These HISTORY DATABASES should be the first places you search for articles on your topic. Try some different searches on your topic in these databases before trying the other databases on this page.
America: History and Life is where to search for Canada and US topics. Historical Abstracts is where to search for everywhere else. But you can always try both, depending on your topic.
The definitive index of literature covering world history (excluding the United States and Canada) from the 15th century to the present.
Search for articles in databases, because they search across a number of journals at once
Search Tips:
Search for keywords that describe your topic. You can combine them using AND, OR, NOT:
AND - narrows your search and makes it more specific by finding results with all of your keywords. Example search: apples AND oranges. Items that contain BOTH terms will be found.
OR - can be used to combine synonyms or different terms for the same concept. Example search: oranges OR tangerines OR clementines. Items that contain all of the words will be found.
NOT - used to narrow a search by exclusion. The NOT operator should be used with caution. Example search: apples NOT oranges. Items that contain the word "apples" will be found, but items that contain the word "oranges" will not be found.
* - The * (asterisk) is used to search for alternate endings of words, which will expand your search and look for more options. Example search: Canad*. This search will give you results for Canada, Canadian, Canadians, Canadiana, etc.
" " - The " " (quotation marks) are used to search for an exact phrase. Example search: "indentured servant". The results will contain that phrase, but not items with both words appearing separately.
Adapted from Cal Poly Pomona library
To find more databases for your subject:
Depending on what question you are researching, you may need to look under various subjects. For example, History or Indigenous Studies, or many others that might also be useful.
You could also click on Popular Databases to choose from that list.
Select the subject area that you need from the alphabetical list:
To find an article by its title, type the title in double quotes into the search box on the Library website. This will search for the title as a phrase.You can also go straight to LibrarySearch and type the article title in double quotation marks. Make sure to select ARTICLES and click on the magnifying glass icon to search.
See also: Find articles & books by DOI
The individual article record contains many features and functions as shown below. Click on the ellipsis (the three dots ... to the upper right) to bring them up.
Other helpful features in the article record:
For more information on using all the many features and functions of LibrarySearch, have a look at this guide on using the new system.
Searching in Google Scholar:
If you are on campus, Google Scholar will automatically configure itself properly. You only need to follow the steps below if you are OFF-CAMPUS.
Configure Google Scholar to allow you free access to materials licensed by UofT when you are off-campus:
Now you will be able to access materials that UofT has licensed.
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