How to Do Library Research

This set of pages has information on how to do library research. In all cases, once you have located sources, be sure to evaluate them, using the evaluation guides.

Identify Primary Sources in CSU's Online Catalog

These should work in most other catalogs as well.

The LCSH subdivision most useful for identifying primary sources written by individuals (diaries, personal journals, and memoirs) is "personal narrative." Also useful are "diaries" and "correspondence" (for letters). If there are any materials, they can be identified within a time period or historical event. For example (some of the identified items may include secondary materials) do a SUBJECT search for:

Time period/event (usually war or other conflict):

18th-19th Century (starts in)
Dakota Indians Wars 1876 Personal Narratives
France History Revolution 1789 1799 Personal Narratives
Gettysburg Battle of Gettysburg Pa 1863 Personal Narratives
Indians of North America Wars 1866-1895 Personal narratives
Little Bighorn Battle of The Mont 1876 Personal Narratives
Mexican War, 1846-1848 Personal narratives
South African War, 1899-1902 Personal narratives
Spanish-American War, 1898 Personal narratives
United States History Queen Anne's War, 1702-1713 Personal narratives
United States History French and Indian War, 1755-1763 Personal narratives.
United States History Revolution, 1775-1783 Personal narratives
United States History Revolution 1775 1783 Personal Narratives British
United States History Civil War, 1861-1865 Personal narratives
United States History Civil War, 1861-1865 Personal narratives, Confederate
United States History Civil War, 1861-1865 Personal narratives Confederate side
[state] History Civil War, 1861-1865 Personal narratives
Voyages and travels Personal narratives
Wounded Knee Massacre, S.D., 1890 Personal narratives

20th Century

China -- History Cultural Revolution, 1966-1976 Personal narratives
Hiroshima Shi Japan History Bombardment 1945 Personal Narratives
Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981 Personal narratives
Soviet Union History Revolution, 1917-1921 Personal narratives
Spain History Civil War, 1936-1939 Personal narratives
World War 1914-1918 Personal narratives
World War 1914 1918 Personal Narratives American
World War 1914 1918 Personal Narratives British
World War 1914 1918 Personal Narratives French
World War 1914 1918 Personal Narratives German
Spain History Civil War, 1936-1939 Personal narratives.
World War 1939-1945 Personal Narratives
World War 1939-1945 Personal Narratives American
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives Australian
World War 1939 1945 Personal Narratives British
World War 1939 1945 Personal Narratives Canadian
World War 1939 1945 Personal Narratives Dutch
World War 1939 1945 Personal Narratives French
World War 1939 1945 Personal Narratives German
World War 1939 1945 Personal Narratives Italian

World War 1939 1945 Personal Narratives Japanese
World War 1939 1945 Personal Narratives Jewish
World War 1939 1945 Personal Narratives Polish
World War 1939 1945 Personal Narratives Russian
Holocaust Jewish 1939 1945 Germany Personal Narratives
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Germany Berlin Personal narratives
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Hungary Personal narratives
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Italy Personal narratives Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Netherlands Personal narratives
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Personal narratives
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Poland Personal narratives
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Poland Łódź Personal narratives
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Poland Warsaw Personal
narratives
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Ukraine L'viv Personal narratives
Korean War, 1950-1953 Personal narratives, American
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Personal narratives
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Personal Narratives American
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Personal Narratives Vietnamese
Persian Gulf War 1991 Personal Narratives American
Yugoslav War, 1991-1995 Personal narratives, American
Zimbabwe History Chimurenga War, 1966-1980 Personal narratives

21st Century
Afghan War, 2001- Personal narratives, American
Iraq War, 2003- Personal narratives
Iraq War, 2003- Personal narratives, American
September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001 Personal narratives

Profession or as part of historical movement (Correspondence has been abbreviated to "Corr" in this section):

Actors [g a*] Corr
African Americans Corr
Air pilots Corr
Architects United States Corr
Artists [g a*] Diaries
[Author name] Diaries
[Author name] Corr
Authors Corr
Authors Corr [g a*] [century]
Authors, American 19th century Diaries
Authors, American 20th century Diaries
Authors, English 19th century Diaries
Authors, English 20th century Diaries
Authors, French 20th century Diaries
Authors, German 20th century Diaries
Authors, Russian 20th century Diaries
Authors, Scottish 18th century Diaries
Composers Corr
Composers [g a*] Corr
Composers United States Diaries.
Critics [g a*] Corr
Diplomats Corr
Diplomats Great Britain Corr
Diplomats Great Britain Diaries
Dramatists, [g a*] [century] Corr
Editors [g a*] Corr
Explorers United States Diaries
Feminists [g a*] Corr
Generals United States Corr
Great Britain Kings and rulers Corr
Historians United States Corr
Humanists Italy Corr
Humorists, American 20th century Corr
Immigrants United States Corr
Journalists Corr
Journalists United States Diaries
Judged United States Corr
Lawyers United States Corr
Legislators United States Corr
Musicians Corr
Nobility Great Britain Corr
Novelists [g a*] [century] Corr
Novelists, American 20th century Diaries
Novelists, English 18th century Diaries
Novelists, English 20th century Diaries

Painters [g a*] Corr
Philosophers [g a*] Corr
Physicists Corr
Pioneers California Diaries
Pioneers West US Corr
Pioneers West US Diaries
Poets [g a*] [century] Corr
Poets, American 20th century Diaries
Poets, English 19th century Diaries
Presidents Spouses United States Corr
Presidents United States Corr
Prime Ministers Great Britain Corr
Prisoners of war United States Diaries
Psychoanalysts [g a*] Corr
Psychologists United States Corr
Publishers and publishing United States Corr
Sailors United States Corr
Sailors United States Diaries
Soldiers [state] Corr
Soldiers Great Britain Corr
Soldiers Great Britain Diaries
Soldiers New York (State) Diaries
Soldiers United States Diaries
Soldiers United States Corr
Statesmen Great Britain Corr
Statesmen Great Britain Diaries
Statesmen Rome Corr
Statesment United States Corr
Statesmen United States Diaries
Trappists United States Corr
Wives United States Corr
Women authors [g a*] [century] Corr
Women authors, American 19th century Diaries
Women authors, American 20th century Diaries
Women [g a*] Corr
Women [g a*] Diaries
Women poets, American 20th century Corr
Women southern states Corr