History Resources

The D.B. Weldon Library is currently providing full online trial access to two Brill resources: Encyclopedia of Islam (EI Online), and Brill's New Pauly (Brill's NP).

Both titles are recognized as preeminent reference standards. EI Online continues a tradition of current scholarship relating to all aspects of Islam and the Muslim world: religious, historical, cultural, social, political, and artistic over 1,400 years.

Similarly, Brill's NP for the ancient world includes extensive content on all facets of Greco-Roman antiquity over more than two thousand years of history, ranging from the second millennium BC to early medieval Europe.

EI Online provides access to the complete EI2 (a 12-volume print version is located in Weldon Reference DS 37.E523), as well as to the ongoing 3rd edition containing all-new content (EI3). As is evident from the introductory screen, the two editions are searched separately.

FYI, Huron University College Library is acquiring the print volumes of EI3.

Similarly, the Pauly trial includes online access to the complete English-language version, Brill's New Pauly (Weldon Reference DE 5.N4813 2002-2011). Der Neue Pauly provides online access to the complete German-language version (Weldon stacks DE 5.N48 1996-2003).

Both trials are in effect until December 12.

Because the current access is on a trial basis, neither EI Online nor Brill's NP is yet linked by title in the library catalogue. However, both resources can be found using the Classic keyword search. Both resources are also listed in the Databases by Title listing under "B" for Brill's New Pauly, and "E" for Encyclopedia of Islam Online.

Both trials are IP-authenticated, and permit access from on- or off-campus. If you're off-campus, you'll need to use the proxy server.

Posted by Elizabeth Mantz at 2:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm pleased to report that our online access to the British House of Commons Parliamentary Papers e-resource (HCPP) now includes the full text from Hansard (Official Report of Debates in Parliament), from both the House of Commons and House of Lords, from 1803 to 2005.

The Hansard content can be searched through HCPP's main search screen, via the check boxes for "House of Commons Hansard" and "House of Lords Hansard". Hansard can also be browsed by date or name of Member.

Each Hansard record corresponds to a day's sitting or written answers, and usually covers several topics. The topics themselves are listed at the top of each record, and can be searched through the Subject field on HCPP's main search screen.

The Parliamentary Register, a precursor of Hansard that recorded debates from 1776-1805, is also searchable in HCPP via the check box for "Debates".

Posted by Elizabeth Mantz at 12:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Contagion: Historical Views of Diseases and Epidemics is a digital library collection of unique resources from Harvard University libraries. The website offers valuable insights to students of the history of medicine, as well as to researchers seeking historical context for current epidemiology.

The collection includes general background information on diseases and epidemics worldwide, and is organized around significant "episodes" of contagious disease.

Digitized materials include copies of books, serials, pamphlets, incunabula, and manuscripts--a total of more than 500,000 pages--many of which contain visual materials, such as plates, engravings, maps, charts, broadsides, and other illustrations. The collection also includes two unique sets of visual materials from the Center for the History of Medicine at Harvard's Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine.

In addition, library and archival materials are supplemented by explanatory pages that introduce concepts related to diseases and epidemics, historical approaches to medicine, and notable men and women.

Continue reading "Contagion: Historical Views of Diseases and Epidemics" »

Posted by Elizabeth Mantz at 2:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The D. B. Weldon Library now offers scanning facilities for microfilm and microfiche materials.

Weldon's micro scanner is located in the same area as the micro copiers, on the main floor of the library, immediately behind the Spencer Gallery. Like the micro copiers, use of the micro scanner is on a drop-in basis during library hours.

There's no charge to scan microform materials to a USB device. Scanned materials may also be sent to Weldon's networked public printers at a cost of $0.09 per page.

Point-of-use instructions for the microform scanner are posted adjacent to the equipment. If you require additional assistance, please consult library staff.

Posted by Elizabeth Mantz at 10:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

History faculty and graduate students are eligible to apply for research/study rooms in The D.B. Weldon Library for the term running October 3, 2011 to April 30, 2012.

The application deadline is Friday, September 16, 2011.

A direct link to the printable application form is available here.

Paper copies of the application form are also available at the Shared Service Desk location near the entrance to Weldon. Completed application forms should be returned to the Shared Service Desk.

Additional information is posted on Western Libraries' website at www.lib.uwo.ca. Click on Services / Study Space / scroll down to Weldon at the bottom of the page (direct link here).

Please remember to include a brief description of your research interests in Weldon's collections, including your use of specific collections, along with your completed application. The provision of supporting documentation that describes your specific research is particularly helpful when your application is considered by Weldon's administration.

Posted by Elizabeth Mantz at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On behalf of my colleague, Cheryl Woods, Map Librarian, I'm pleased to announce the recent acquisition of the following resource by the Map Library:

National Archives British Trench Map Atlas: The Western Front, 1914-1918

This DVD, produced in 2008 by the Naval & Military Press in 2008, includes a selection of 700+ large-scale regular series trench maps, with almost complete coverage of the British section of the Western Front in 1914-1918, from the North Sea at Nieuport in Belgium southwards to St. Quentin.

The call number in the Map Library is EMA.EU.01. There is no print component; however, it's possible to print from the DVD. Additional information is available on the publisher's website, linked here.

Cheryl also noted she plans to order a companion volume, Captured German Trench and Operations Maps from the Public Record Office Archives. More information on that forthcoming resource is available here.

Posted by Elizabeth Mantz at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm very pleased to announce Western Libraries' recent acquisition of access to American Periodicals Series Online (APS Online). This resource is produced by ProQuest.

APS Online contains digitized page images taken from American magazines and journals whose publications originated between 1741 and 1900. The resource spans nearly 200 years from colonial times to the advent of American involvement in World War II.

The following information is adapted from the APS Online website:

Continue reading "American Periodicals Series Online now available" »

Posted by Elizabeth Mantz at 8:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)