Books
To find books on a specific topic, use the Online Catalog's Advanced Search, and select the Subject option.
To locate primary sources, add terms such as Sources, Correspondence, Diaries, Personal narratives, Oral history,
or Interviews to your subject search.
For materials not available in Milner Library, click on the “All I-Share Libraries” link beneath the search box on the "Books & Media" tab. Materials from I-Share libraries may also be requested.
Newspapers
Milner Library provides access to some newspapers in full text online and has other papers on microfilm.
The microfilm for most newspapers is located on Floor 2 in the southeast corner.
Microfilm of newspapers may also be borrowed from other libraries through InterLibrary Loan.
1. Historical New York Times (Online) (1851-2010).
3. HarpWeek.
Full text of Harper's Weekly online for the years 1857-1912.
4. Nineteenth Century U.S. Newspapers.
Full text online of over 500 newspapers from 1800-1900.
5. Newspapers.com Illinois Collection.
Full text coverage for newspapers from various Illinois cities including Bloomington.
Dates of coverage vary with the individual newspapers.
Popular Magazines
Popular magazines, such as Nation, New Republic, etc., may be good sources of articles from a specific time period. Most magazines are indexed in Readers’ Guide Abstracts, covering 1890-1982. Check these databases first to identify articles published on your topic. Note that magazines from earlier years may be in storage or on microfilm.
For earlier periodicals also try American Periodical Series Online, 1741-1900+.
Autobiographies, Letters, Diaries, Interviews
Material written by a specific individual, such as autobiographies, letters and diaries, or interviews of an individual
may be excellent primary sources. To determine if Milner Library has these materials, search in the Online Catalog
under the name of the person as an author, or under a group of people, or under an event.