HIST 4990 Senior Seminar Willis (special collections): Research Process Help

Russell Library archivists are available to assist you during the open hours of the Russell Library:

Monday-Friday 8-4:45 p.m.

If you want to meet with Jill Severn,  you can come by during  office hours on Thursday afternoons from 1-4 p.m. at the reference desk on the 3rd floor of the Special Collections Building. If want to meet at another time, contact her at russlib@uga.edu.  (Please allow 24 hours for a response.) 

Historical research can be incredibly exciting and interesting, but getting started can be daunting--especially if you are starting from scratch in coming up with a topic. 

In general, the most important thing to remember is that getting started early is essential.  Give your self time to browse, connect, reimagine, and revise.  Below are some links that walk you through steps for developing a topic and writing an interesting paper.  These aren't the only way to approach the work, but they give you a place to start.  Remember to consult your professor for big questions or concerns and to re-read the assignment.

Learning to Do Historical Research: A Primer
How to Frame a Researchable Question
Created by historian William Cronin and his graduate students to help undergraduates develop research topic in environmental history, but ideas and concepts are useful for any area of historical research.

Stages of A Historical Research Project
Independent project on the Web. offers a streamlined outline for research processes that may be a good quick reference tool

Assistance with citations:

If you have questions about citing materials from the Russell Library ask the archivist on duty in the reading room for assistance.