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Research Guides

Eastern Washington University Libraries

History

A guide to high quality American history focused resources for EWU students majoring in history. For other time periods, see the Class Guides on the left hand column of the Articles page.

Subject Expert

Doing Historical Research

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.

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. 

Access Electronic Resources from Off-Campus

All of our databases may be accessed from any computer connected to the Internet, with your NetID username and password. This username/password is the same one that you use to log into campus computers, the wireless network, NetStorage,etc.

  • For students, your username is the first letter of your first name, your last name, and the last 2 digits of your EagleCard number.
  • For faculty/staff, your username and password are the same ones you use to access EWU email.

If you have not created your password, go to accounts.ewu.edu. See NetID Account for more information.

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.

Other eBook Collections Available During the COVID-19 Situation

These free resources are temporarily provided by vendors until June 30, 2020.

Finding Local History Materials (Spokane, Cheney)

In order to find materials on Spokane area history, try searching the EWU catalog using the following terms: 

  • Buildings   Washington (State)   Spokane
  • Historic buildings   Washington (State)   Spokane
  • Spokane   History
  • Spokane   History   Pictorial works
  • Spokane   Social Conditions
  • Spokane    Economic conditions
  • Spokane  County    History
  • Cheney (Wash.)   History
  • Inland  Empire (Pacific  Northwest)  History

You can find historical materials by following this basic formula (as a keyword or subject term search):

[region you're researching] Spokane AND history

[topic you're interested in] railroads AND Spokane AND history

Finding Washington State & Pacific Northwest History

To find materials on regional history, try searching the EWU catalog using the following terms: 

  • Pacific Northwest History
  • Pacific Northwest Social Conditions
  • Washington (State) History

Finding Books by Call Number

Call #                     Subject

D 1-2027               World History (excluding the Americas)

D1-24.5                  General History

D 111-203              Medieval history, 476 AD-

D 204-475              Modern history, 1453-

D 501-680              World War I (1914-1918)

D 731-838              World War II (1939-1945)

D 900-2009            Europe (General)

 *Most history books can be found in these call number ranges on the top floor of the JFK Library.  Use our floor map to find the exact shelf location.

See also call numbers DA-DX for history by specific regions or countries of the world.

 For a more detailed breakdown of Library of Congress Subject Headings, click here.

 

Call #                     Subject

E-F                          History (Americas)

E 11-143        America

E 151-904      United States

E 186-199     Colonial history (1607-1775)

E 201-298     Revolution (1775-1783)

E 300-453     Revolution to the Civil War (1775/1783-1861)

E 441-453        Slavery in the U.S. Antislavery movements.

E 456-655     Civil War period (1861-1865)

E 660-738     Late 19th century (1865-1900)

E 740-837     20th century

E 838-889     Later 20th century (1961-2000)

E 895-904     21st century

 F 1-975              U.S. local history

F 1001-1145     British America (Including Canada)

F 1170                French America

 *Most history books can be found in these call number ranges on the top floor of the JFK Library.  Use our floor map to find the exact shelf location.

For a more detailed breakdown of Library of Congress Subject Headings, click here.