 to 2011). Continue reading →

New to the Library: African American Newspapers

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I’m pleased to let you know that the Library now has access to African American Newspapers Series 1 and 2 from Readex. These fascinating databases provide online access to approximately 330 U.S. newspapers chronicling a century and a half of the African American experience.

You can access African American Newspapers Series 1 and 2 via the Newspapers, Magazines and Other News Sources guide, the Databases A-Z list or Black Studies databases list. Continue reading →

New to the Library: Scottish nationalist leaflets, 1844-1973

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I’m happy to let you know that the Library now has access to the database Scottish nationalist leaflets, 1844-1973 from British Online Archives. This digital primary source database collects together pamphlets relating to Scottish nationalism printed by the Scottish National Party (SNP) and their predecessors.

You can access Scottish nationalist leaflets, 1844-1973 via the Digital Primary Source and Archive Collections guide and the Databases A-Z list. Continue reading →

Spotlight on ProQuest History Vault

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Interested in American history? Then ProQuest History Vault may be exactly what you are looking for.

History Vault gives you access to millions of pages of cross-searchable, full-text/full-image documents including articles, correspondence, government records, photographs, scrapbooks, financial records, diaries and more, documenting the most widely studied topics in 18th- through 20th-century American history. It’s a fantastic resource for those teaching, learning or researching in the areas of history, African American studies, women’s studies, political science, social sciences, sociology, and international studies.

You can access ProQuest History Vault via the Databases A-Z list or Digital Primary Source and Archive Collections guide. Continue reading →

ProQuest Access 350: 600 years of world history

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*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: State Papers Online Eighteenth Century

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Thanks to a request from a PhD student in HCA the Library currently has extended trial access to State Papers Online: Eighteenth Century, 1714-1782 Parts I-IV from Gale. This covers the final section of the State Papers series from the National Archives in the UK before the series was closed and replaced by the Home Office and Foreign Office series in 1782.

You can access State Papers Online: Eighteenth Century via the E-resources trials page.
Access is available on and off-campus.

Trial access ends 30th June 2020.

State Papers Online: Eighteenth Century comes in 4 parts and we have access to all 4 during this trial. Continue reading →

New to the Library: Trismegistos

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I’m happy to let you know that further to a request from staff in HCA the Library now has a subscription to Trismegistos, an online resource that aims to surmount barriers of language and discipline in the study of texts from the ancient world, particularly late period Egypt and the Nile valley (roughly BC 800 – 800 AD).

You can access Trismegistos via the Databases A-Z list and Classics subject guide.

The core component of Trismegistos (TM) is Trismegistos Texts, currently counting 823212 entries. When the database was created in 2005, it focused on providing information (metadata) on published papyrological documents from Graeco-Roman Egypt. Since then the geographical scope has been widened to the entire ancient world, the time period covered was broadened to between BC 800 and AD 800, and the database was expanded to include epigraphic material as well. Continue reading →

On trial: State Papers Online

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Thanks to a request from the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC) the Library currently has trial access to 3 further collections from the State Papers Online database from Gale. State Papers Online offers original historical materials across the widest range of government concerns, from high level international politics and diplomacy to the charges against a steward for poisoning a dozen or more people.

You can access the 3 collections on trial via the E-resources trials page.
Access is available on and off-campus.

Trial access ends 30th June 2020.

The 3 collections the Library has trial access to are: Continue reading →

On trial: National Geographic Magazine Archive

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Thanks to a request from a HCA student the Library currently has extended trial access to the National Geographic Magazine Archive, 1888-1994 from Gale. This databases allows you to explore over a century of iconic images and fascinating narratives that capture the wonder of our planet and beyond.

You can access National Geographic Magazine Archive, 1888-1994 from the E-resources trials page.
Access is available on and off-campus.

Trial access ends 30th June 2020. Continue reading →