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Starting Your Research in the History Collection in the Library

  • How do I find books and journals?

    Search the SOAS Library catalogue. This will find print and electronic books and print journals. Widen your search to include other research libraries in the UK and Ireland by using COPAC

  • How do I find journal articles?
    • If you know the article you are looking for search the Library catalogue and/or A-to-Z electronic journals for the title of the journal.
    • If you want to find what articles have been written on a certain subject then start with Primo Central searching tool and then move on to more subject-specific databases (use the pull down menus).
    • For regional bibliographies / indexes, please consult the appropriate regional subject guide
  • How do I find multimedia resources?

    In the Library catalogue you can search by classmark for DVDs and CDs

  • How do I find newspapers?
    • North China Herald Access to this major English-language Shanghai newspaper from 1850-1940.
    • The Times of India (1838-2003) An easily searchable database of this major newspaper covering key events in the history of India and the British Empire. An excellent resource for political, social and cultural history, including the role of religion.
  • SOAS Research Online

    SOAS Research Online - Open access e-print repository of academic publications (articles, book chapters, theses etc.) by SOAS staff and students. Content dates mainly from the 1990s, though the earliest items are from 1959

  • What if SOAS Library does not hold what I need?
    Try other libraries. 
    • For History in general, the following libraries are recommended
    • Archival collections
      • National Archives / Public Records Office
        Public, local, government and personal papers relating to the United Kingdom from early medieval times to the present day. The Archives also include the following directories to local archive collections
        • ARCHON
          First produced by the Historical Manuscripts Commission, this is a portal to archives and manuscript collections in the U.K.
        • A2A: Access to Archives
          Catalogue describing locally held archives
      • Colonial Film: moving images of the British Empire
        A collaborative project between the British Film Institute National Archive, the Imperial War Museum, the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum, Birkbeck College and UCL. The archive currently includes information on over 6,000 films dating from the 1890s to the later 20h century. Over 300 have detailed notes and 150 are available to watch online.
      • Repositories of Primary Sources
        International directory of libraries holding archive, manuscript and rare book collections (including photographic archives)
    Also consult the regional subject guides
    Try e-book collections
    Use the Inter-Library loans service to request books from other Libraries

     

    Research Networks
  • I’d like further training. Who do I ask?

    • Check the Library Events pages for upcoming training sessions.
    • Contact the Subject Librarian for History