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HI 2315: The Shaping of Post-1920 America - Prof. Megan Sethi: Secondary Sources

Prof. Megan Sethi

Secondary sources interpret, summarize, or critique the evidence surrounding a historic event. Secondary sources include books and articles written by historians. 

Use the tabs below to find information on using WPI Library Search, using the library's databases, finding books, finding journal articles, and getting full-text access to resources.

Research Resources

WPI Library Search

Screenshot of the WPI Library Search box on the library homepage

WPI Library Search (the main search box on the library homepage) searches across most of the library's resources at once and can be used to find books, articles, and more. Enter your keywords to get started. Then use the tips below to refine your search results. 

Search Tips for WPI Library Search: 

Use these search terms to narrow or broaden your search:

 Term 

 Example

 Result

 AND 

 Watergate AND Nixon

 Narrows the search to entries containing both terms. 

 OR 

farm OR agriculture

 Broadens the search to entries containing either or both of these terms. 

 NOT 

 Stonewall NOT Jackson

 Excludes entries containing the second term. 

 “ ” 

“Great Depression”

 Retrieves results containing the exact phrase in quotes. 

 ? 

 wom?n 

 Wildcard: Retrieves women, woman, etc.

 * 

 educat* 

 Truncation: Retrieves educate, education, educational, educator, etc. 

After you search, refine your search results using the filters on the left​. Filter by availability, resource type, publication date, and more. ​

Screenshot of the search filters in the WPI Library Search

Use the databases listed below to find journal articles, books, and book chapters related to your research topic. 

 

Recommended Databases for History 

General Research Databases

How to Find Books

Books are a vital sources of historical scholarship. To find books at the Gordon Library, type your keywords into the WPI Library Search. Use the drop-down menu to the right of the search box to select "Books & Media."

 

To limit your search to online books, go to the Availability filter on the left and select Available online.

To limit your search to print books, go to the Availability filter on the left and select Available on shelf.

Screenshot of the Availability filter in the WPI Library Search.

Ebooks: Many of Gordon Library's books are available digitally, and you can access these via the links in WPI Library Search.

Print books: Print books in the library are organized by call number. When you find a print book in the WPI Library Search, look for the book's call number. Call numbers A-N are on the ground floor of the library. Call numbers P-Z are on the 1st floor. (Please note that the main entrance to the library is on the 2nd floor.) You can check books out at the information services desk on the main floor. Your WPI ID is your library card. 

Examples of Books

Listed below are examples of books about the history of post-1920 America. 

What are Peer-Reviewed Journals?

A peer-reviewed journal is a respected publication. Before articles are published within these types of journals, they are sent by the editors of the journal to other scholars in the field ("peers"), often anonymously, to get feedback on the quality of the scholarship, review research methods, as well as relevance or importance to the field. The article may be accepted, often with revisions suggested, or rejected for publication. Many peer-reviewed journals have low acceptance rates. 

Peer-reviewed articles are typically substantial in length (often 10 pages or more) and typically have many citations. 

To find peer reviewed articles in WPI Library Search, enter your keywords and then choose the Peer-Reviewed Journals filter on the left.

screenshot of the Peer-reviewed Journals filter in the WPI Library Search

Examples of Peer-Reviewed Journals for American History:

Full Text Finder

When searching in the library's databases, you may find an abstract for an article but not the full-text. When this happens, click on the FullTextFinder icon. 

The FullTextFinder will either redirect you to another database that has the full-text of the article or it will tell you that we don't have this article in our collections. If we don't have an article that you need, request the article via Interlibrary Loan. Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a service that allows WPI students and faculty to request items from other libraries free of charge. 

Interlibrary Loan

Is there something you need that the WPI library doesn't have? Our Interlibrary Loan service allows WPI students and faculty to request items from other libraries free of charge.

WorldCat

Use WorldCat.org to search for books, articles, and more at libraries around the world. Request materials from other libraries via Interlibrary Loan

Borrow from Nearby Libraries

The Academic and Research Collaborative (ARC) allows member users to borrow directly from Worcester area libraries. Before you can borrow materials directly from participating libraries, you need to sign up for an ARC card in person at the Gordon Library's Information Desk. Pick up your ARC card today!

As a resident of Massachusetts, you can sign up for a library card at the Worcester Public Library (WPL). WPI students with a college ID can are eligible for WPL cards. You can also sign up for an ecard, which allows you to access the WPL's online resources. 

As a resident of Massachusetts, you can also sign up for a library card at the Boston Public Library (BPL). Students who live in Massachusetts while attending school are eligible for a BPL card. The BPL also has an option for an ecard, which allows you to access the BPL's online resources.

Search Tips

  • Try keywords like:
    • advertising
    • consumerism
    • consumer behavior
    • America
    • radio
    • print advertising
    • malls 
  • Search for books in the WPI Library Search. When you find a relevant book, click on the Subjects in the book record to find more books on that topic.  
  • Use the database America: History & Life. Go to the advanced search page and enter the historical period that you are researching. This will help you find secondary sources about that period. 

Below you will find examples of secondary sources on advertising and consumerism in American culture, 1920s-1950s.

Example Books

Example Journal Articles

Search Tips

  • Try keywords like:
    • women
    • America
    • family
    • reproduction
    • divorce
    • work
    • careers
    • homemakers
    • equality
    • equity
    • equal pay
    • women's rights
    • women's liberation
    • second wave feminism
  • Search for books in the WPI Library Search. When you find a relevant book, click on the Subjects in the book record to find more books on that topic.  
  • Use the database America: History & Life. Go to the advanced search page and enter the historical period that you are researching. This will help you find secondary sources about that period. 
  • Also try searching in the databases JSTOR and Project MUSE. Use the subject filters in these databases to filter to History, Gender Studies, and other relevant subjects.

Below you will find examples of secondary sources on women, work, and the family in American culture, 1950s - present.

Example Books

Example Journal Articles