4. Find Sources

Once you've narrowed your topic and thought about keywords, try searching the databases below for potential sources you can use for your project. Try to find sources that provide evidence to support your thesis. If your keywords aren't working, ask a librarian for help!

Databases / Articles

The following databases are the best place to start.

Gale in Context: U.S. History
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Great database for U.S. history; particularly strong reference information.
Gale eBooks
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Contains Reference books covering many subjects, but primarily in areas of literature and social science (including history), and also some in health and science.
American History, 1860-1945
A collection of historical documents, images, etc., it documents American History from 1860-1945. It is sourced from the Gilder Lehrman Collection. Note: SCC has access to Module II, which covers 1860-1945.
African-American History
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Covering more than 500 years of the African-American experience, explore the full spectrum of African-American history and culture, with videos and slideshows, images, biographies of key people, event and topic entries, primary sources, maps and graphs, and timelines. Proxy Bypass
Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers
Search America's historic newspaper pages from 1789-1963 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Library of Congress.
Page images from selected historic newspapers of 25 states and the District of Columbia, published from 1836-1922. Includes 34 historic South Carolina newspapers published in Anderson, Anderson Court House, Bennettsville, Charleston, Columbia, Edgefield, Georgetown, Laurens, Orangeburg, Orangeburg Court House, Pickens Court House, Rock Hill, Sumter, and Sumterville. Searchable by date and keyword. Viewing options include PDF images, downloadable images, text only, and persistent links for sharing. Includes a searchable and browsable directory of U.S. newspapers from 1690-present.
Newsbank: Access World News
Includes current and archived news content from more than 12,700 sources spanning 200+ countries and territories including SC Newspapers of Herald -Journal (Spartanburg), The State (Columbia), and The Post and Courier (Charleston).
Black Life in America (Newsbank)
Comprehensive coverage of the African American experience from the early 18th century to the present day from more than 19,000 American and global news sources, including over 400 current and historical Black publications.
EBSCO History Databases
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Search 3 databases at once! History Reference Center, Military & Gov't Collection, European Views of the Americas: 1493-1750. Covers U.S. and World History. Proxy Bypass

Find Websites

Manassas (Bull Run) Nat'l Battlefield
Read intro material, and then click on "History and Culture" for more detail about the battle.
First Battle of Manassas (online book)
Lots of details about the battles and breakdown of time table/events.

Chickamaunga & Chattanooga Nat'l Military Park
Read intro material, and then click on "History and Culture" for more detail about the battle.
The Battle of Chickamauga (online book)
Lots of detail about the battles, and breakdown of time table/events.

Gettysburg Nat'l Military Park
Read intro material, and then click on "History and Culture" for more detail about the battle.
Battle of Gettysburg (online book)
Lots of details about the battles and breakdown of time table/events.

Antietam Nat'l Battlefield
Read intro material, and then click on "History and Culture" for more detail about the battle.
Antietam Historical Handbook (online book)
Lots of detail about the battles, and breakdown of time table/events.

A Concise History of the Civil War (online book)
Battles, Field Generals, etc. Also, the chapter called "In Durance Vile" is about prisoners of war.
Civil War Timeline
A detailed timeline of the war from the National Parks Service.
Life in Civil War America (online book)
Includes a chapter on Union nurses and a chapter on Clara Barton's postwar crusade.
The Prison Camp at Andersonville (online book)
Good for the prisoners of war stories.
The Civil War's Common Solider (online book)
Has chapters on who the common solider was, the poor man's fight, the role of black soldiers, prisoners of war, the home fires, and women of the war.
The Civil War's Black Soldiers (online book)
A lot of detail about African American soldiers during the war in the Confederate and Union armies, also including a chapter on prisoners of war.

Find Books

Use the search box below to search for books at the SCC Library.

E-Books

eBook Collection (EBSCO)
A collection of over 260,000 eBooks including a variety of subjects including history, business, social science, political science, literature, science, medical, technical subjects, etc.. Proxy Bypass
EBook Central
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A collection of over 250,000 eBooks including a variety of subjects including social science, history, literature, business/management, religion, science, medicine, fine arts, education, etc.