HIST 3030 - Women in the Civil War Era: Gathering Background Information
Gather Background Info with Reference Resources
Most reference resources are considered "tertiary" source materials. These books and websites provide background information and an overview and analysis of a subject or concept. Tertiary sources have been compiled from secondary sources. Unlike a secondary source book or journal article, tertiary sources are not intended to be read in their entirety. Instead, they are most often used to clarify terms and concepts about a particular topic. Tertiary sources include:
- Almanacs, Yearbooks, and Factbooks
- Bibliographies*
- Dictionaries and Encyclopedias*
- Indexes and Abstracts
- Manuals
- Textbooks*
*Also considered secondary
Image Credit: Elliot, S. G. Map of the battlefield of Gettysburg. 1864. Library of Congress.
Try CREDO Mind Map!
A helpful feature in Credo Reference is the Mind Map. The Mind Map is a brainstorming tool with many key terms linked by lines to a related topic in the middle. And, you can see an image of what your search would look like if you searched Appalachia.
Found During Class
History Reference Databases
- History Reference Source This link opens in a new windowThe database features reference books, encyclopedias, non-fiction books, and history periodicals.
- Credo Reference This link opens in a new windowIncludes over 650 titles with particular emphasis on subject encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, and reference handbooks.
