Library: ENG 204D: Creative Nonfiction Research: Step 1: Selecting a Topic

How do I find a good story? And will work?

Overview

The research process for creative nonfiction is both journalistic and imaginative. It is a balancing act between finding accurate information and discovering the deeper emotional or thematic truth of the story/event. Your research and writing process might entail "reporting", archival research, interviewing (if possible), and personal reflection. This library guide walks you through the different stages of the research process.

In a nutshell your research process will look like this.

Since this particular genre is heavily influenced by the research you conduct, it's important to keep track of your research. Please consult the "Organizing Your Research" page for tips. Citations are also important and necessary for this project. You will be using MLA style and citations.

Step 1a: Survey General Resources to Select an Event/Time Period

Choosing a research topic for creative nonfiction can be daunting. Listed below are several approaches to help you find a topic with narrative potential and enough substance to sustain research.

Method 1: What are your interests and preoccupations?

Questions to ask yourself:

Self-reflection: Ask yourself questions. Questions to ask yourself:
- What events or places evoke an emotional response?
- What topics do you read about for fun (this includes message boards or social media channels)?
- Are there any questions that keep resurfacing in your life?
What are your obsessions? Are you passionate about a certain topic or idea? Ever wonder how something came to be or who was the first person to do something? Explore a topic of your interest by asking yourself who, what, when, and why is involved.
What is something you've always wanted to know the answer to? The best way to start your research is often to start with an inquiry. Ask yourself, "Iʻve always wondered why/how/why/whether ______." Chances are the question will be equally compelling to others.

Where to search:

After you have identified people, places, things, or ideas that interest you, do a cursory search about this using the Library website or even Wikipedia. For your search term, isolate the "people, places, things, or ideas" and plop that work into the library search engine. What appears? If using the library website, it may be a book or article on the topic. It maybe a chapter. Or it could be nothing. If you end up with zero results, you will need to expand your search by thinking of related broader terms or synonymous terms. For example, if I decide that I'm interested in "Palapalai" and nothing pops up, I might search "ferns" AND "Hawai'i."

Method 2: Browsing

If you have absolutely no idea where to begin, your best bet is to browse various resources and stumble across a person, place, or time that intrigues you. The following lists practical and reliable resources you can use use to find, and choose, a creative nonfiction research topic.

Where to Browse:

Skim through an encyclopedia. An encyclopedia is a reference work that provides summaries of various fields and topics. If you have absolutely no idea of where to start, flip through an encyclopedia and see if any entries stand out to you. Skim the encyclopedia entry and note any interesting events or people that you might want to write about. You can also use Wikipedia for this. Fall into a rabbit hole!
- You can locate physical and electronic encyclopedias through the Library Catalog (library.wcc.hawaii.edu). Use search terms such as ("history" AND "name of country") or ("encyclopedia" AND "topic").
- Use one of the selected encyclopedias listed at the end of this page.
Browse digital collections from museums and archives collections for objects, letters, oral histories, and ephemera that interest you or catch your eye. Choose an object and ask yourself, "what is the larger story behind this?" Imagine the time or person/people that may have used the object, viewed it, or created it. Why was this object created? What does it depict? What sort of information does this item tell us about the time and/or people it was created? Use this item as a starting place for your research into an event or person. Here are a few places to browse:
Start with a place. Stories are written into our landscapes. Places are incredibly rich topics because they encompass history, ecology, culture, people, and sensory detail. For example, consider Kāneʻohe. Close your eyes and place yourself on campus. You can almost feel the coolness of the Koʻolau breeze and light rain. Start your research by looking up the place name in an encyclopedia.
Listen to a Podcast. There is a plethora of podcasts on every subject under the sun. Listen to a reputable podcast for ideas. Here are a few podcasts you might be interested in:
Other websites and social media accounts to warm up your mind:
- Depths of Wikipedia (Instagram account about weird and obscure Wikipedia entries)
- Atlas Obscura (Website about the lesser traveled places around the globe)

Questions to Ask Yourself and Things to Look Out For While Browsing:

Look for conflicts and tension. At the heart of stories are conflicts and tension. When skimming, be on the look out for points of friction. Here are a few examples:
- Person vs. Person (confrontation of adversaries or power struggles)
- Person vs. Nature (struggle against a natural force)
- Person vs. Society (challenging a system of power or ideas, system fails)
- Person vs. Self (internal struggles)
- Person vs. Technology (struggle against machines or unintended consequences of technology)
- Tension - high stakes, difficult choices, urgency, sabotage...
Look for underrepresented or underserved stories. Here's a few questions to consider:
- What's a story no one is talking about (or not telling well)?
- Whose voice or experience isn't represented?
- What parts of history or people have been overlooked?

Step 1b: Choosing a Point of View

While researching, consider your point of view (POV). While you don't need to write in the first-person, you might follow a person or people during a historic event. Your POV decision shapes authority, intimacy, or distance with the topic. Depending on the POV you're writing from you might consider first-person, third-person, or a mixed approach.

Whose story is this? The POV should match someone with direct experience of the event, has an emotional stake in the situation, and has access to information about the event. Consider the following:

Famous person. Example: You are writing about the Revolutionary War and have decided to follow or write from the perspective of George Washington.
Everyday person. Example: You discover letters written by someone who experienced the Honolulu Chinatown Fire in 1900. You might adopt this person's perspective and guide people through their perspective.
Composite person/people. Example: You decide to write about the California Gold Rush. From your research, you might compose a composite figure to describe how an average gold panner might have lived and worked.

Selected Resources - Hawaiʻi

Detours: a decolonial guide to Hawaiʻi by Hokulani K. Aikau (Editor); Vernadette Vicuña Gonzalez (Editor)
Call Number: HAW DU624.5 .D486 2019

ISBN: 9781478005834

Publication Date: 2019-11-08

Many people first encounter Hawai'i through the imagination--a postcard picture of hula girls, lu'aus, and plenty of sun, surf, and sea. While Hawai'i is indeed beautiful, Native Hawaiians struggle with the problems brought about by colonialism, military occupation, tourism, food insecurity, high costs of living, and climate change. In this brilliant reinvention of the travel guide, artists, activists, and scholars redirect readers from the fantasy of Hawai'i as a tropical paradise and tourist destination toward a multilayered and holistic engagement with Hawai'i's culture and complex history. The essays, stories, artworks, maps, and tour itineraries in Detours create decolonial narratives in ways that will forever change how readers think about and move throughout Hawai'i.
Picture Bride Stories by Barbara F. Kawakami; Akemi Kikumura Yano (Introduction by)
Call Number: HAW HQ1032 .K386 2016

ISBN: 9780824866242

Publication Date: 2016-06-30

During the 1885 to 1924 immigration period of plantation laborers from Japan to Hawaii, more than 200,000 Japanese, mostly single men, made the long journey by ship to the Hawaiian Islands. As it became apparent that they would never return to Japan, many of the men sent for brides to join them in their adopted home. More than 20,000 of these "picture brides" immigrated from Japan and Okinawa to Hawaii to marry husbands whom they knew only through photographs exchanged between them or their families. Based on Barbara Kawakami's first-hand interviews with sixteen of these women, Picture Bride Stories is a poignant collection that recounts the diverse circumstances that led them to marry strangers, their voyages to Hawaii, the surprises and trials that they encountered upon arriving, and the lives they led upon settling in a strange new land. Many found hardship, yet persevered and endured the difficult conditions of the sugarcane and pineapple plantations for the sake of their children. As they acclimated to a foreign place and forged new relationships, they overcame challenges and eventually prospered in a better life. The stories of the issei women exemplify the importance of friendships and familial networks in coping with poverty and economic security. Although these remarkable women are gone, their legacy lives on in their children, grandchildren, and succeeding generations. In addition to the oral histories--the result of forty years of interviews--the author provides substantial background on marriage customs and labor practices on the plantations. Kaku Kumasaka : stolen kaki and the motorbike Santa -- Hisa Kawakami : issei pioneers who paved the way -- Soto Kimura : tragedy and triumph -- Tatsuno Ogawa: from Hiroshima to the Pupukea pineapple fields -- Tei Saito : strong and resilient like the bamboo -- Ushii Nakasone : songs of endurance and perseverance -- Fuyuno Sawai : the scent of golden pineapples -- Kishi Oki Tsujimura : gambare spirit (never give up) -- Kikuyo Fujimoto : from Washington Place to the Royal Hawaiian Hotel -- Shizu Kaigo : strength, resilience, endurance, perseverance -- Haruno Tazawa : inspiration from tattered clothing -- Kamezo and Taga Toki: "two pictures got married to each other" -- Ayako Kikugawa : the unsuspecting picture bride -- Kama Asato : shouldering hundred-pound bags of pula pula -- Kana Higa : picture bride from Okinawa -- Ushi Tamashiro : in search of a father's beckoning spirit.
Timeline Hawaii by Daniel Harrington; Bennett Hymer (Editor)
Call Number: HAW DU625 .H377 2013

ISBN: 9781939487001

Publication Date: 2013-11-01

This highly illustrated timeline, with over 300 photographs, moves readers through the history of Hawaiian Islands, telling a story point by point until a fuller picture emerges. In this volume are collected the dates and names of the men and women who have affected these Islands, some for the better, some for worse. Here is Kamehameha I, unifier of the Islands, alongside Captain Cook, whose voyages to the Islands precipitated years of contact with the West and the near eradication of Hawaiian culture. Here are a multitude of people and events that have shaped and made these Islands into what they have become. This timeline is not a picture of Hawaiian history in its totality; that would require a work of numerous volumes. It does, however, provide the reader with a starting point for further investigation and he or she is encouraged to read the entries gathered in the succeeding pages and seek out further volumes of history to gain a fuller understanding of the events.
Voices of Hawaii: life stories from the generation that shaped the Aloha State by Jane Marshall Goodsill
Call Number: HAW DU625 .V85 2020

ISBN: 9781948011495

Publication Date: 2020-12-15

For Jane Marshall Goodsill, Voices of Hawai'i began as a labor of love. A kama'āina accomplished in the art of oral history, she began interviewing Island residents who had known her late father, a partner in a venerable Honolulu law firm. But avocation soon became vocation. As Goodsill's joy in recording these life stories grew, so too did her pool of subjects: business executives, war veterans and POWs, retired plantation managers, Island entertainers, conservationists, taro farmers, educators, broadcasters, retailers, ranchers, activists, judges, journalists and so many others. Taken together, their oral histories told a fascinating, behind-the-scenes tale of Hawai'i's journey from the World War II era into the 21st century. The best of these candid interviews--compelling tales of deals made and glass ceilings shattered, of ancient ways revived and legacy lands preserved--are collected here under the themes of Island life: history, race, land use, art and music, philanthropy, development, and the spirit of aloha.
Contents
Voices of my father's generation -- Voices of the old days -- Voices of World War II -- Voices in a racial melting pot -- Voices of changing land use -- Voices of the ranchers -- Voices of laughter -- Voices of island music -- Voices of aloha -- Voices of development -- Voices of philanthropy -- Voices of architecture, literature, and art -- Voices of natural resources -- Voices of the media -- Voices of inspiration.

Selected Resources - Africa

Africa, Its Geography, People and Products and Africa-Its Place in Modern History (the Oxford W. E. B. du Bois) by W. E. B. Du Bois; Henry Louis Gates (Editor); Emmanuel Akyeampong (Introduction by)
Call Number: AVAILABLE ONLINE

ISBN: 0199385742

Publication Date: 2007-01-01

W. E. B. Du Bois was a public intellectual, sociologist, and activist on behalf of the African American community. He profoundly shaped black political culture in the United States through his founding role in the NAACP, as well as internationally through the Pan-African movement. Du Bois's sociological and historical research on African-American communities and culture broke ground in many areas, including the history of the post-Civil War Reconstruction period. Du Bois was also a prolific author of novels, autobiographical accounts, innumerable editorials and journalistic pieces, and several works of history.Written in very accessible prose, these two booklets, originally published in 1930, allowed W. E. B. Du Bois to reach a wide audience with an interest in Africa. What is so incredible about the two Africa booklets is their lasting relevance and value to the study of Africa today. Coupling Du Bois's breadth of scholarship with his passion for the subjects, the analyses in these booklets are integral to the study of Africa. Many of his arguments foreshadowed the issues and debates regarding Africa in the twentieth century. Expertly synthesized in an introduction by Emmanuel Akyeampong, this edition of the two Africa booklets is essential for anyone interested in African history.
Key Events in African History by Toyin Falola
Call Number: MAIN DT20 .F35 2002

ISBN: 9780313313233

Publication Date: 2002-08-30

This reference guide to African history provides substantive entries on 36 watershed events that shaped the history of the continent from the prehistoric past to the dawn of the 21st century. Noted African scholar Toyin Falola clearly and articulately chronicles the growth and change of the continent from the agricultural revolution through colonial rule to African independence and the end of apartheid, examining the powerful moments at which Africa became drawn into the global world. Each entry appears in chronological order and consists of a comprehensive essay on the event, its historical, social, and geographic context, and its long-term significance. Many illustrations and maps provide valuable visual tools for the reader. Each entry concludes with suggestions for further reading. A narrative introduction to the history of the continent and a timeline of events place the events in historical and global context. Based on the latest scholarship, this reference work analyzes the major events in African history and their ramifications, and draws connections between the past and the present. Key themes recur throughout: the development of diverse African cultures, Arab and European incursions and influence, and the efforts of African peoples to gain independence in the 20th century. Among the events recounted are the Iron Age, the rise of the Kush, the spread of Islam, the 19th-century outbreak of Islamic Jihad, the Atlantic slave trade, European conquest and the African response, Pan-Africanism, the women's decade of 1965-1975, and environmental and political challenges of the last years of the 20th century. Well written and objective, this work is an essential reference tool for students and an excellent complement to the study of African history.
The Nile by John A. Shoup; John A. Shoup
Call Number: AVAILABLE ONLINE

ISBN: 9781440840418

Publication Date: 2017-05-12

This book provides an avenue for students to explore the Nile--the world's longest river--and better understand its larger role in society in the past, present, and future.The Nile River has been the most important natural resource for Egyptians and other Africans who live along its shores for thousands of years, bringing life to an otherwise arid and bleak desert region. Without the Nile, civilizations in Egypt could not have achieved such success. The physical, cultural, religious, and political impacts of this mighty riverway are enormous. This one-volume encyclopedia explores a breadth of topics related to the Nile River, from ancient irrigation techniques to 19th-century exploration and from current environmental controversies to concerns regarding man-made Lake Nasser. Readers will be able to explore beyond the physical aspects of the world's longest river to achieve an understanding of the Nile River's larger role in society.After a preface and introduction that provides general background information on the source, tributaries, and mouth of the Nile, the encyclopedia presents thematic essays that cover topics such as the Nile's physical geography; history; environmental issues and controversies; culture, religion, and legend; and politics. More than 100 entries cover key individuals, specific locations, geology and structure, significant expeditions, gods and deities, and folklore related to the Nile. In addition, the work provides an appendix of primary document excerpts from explorers' journals and more recent legislation on damming as well as an appendix of place names, interesting sidebars, and a helpful chronology of key events.

Selected Resources - Antarctica

Antarctica: A Biography by David Day
Call Number: AVAILABLE ONLINE

ISBN: 1306402522

Publication Date: 2013-01-01

For centuries it was suspected that there must be an undiscovered continent in the southern hemisphere. But explorers failed to find one. On his second voyage to the Pacific, Captain Cook sailed further south than any of his rivals but still failed to sight land. It was not until 1820 that the continent's frozen coast was finally sighted. Territorial rivalry intensified in the 1840s when British, American, and French expeditions sailed south to chart further portions of the continent that had come to be called Antarctica. For the nearly two centuries since, the race to claim exclusive possession of Antarctica has gripped the imagination of the world. Antarctica: A Biography is the first ever major international history of this forbidding continent - from the eighteenth century voyages of discovery to the fierce rivalries of today, as governments, scientists, environmentalists, and oil companies compete for control. On one level it is the story of explorers battling the elements in the most hostile place on earth as they strive for personal triumph, commercial gain, and national glory. On a deeper level, it is the story of nations seeking to incorporate the Antarctic into their own national stories - and to claim its frozen wastes as their own.
Antarctica, great stories from the frozen continent. by Reader's Digest Editors
Call Number: MAIN G860 .A556 1985

ISBN: 0949819646

Publication Date: 1985-08-01

The continent and its wildlife -- The explorers -- Special features -- Antarctic atlas and chronology.
Antarctica, Art and Archive by Polly Gould
Call Number: AVAILABLE ONLINE

ISBN: 9781788311694

Publication Date: 2021-01-28

Antarctica, that icy wasteland and extreme environment at the ends of the earth, was - at the beginning of the 20th century - the last frontier of Victorian imperialism, a territory subjected to heroic and sometimes desperate exploration. Now, at the start of the 21st century, Antarctica is the vulnerable landscape behind iconic images of climate change. In this genre-crossing narrative Gould takes us on a journey to the South Pole, through art and archive. Through the life and tragic death of Edward Wilson, polar explorer, doctor, scientist and artist, and his watercolours, and through the work of a pioneer of modern anthropology and opponent of scientific racism, Franz Boas, Gould exposes the legacies of colonialism and racial and gendered identities of the time. Antarctica, the White Continent, far from being a blank - and white - canvas, is revealed to be full of colour. Gould argues that the medium matters and that the practices of observation in art, anthropology and science determine how we see and what we know. Stories of exploration and open-air watercolour painting, of weather experiments and ethnographic collecting, of evolution and extinction, are interwoven to raise important questions for our times. Revisiting Antarctica through the archive becomes the urgent endeavour to imagine an inhabitable planetary future.

Selected Resources - Asia

The Himalayas by Andrew J. Hund (Editor); James A. Wren (Editor)
Call Number: AVAILABLE ONLINE

ISBN: 9781440839399

Publication Date: 2018-06-15

A thorough and detailed resource that describes the history, culture, and geography of the Himalayan region, providing an indispensable reference work to both general readers and seasoned scholars in the field.The Himalayas: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culture serves as a convenient and authoritative reference for anyone exploring the region and seeking to better understand the history, events, peoples, and geopolitical details of this unique area of the world. It explores the geography and details of the demographics, discusses relevant historical events, and addresses socioeconomic movements, political intrigues and controversies, and cultural details as to give an overarching impression of the region as a coherent and cohesive whole. Readers will come away with a vastly heightened understanding of the geographical region we recognize as the Himalayas, and grasp the issues of geography, history, and culture that are central to contemporary understandings of the human culture in the region.The alphabetically arranged and succinct entries provide easy access to detailed, authoritative information. Additionally, sidebars throughout the book relate compelling facts that point readers to new and interesting avenues of exploration. The volume also includes a chronological overview of the region, ten primary source documents, and a comprehensive bibliography of supporting works.
Encyclopedia of Contemporary Chinese Culture by Edward L. Davis (Editor)
Call Number: AVAILABLE ONLINE

ISBN: 9780415241298

Publication Date: 2004-12-22

This is the first reference book to digest this vast cultural output and make it accessible to the English-speaking world. It contains nearly 1,200 entries written by an international team of specialists, to enable readers to explore a range of diverse and fascinating cultural subjects from prisons to rock groups, underground Christian churches to TV talk shows and radio hotlines. Experimental artists with names such as 'Big-Tailed Elephants' and 'The North-Pole Group' nestle between the covers alongside entries on lotteries, gay cinema, political jokes, sex shops, theme parks, 'New Authoritarians' and 'Little Emperors'. While the focus of the Encyclopedia of Contemporary Chinese Culture is on mainland China since 1980, it also includes longer, specially commissioned entries on various aspects of contemporary culture in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Including full and up-to-date references for further reading, this is an indispensable reference tool for all teachers and students of contemporary Chinese culture. It will also be warmly embraced as an invaluable source of cultural context by tourists, journalists, business people and others who visit China.
History of Southeast Asia by Arthur Cotterell
Call Number: AVAILABLE ONLINE

ISBN: 9789814634700

Publication Date: 2014-01-01

A History of Southeast Asia narrates the history of the region from earliest recorded times until today, covering present-day Burma, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines, Indonesia and East Timor. Its scope is the whole of Southeast Asia and not just the mainland, which has in the past received undue emphasis possibly because of the Vietnam War. Water is the geographical cause of its unity and diversity, for even landlocked Laos has the Mekong as a means of communication. Part 1 Early Southeast Asia (the earliest civilizations) Part 2 Medieval Southeast (the colonial period) Part 3 Modern Southeast (the present-day era, following the Pacific dimension of the Second World)"

Selected Resources - Australia

Australia by Peter Cosgrove (Introduction by); Mary Halbmeyer (Editor); Pat O'Shane (Foreword by)
Call Number: MAIN DU90 .A97 2001

ISBN: 1552975436

Publication Date: 2001-09-01

Australia presents the story of a land, its people and places, with a breadth of subject matter never before published in a single volume. Australia is one of the oldest continents on Earth and its original inhabitants, the Aborigines, the most ancient continuous culture known. Its history is monumental and its culture rapidly evolving. The natural wonders of this land are recognised the world over. This book also explores what Australia has become through the sciences, politics, history, arts, media and people. The other unique feature of this book is its detailed description of the cities and towns, spectacular national parks, wineries and tourist destinations across Australia. Place entries are keyed to the detailed road maps that cover the whole country. Coverage extends from the capital cities to the small and charming country towns; to spectacular, rugged destinations that can only be reached by 4WD; and activities such as fishing and vineyard touring. Sections include: The Story of Australia (248 pages) Geology, climate and geography Indigenous Art and Culture Flora History Since 1788 Government Sports Media and the Arts Architecture Science and Medicine Fauna Economy Culture and Society Indigenous History Places in Australia (553 pages) Victoria New South Wales Australian Capital Territory Queensland The Northern Territory Western Australia South Australia Tasmania This beautifully produced volume with stunning color photography and detailed cartography is for anyone who wants to know more about this amazing country, its landscape, people, culture and what to see and do when traveling there. The CD-ROM contains all the information in the book, plus additional information on trips: for four-wheel-drives, fishing and to national parks. As well there are approximately 500 extra photos on the CD-ROM.
The History of Australia by Frank G. Clarke
Call Number: AVAILABLE ONLINE

ISBN: 9781280869174

Publication Date: 2002-01-01

Australian history has been written for over two centuries beginning with European explorers and colonists attempting to convey something of the complexity of the strange upside-down world they encountered in the southern hemisphere. Of course, aboriginal peoples had lived in Australia for millennia before the arrival of the whites. Modern Australia has its foundations in these two cultural strands. Intertwined with these are the impact of colonialism and federation, indentured servitude and convict transportation, the effects of El Nino on European-style farming techniques, gold rushes, and longstanding issues of ethnicity, immigration, and religious tolerance. Covering these topics and more, this most recent and up-to-date narrative history of Australia includes a timeline of major events, a biographic sketches of noteworthy historical figures, and a bibliographic essay.

Selected Resources - Europe

The Encyclopedia of European Migration and Minorities by Klaus J. Bade (Editor); Pieter C. Emmer (Editor); Leo Lucassen (Editor); Jochen Oltmer (Editor)
Call Number: AVAILABLE ONLINE

ISBN: 1107614856

Publication Date: 2013-08-22

Although migration and integration have become important concepts today as a result of globalization, migration movements, integration, and multiculturalism have always been part of the history of Europe. Few people realize how many ethnic groups participated in migration within Europe or into Europe and this ignorance has grave consequences for the social and political status of immigrants. Newly available to an English-speaking audience, this encyclopaedia presents a systematic overview of the existing scholarship regarding migration within and into Europe. The first section contains survey studies of the various regions and countries in Europe covering the last centuries. The second section presents information on about 220 individual groups of migrants from the Sephardic Jews emigration from Spain and Portugal in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries to the present-day migration of old-age pensioners to the holiday villages in the sun. The first resource of its kind, The Encyclopaedia of Migration and Minorities in Europe is a comprehensive and authoritative research tool.
Encyclopedia of Women in the Middle Ages by Jennifer Lawler
Call Number: AVAILABLE ONLINE

ISBN: 1476601119

Publication Date: 2007-09-13

Most people have heard of Lady Godiva and her horseback tax protest in the 11th century and Joan of Arc who in the 15th century fought against the English for the French gaining sainthood in 1920. Many know of Eleanor of Aquataine, 12th century Queen of France and England, and powerful manipulator and protector of kings. Some know of Hildegarde and Beatrice and Blanche and Clare. There are many famous women of the Middle Ages whose lives and leadership brought important changes to history. This encyclopedia contains several hundred entries on the culture, history and circumstances of women in the Middle Ages, from the years 500 to 1500 C.E. The geographical scope of this work is wide, with entries on women from England, France, Germany, Japan, and other nations around the world. There are entries on queens, empresses, and other women in positions of leadership as well as entries on topics such as work, marriage and family, households, employment, religion, and various other aspects of women's lives in the Middle Ages. Genealogies of queens and empresses accompany the text in an appendix.
Kingdoms of Europe by Gene Gurney
Call Number: MAIN D107 .G85 1982

ISBN: 9780517543955

Publication Date: 1982-12-13

Roman Empire and Italy -- Kingdom of France -- England, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom -- Imperial Germany, the Holy Roman Empire, and Prussia -- Empires of Austria -- Kingdom of Hungary -- Yugoslav kingdoms -- Kingdoms of Spain -- Portuguese monarchy -- Kingdom of Belgium -- Kingdom of Denmark -- Kingdom of Norway -- Kingdom of Sweden -- Imperial Russia -- Polish kingdoms -- Kingdoms of Romania -- Kingdom of Bulgaria -- Ancient and modern kingdoms of Greece -- Byzantine and Ottoman empires, and the sultanates of Turkey -- Kingdom of Albania -- Principality of Andorra -- Royal dynasties of Bohemia -- Principality of Liechtenstein -- Grand Duchy of Luxemburg -- Principality of Monaco -- Christian names of the European monarchs.

Selected Resources - North America

Encyclopedia of Local History by Amy H. Wilson (Editor)
Call Number: AVAILABLE ONLINE

ISBN: 9781442278783

Publication Date: 2017-02-01

The Encyclopedia of Local History addresses nearly every aspect of local history, including everyday issues, theoretical approaches, and trends in the field. This encyclopedia provides both the casual browser and the dedicated historian with adept commentary by bringing the voices of over one hundred experts together in one place. Entries include: ·Terms specifically related to the everyday practice of interpreting local history in the United States, such as "African American History," "City Directories," and "Latter-Day Saints." ·Historical and documentary terms applied to local history such as "Abstract," "Culinary History," and "Diaries." ·Detailed entries for major associations and institutions that specifically focus on their usage in local history projects, such as "Library of Congress" and "Society of American Archivists" ·Entries for every state and Canadian province covering major informational sources critical to understanding local history in that region. ·Entries for every major immigrant group and ethnicity. Brand-new to this edition are critical topics covering both the practice of and major current areas of research in local history such as "Digitization," "LGBT History," museum theater," and "STEM education." Also new to this edition are graphics, including 48 photographs. Overseen by a blue-ribbon Editorial Advisory Board (Anne W. Ackerson, James D. Folts, Tim Grove, Carol Kammen, and Max A. van Balgooy) this essential reference will be frequently consulted in academic libraries with American and Canadian history programs, public libraries supporting local history, museums, historic sites and houses, and local archives in the U.S. and Canada. This third edition is the first to include photographs.
The Encyclopedia of Strikes in American History by Aaron Brenner; Benjamin Day; Immanuel Ness
Call Number: AVAILABLE ONLINE

ISBN: 9781317457060

Publication Date: 2015-01-28

Strikes have been part of American labor relations from colonial days to the present, reflecting the widespread class conflict that has run throughout the nation's history. Against employers and their goons, against the police, the National Guard, local, state, and national officials, against racist vigilantes, against their union leaders, and against each other, American workers have walked off the job for higher wages, better benefits, bargaining rights, legislation, job control, and just plain dignity. At times, their actions have motivated groundbreaking legislation, defining new rights for all citizens; at other times they have led to loss of workers' lives. This comprehensive encyclopedia is the first detailed collection of historical research on strikes in America. To provide the analytical tools for understanding strikes, the volume includes two types of essays - those focused on an industry or economic sector, and those focused on a theme. Each industry essay introduces a group of workers and their employers and places them in their economic, political, and community contexts. The essay then describes the industry's various strikes, including the main issues involved and outcomes achieved, and assesses the impact of the strikes on the industry over time. Thematic essays address questions that can only be answered by looking at a variety of strikes across industries, groups of workers, and time, such as, why the number of strikes has declined since the 1970s, or why there was a strike wave in 1946. The contributors include historians, sociologists, anthropologists, and philosophers, as well as current and past activists from unions and other social movement organizations. Photos, a Topic Finder, a bibliography, and name and subject indexes add to the works appeal.
Encyclopedia of Women in American History by Joyce Appleby; Eileen Chang; Neva Goodwin
Call Number: AVAILABLE ONLINE

ISBN: 1315704692

Publication Date: 2015-07-17

This illustrated encyclopedia examines the unique influence and contributions of women in every era of American history, from the colonial period to the present. It not only covers the issues that have had an impact on women, but also traces the influence of women's achievements on society as a whole. Divided into three chronologically arranged volumes, the set includes historical surveys and thematic essays on central issues and political changes affecting women's lives during each period. These are followed by A-Z entries on significant events and social movements, laws, court cases and more, as well as profiles of notable American women from all walks of life and all fields of endeavor. Primary sources and original documents are included throughout.
The Princeton Encyclopedia of American Political History. (Two Volume Set) by Michael Kazin (Editor); Rebecca Edwards (Editor); Adam Rothman (Editor)
Call Number: AVAILABLE ONLINE

ISBN: 9781282644977

Publication Date: 2009-01-01

An essential resource for anyone interested in U.S. history and politics, this two-volume encyclopedia covers the major forces that have shaped American politics from the founding to today. Broad in scope, the book addresses both the traditional topics of political history--such as eras, institutions, political parties, presidents, and founding documents--and the wider subjects of current scholarship, including military, electoral, and economic events, as well as social movements, popular culture, religion, education, race, gender, and more. Each article, specially commissioned for this book, goes beyond basic facts to provide readers with crucial context, expert analysis, and informed perspectives on the evolution of American politics.

Selected Resources - Oceania

Encyclopedia of Islands by Rosemary Gillespie (Editor); David Clague (Editor)
Call Number: AVAILABLE ONLINE

ISBN: 9780520256491

Publication Date: 2009-08-19

Islands have captured the imagination of scientists and the public for centuries-unique and rare environments, their isolation makes them natural laboratories for ecology and evolution. This authoritative, alphabetically arranged reference, featuring more than 200 succinct articles by leading scientists from around the world, provides broad coverage of all the island sciences. But what exactly is an island? The volume editors define it here as any discrete habitat isolated from other habitats by inhospitable surroundings. The Encyclopedia of Islands examines many such insular settings-oceanic and continental islands as well as places such as caves, mountaintops, and whale falls at the bottom of the ocean. This essential, one-stop resource, extensively illustrated with color photographs, clear maps, and graphics will introduce island science to a wide audience and spur further research on some of the planet's most fascinating habitats.
The Pacific Islands by Brij V. Lal; Kate Fortune
Call Number: HAW DU17 .P3 2000

ISBN: 9780824822651

Publication Date: 2000-01-01

An encyclopaedia of information on major aspects of Pacific life, including the physical environment, peoples, history, politics, economy, society and culture. The CD-ROM contains hyperlinks between section titles and sections, a library of all the maps in the encyclopaedia, and a photo library.

Selected Resources - South America

The Contemporary History of Latin America by Tulio Halperín Donghi; John Charles Chasteen (Editor)
Call Number: AVAILABLE ONLINE

ISBN: 9780822313748

Publication Date: 1993-09-27

For a quarter of a century, Tulio Halperín Donghi's Historia Contemporánea de América Latina has been the most influential and widely read general history of Latin America in the Spanish-speaking world. Unparalleled in scope, attentive to the paradoxes of Latin American reality, and known for its fine-grained interpretation, it is now available for the first time in English. Revised and updated by the author, superbly translated, this landmark of Latin American historiography will be accessible to an entirely new readership. Beginning with a survey of the late colonial landscape, The Contemporary History of Latin America traces the social, economic, and political development of the region to the late twentieth century, with special emphasis on the period since 1930. Chapters are organized chronologically, each beginning with a general description of social and economic developments in Latin America generally, followed by specific attention to political matters in each country. What emerges is a well-rounded and detailed picture of the forces at work throughout Latin American history. This book will be of great interest to all those seeking a general overview of modern Latin American history, and its distinctive Latin American voice will enhance its significance for all students of Latin American history.
A Latin American Music Reader by Javier F. Leon (Editor); Helena Simonett (Editor); Marina Alonso Bolaños (Contribution by); Gonzalo Camacho Díaz (Contribution by); José Jorge de Carvalho (Contribution by); Claudio F. Díaz (Contribution by); Rodrigo Cantos Savelli Gomes (Contribution by); Juan Pablo González (Contribution by); Rubén López-Cano (Contribution by); Angela Lühning (Contribution by); Jorge Martínez Ulloa (Contribution by); Maria Ignêz Cruz Mello (Contribution by); Julio Mendívil (Contribution by); Carlos Miñana Blasco (Contribution by); Raúl R. Romero (Contribution by); Iñigo Sánchez Fuarros (Contribution by); Carlos Sandroni (Contribution by); Carolina Santamaría-Delgado (Contribution by); Rodrigo Torres Alvarado (Contribution by); Alejandro Vera (Contribution by)
Call Number: AVAILABLE ONLINE

ISBN: 0252098439

Publication Date: 2016-07-15

Javier F. León and Helena Simonett curate a collection of essential writings from the last twenty-five years of Latin American music studies. Chosen as representative, outstanding, and influential in the field, each article appears in English translation. A detailed new introduction by León and Simonett both surveys and contextualizes the history of Latin American ethnomusicology, opening the door for readers energized by the musical forms brought and nurtured by immigrants from throughout Latin America. Contributors include Marina Alonso Bolaños, Gonzalo Camacho Díaz, José Jorge de Carvalho, Claudio F. Díaz, Rodrigo Cantos Savelli Gomes, Juan Pablo González, Rubén López-Cano, Angela Lühning, Jorge Martínez Ulloa, Maria Ignêz Cruz Mello, Julio Mendívil, Carlos Miñana Blasco, Raúl R. Romero, Iñigo Sánchez Fuarros, Carlos Sandroni, Carolina Santamaría-Delgado, Rodrigo Torres Alvarado, and Alejandro Vera.
Pictured Politics: visualizing colonial history in South American portrait collections by Emily Engel
Call Number: AVAILABLE ONLINE

ISBN: 1477320601

Publication Date: 2020-03-23

The Spanish colonial period in South America saw artists develop the subgenre of official portraiture, or portraits of key individuals in the continent's viceregal governments. Although these portraits appeared to illustrate a narrative of imperial splendor and absolutist governance, they instead became a visual record of the local history that emerged during the colonial occupation. Using the official portrait collections accumulated between 1542 and 1830 in Lima, Buenos Aires, and Bogotá as a lens, Pictured Politics explores how official portraiture originated and evolved to become an essential component in the construction of Ibero-American political relationships. Through the surviving portraits and archival evidence--including political treatises, travel accounts, and early periodicals--Emily Engel demonstrates that these official portraits not only belie a singular interpretation as tools of imperial domination but also visualize the continent's multilayered history of colonial occupation. The first stand alone analysis of South American portraiture, Pictured Politics brings to light the historical relevance of political portraits in crafting the history of South American colonialism.
Weaving the Past: a history of Latin America's indigenous women from the prehispanic period to the present by Susan Kellog
Call Number: AVAILABLE ONLINE

ISBN: 1280471530

Publication Date: 2005-01-01

"Weaving the Past" offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary history of Latin America's indigenous women. While the book concentrates on native women in Mesoamerica and the Andes, it covers indigenous people in other parts of South and Central America, including lowland peoples in and beyond Brazil, and Afro-indigenous peoples, such as the Garifuna, of Central America. Drawing on primary and secondary sources, it argues that change, not continuity, has been the norm for indigenous peoples whose resilience in the face of complex and long-term patterns of cultural change is due in no small part to the roles, actions, and agency of women. The book provides broad coverage of gender roles in native Latin America over many centuries, drawing upon a range of evidence from archaeology, anthropology, religion, and politics. Primary and secondary sources include chronicles, codices, newspaper articles, and monographic work on specific regions.; Arguing that Latin America's indigenous women were the critical force behind the more important events and processes of Latin America's history, Kellogg interweaves the region's history of family, sexual, and labour history with the origins of women's power in prehispanic, colonial, and modern South and Central America. Shying away from interpretations that treat women as house bound and passive, the book instead emphasizes women's long history of performing labour, being politically active, and contributing to, even supporting, family and community well-being.

Miscellaneous

The Penguin Encyclopedia of Modern Warfare by Kenneth Macksey; William J. Woodhouse
Call Number: MAIN U39 .M32 1991x

ISBN: 9780670826988

Publication Date: 1992-01-02

Covers principal wars, campaigns, battles and personalities over the past 150 years.
Forensic Science by William J. Tilstone
Call Number: MAIN HV8073 .T55 2006

ISBN: 1576071944

Publication Date: 2006-03-24

The only A-Z reference work on forensic science, one of the most intriguing and exciting fields in criminological studies. From dandruff to DNA, from ammunition to infrared spectrophotometry, forensic scientists employ the commonplace and the esoteric to get their man or woman. Forensic Science is the only comprehensive reference work accessible to nonexperts on this fast-changing and ever-fascinating field of criminological study. Readers will learn how the latest scientific breakthroughs and the well-honed instincts of forensics experts come together to provide the clues and amass the evidence to bring America's most notorious criminals to justice. From famous firsts in forensics to possible future developments in the science, the expert team of contributors put together by William Tilstone, executive director of the National Forensic Science Technology Center, examines techniques and technologies, key cases, critical controversies, and ethical and legal issues.
Indigenous Peoples: an encyclopedia of culture, history, and threats to survival by Victoria R. Williams
Call Number: AVAILABLE ONLINE

ISBN: 9781440861185

Publication Date: 2020-02-24

The book is an essential resource for those interested in investigating the lives, histories, and futures of indigenous peoples around the world.Perfect for readers looking to learn more about cultural groups around the world, this four-volume work examines approximately 400 indigenous groups globally. The encyclopedia investigates the history, social structure, and culture of peoples from all corners of the world, including their role in the world, their politics, and their customs and traditions. Alphabetically arranged entries focus on groups living in all world regions, some of which are well-known with large populations, and others that are lesser-known with only a handful of surviving members.Each entry includes sections on the group's geography and environment; history and politics; society, culture, and tradition; access to health care and education; and threats to survival. Each entry concludes with See Also cross-references and a list of Further Reading resources to guide readers in their research. Also included in the encyclopedia are Native Voices inset boxes, allowing readers a glimpse into the daily lives of members of these indigenous groups, as well as an appendix featuring the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

ENG 204D: Creative Nonfiction Research: Step 1: Selecting a Topic

Step 1

Step 1: Selecting a Topic (Historical Event or Person)

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