Use the Library website to find journal articles

Begin your search at the library homepage. From the LibrarySearch box, you can find books, journals, and other resources in our library catalogue in addition to searching for articles across multiple databases.

In the LibrarySearch box, type in the keywords relevant to your research topic. 

For example, if your topic is about the history of treaty rights in Ontario, you can enter the keywords

Ontario treaty rights

You will get a list of results such as Articles, Books, Reviews, and more! To find scholarly articles, underneath Filter your results select "Peer-reviewed articles" under Show Only and select "APPLY FILTERS" when prompted.

Narrow down your list to get better articles

Sometimes you will get hundreds of results. Use the filters in the left hand sidebar to narrow down your list of sources. You can filter your search results by Subject, Publication Date, and Language

Keyword selection tip: Consider your topic's time period when determining appropriate geographic keywords (for example, Upper Canada versus Ontario) and you may need to try several spellings for specific First Nations/tribal names (e.g. Ojibwe/Ojibway/Anishinaabe or Six Nations/Haudenosaunee/Iroquois). 

Recommended Reference Sources

Try narrowing your research by:

• Geography
• Chronology (i.e.dates, time periods or time spans)
• Person, population or group (e.g ethnic, social, political, religious, gender, age, etc..)
• Event based
• Case based
• Political perspective
• Theoretical perspective (broad theories, e.g. feminist, Marxist; narrower theories on a specific topic, e.g. Goffman's theory of impression management)
• Movement (literary, artistic, political, philosophical)
• Specific instance
• Aspects (e.g. sonnet => symbolism; homelessness => policy) 

Databases

Key scholarly database for Canadian and US history: America: History & Life

Why should you use subject specific databases?

• The library catalogue may produce too many search results

• You want to search for more specific time periods

• You can search by geography

• You can search by historical figure's name

A primary source is a document that was created at the time of the event or subject you've chosen to study, or by people who were observers of, or participants in that event or topic

More information:

• What kinds of things can be primary sources?

Think about what kinds of primary sources might be related to your topic:

Four ways to find primary sources:

1. Start with what you already have to uncover references to primary sources. Consult your:

• class notes
• course readings
• bibliographies of your textbook, journal articles, or other secondary sources
• historical encyclopedias

They can also help you identify relevant historical figures, authors, or keywords for searching library database

2. Use the library catalogue to find books and other materials

Combine keywords for different kinds of primary sources with keywords for your topic to find them in the library catalogue.

Examples:

reformation sources

world war 1942 correspondence

national socialism documents

Primary source keywords

3. Use reliable online primary source collections

4. Use one of the specialized libraries at U of T, such as the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, or one of our special collections.​

• Many University of Toronto Libraries have special collections which may include rare books, manuscripts, archival records, prints, drawings, photographs, or audio visual materials. Items from special collections are generally included in the UTL Catalogue. For details see the collection description via the Directory of Special Collections

Need suggestions for other archival collections outside the University of Toronto, check out a subject research guide or contact a subject specialist.

Tips and considerations when searching for primary sources:  

• Consider language in your search for primary sources (i.e. historical or outdated language, place name changes (for example, Upper Canada vs. Ontario, and untranslated sources). 
• Try several spellings for specific First Nations/tribal names (e.g. Ojibwe/Ojibway/Anishinaabe or Six Nations/Haudenosaunee/Iroquois). 
• Not everyone’s primary sources were collected—the historical record is incomplete and leaves out many voices.
• Working with primary sources related to colonized or other marginalized peoples may be very upsetting, please take care. 

For a curated list of primary sources available online and print in the U of T Libraries collections, see this page of recommended primary sources. 

Online Primary Source Collections and Treaties

Oral History

Oral history may be in manuscript, print, microform, audio, or video format. It may be identified through a variety of tools throughout this guide, using relevant keywords.

For example, to find oral histories in the library catalogue, use keywords such as the following with your subject:

• oral history
• oral histories
• testimonies
• interview

For more primary source resources see Subjects A-Z and filter by subject and research type 

Newspapers

Use the Library website to find Newspapers

For newspaper databases and tips on searching for newspapers take a look at this guide: Newspapers Current and Historical

When choosing books or articles for your paper, consider the following:

• Are they relevant to your topic, and the argument that you wish to make?
• Are they current? Some of your sources should reflect current research.
• Are they substantial? Beware of an article that is only a couple of pages.
• Are they scholarly? Distinguish between popular and scholarly sources 

Scholarly journal articles report on original research by experts in a particular academic discipline. Often they go through a peer-review process, which means that they are evaluated by reputable scholars in the field before they are published. 

• How can I use subject headings to improve my searching?

For more resources on researching and writing in history search the library catalogue for:

or include subject headings such as:

• History -- Methodology
• History --Research
• Historiography
• Academic --Writing

Recommended Books

• A short guide to writing about history
  •  Designed to help students learn how to think and write like an historian and go beyond merely compiling dates and facts.Teaches students how to use their own ideas in papers and to tell a story about history that interests them and their peers. Covers brief essays, the writing and researching processes, different modes of historical writing (including argument), and offers guidelines for improving style as well as documenting sources.
• Writing History: a guide for Canadian students
  • A writing guide that ensures Canadian students master the best current practices in historical research and writing. Provides students information on researching and writing history assignments, including article reviews, journal responses, proposals, document analysis, and historical research papers.

Style Guides

Books From the Library

• Ask a Librarian chat : We can help you find sources about a topic, locate a specific book or article, and use library research tools effectively.

• Email

• Book a research consultation

How do I get the full text?

• Make sure you've chosen a journal article - only journal articles link to the full-text: Doublecheck that you're not trying to link to an article in a book.
• WORKAROUND if the link to a journal article doesn't work or if the search for your specific article doesn't bring up the article:
  • Search the journal title in the library catalogue. Find the online version of the journal - it has [Electronic resource] beside the title.
  • Often, more than one subscription is listed. Choose the one with the right date to cover your article.
  • Then find the volume and issue that holds your article.
• It's possible the Library does not have your article  - our collection is enormous but we still don't have everything. The Library can get things for you from other libraries through inter-library loan
• You can always check with a librarian. Contact the Library through chat, email or in-person.

This research guide is maintained by Jesse Carliner, Liaison Librarian for the Department of History, St. George Campus. Please contact with questions about this guide or broken links at jesse dot carliner at utoronto.ca. Recommended Primary Sources page compiled by Dr. Cathleen Clark, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of History. Treaty links compiled by Dr. Heidi Bohaker, Associate Professor, Department of History.