Subject Guide: Canadian History

Web Sites

Conducting successful research involves using both electronic and print resources. Due to the large amount of print material available, using books, periodicals, maps, etc. is still the traditional method of doing research. However, the Internet is a dynamic medium that contains much material in electronic format. It is also faster for individuals and institutions to publish material electronically than in print format. In addition, historic documents and ephemera (unpublished items from private collections) are available on the Internet in the form as electronic texts, scanned documents, and images. Below is a sampling of sites that provide an excellent beginning for conducting research in Canadian History. Remember to evaluate any Web site before using it for research.

Historical Documents

Historical documents are previously published items that have been written by an individual or group of people on a specific topic. Examples are speeches, essays, and government publications. These primary documents comprise one aspect of archived material. To see Internet sites that have unpublished items, photographs, maps, and related historical documents, please refer to the Archives and Special Collections section.

Archives and Special Collections

Material in special collections and archives is another source of information to use when conducting research. Examples include unpublished letters, diaries, memoirs, and photographs. Much of this material is available on the Internet through digitization projects. Documents are carefully scanned and then returned to their storage area. For related Internet sites, please go to the Finding Historical Documents section.

Bibliographies

A bibliography is a published listing of primary and secondary sources designed to aid the researcher. In terms of historical research there are bibliographies of major authors, time periods, and historical figures in Canadian History. A bibliographic record contains important information (author, title, date of publication, etc.) about an item. Once a particular record is found in a bibliography, the next step is to search Novacat to see if a library has the item.

Historical Statistics

Statistics are useful sources of information because they help support facts and conclusions in essays. However, historical statistics are relatively new to the Internet and vary widely in dates covered. This is because data must be painstakingly entered into electronic databases.

Online Discussion Groups (Listservs)

Online discussion groups or listservs are virtual consortiums designed to facilitate free exchange of ideas on a given subject. Individuals must subscribe via e-mail (unlike newsgroups) to participate in discussions. Some listservs are monitored whereby editors control the flow of messages and filter out material deemed inappropriate for the discussion group.

Directories

Directories are helpful to identify staff and faculty at different college and university history departments. In addition, one can view course descriptions and/or course syllabi, and find information on applying for graduate studies/work and teaching. Directories also include listings of professional societies and scholarly organizations.

Biographical Information

Biographies are sources of information written by people about an individual's personal and professional life. They can vary in detail and length from brief biographical sketches to essays and books. Shorter biographies are usually more objective and factual while long essays and books can contain subjective material and inferences based upon the author's views. Most biographical sources on the Internet are short paragraphs and essays.

Gateways and Guides to Canadian History on the Internet

Gateways are Internet sites that list other places that offer further reference information. They provide access to sites that house specific projects, documents or links to diverse sources of information.