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Useful Words for Finding Primary Sources in the Library Catalog
To find books that reproduce primary sources on your topic, you need to enter the topic (or person) you are researching and one of the following subjects:
Archives, correspondence, diaries, interviews, letters, manuscripts, maps, memoirs, narratives (personal, slave, etc.), photographs, propaganda, sources, speeches.
If you want to find reproductions of important primary sources from U.S. history, then you can do a subject search for United States History Sources in the EWU catalog.
Useful Call Numbers
Your local public library uses the Dewey Decimal call number system which is a series of numbers. However, EWU uses Library of Congress call numbers which starts with a letter and then numbers. Below is a call number range where you can find books on U.S. history. You should use the library catalog to find relevant books on your topic and it will give you the appropriate call number. Most U.S. history books will be located on the upper floor of the library. To find the exact shelf where those books are located, please use our floor maps.
General call number areas for U.S. history:
E 11-143 America
E 151-909 United States
For more detailed call numbers on specific U.S. history topics, use the Word document below.
Find Books, Videos
Having problems requesting items via Summit? Please contact the JFK Circulation Desk at 509.359.7888, circulation@ewu.edu, or in person on the main level.
- EWU Library Catalog This link opens in a new window
This link opens in a new window
Search for books, videos, articles and more at EWU Libraries, Summit Libraries and beyond. While not required, if you want the full functionality (save or request items, etc.), please sign in with your NetID.
eBooks
*Note: The most efficient way to find eBooks is to do a keyword search in the library catalog. Please limit your search to EWU, then limit by Material Type eBooks. EWU affiliated patrons can use their single sign on to access eBooks from anywhere. If you want more help on these eBook collections, then see our eBooks research guide.
- eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) This link opens in a new windowAccess thousands of recent electronic books, as well as thousands of classics in the public domain.
- University Press Scholarship Online eBooks This link opens in a new windowOxford University Press (OUP) titles, and University of California Press (UC) titles published in the current year with permanent access rights for EWU users. New publishers added this year include University of Chicago Press, Princeton University Press, and MIT Press. An additional 16,000 back listed titles also accessible. All titles DRM-free. Subjects cover the humanities, social sciences, science, and medicine. Available through the Orbis Cascade Alliance.
- Wiley Online eBooks This link opens in a new windowOver 19,000 DRM-free titles (recent and past publication dates) in humanities, social sciences, and STEM at a variety of audience levels. From the Wiley platform – filter your search to “Books” on the right side of the results page. Available through the Orbis Cascade Alliance.
Useful Subject Headings
The Library of Congress uses a controlled vocabulary (a unique sequence of words) to organize information in libraries. So if you are trying to find books in our library catalog, you can use some of these terms to help you find books on that particular topic. Note: remove the dashes when searching in the catalog.
Cold War
Cold War -- Social aspects -- United States.
United States -- Foreign relations -- Soviet Union.
Soviet Union -- Foreign relations -- United States.
United States -- Foreign relations -- 1945-1953.
United States -- Foreign relations -- 1953-1961.
United States -- Foreign relations -- 1961-1963.
United States -- Foreign relations -- 1963-1969.
United States -- Foreign relations -- 1969-1974.
Espionage, American -- Soviet Union -- History.
Aerial reconnaissance, American -- History -- 20th century.
United States. -- Central Intelligence Agency -- History -- 20th century.
U-2 (Reconnaissance aircraft)
Cold War.
Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962.
Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962 -- Social aspects.
Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962 -- Public opinion.
United States -- Politics and government -- 1961-1963.
Arms race -- History -- 20th century.
Nuclear warfare.
Nuclear disarmament -- History -- 20th century.
Vietnam War, 1961-1975.
Kennedy, John F. -- (John Fitzgerald), -- 1917-1963.
United States -- Politics and government -- 1961-1963.
Popular culture
Nineteen fifties.
United States -- History -- 1945-1953.
United States -- History -- 1953-1961.
United States -- Social life and customs -- 1945-1970.
United States -- Race relations.
Civil Rights -- history -- United States.
Civil rights movements -- United States.
United States -- Race relations.
Civil rights movements -- United States -- History --
20th century.
Human rights.
King, Martin Luther, -- Jr., -- 1929-1968.
African Americans -- Civil rights -- History -- 20th
century.
Mexican Americans -- Civil rights -- History.
Chicano movement.
Chavez, Cesar, -- 1927-1993.
United Farm Workers -- History.
Migrant agricultural laborers -- Labor unions --
United States -- History.
Mexican American migrant agricultural laborers -- History.
Gay liberation movement -- United States.
Gay liberation movement -- United States -- History.
Gay rights -- United States.
Homosexuality -- United States -- Public opinion.
Homosexuality -- Law and legislation -- United States.
Women's rights.
Women -- Rights
Women -- Legal status, laws, etc.
Feminism.
Women -- Suffrage -- United States -- History.
Women's rights -- United States -- History.
Women's rights -- United States -- History -- 20th century.
Indians of North America -- Civil rights.
United States -- Politics and government -- 1963-1969.
Johnson, Lyndon B. -- (Lyndon Baines), -- 1908-1973.
Rock music.
Rock music -- History
Rock 'n' Roll