HIST 7B : DNSA and FRUS

Library hours

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 10:52:36 -0700

Hours on:
Enter as mm/dd/yy

For:

Campus libraries

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:21:14 -0800

Click on the image below to view an interactive version of the campus library map.

Printable PDF version

Library Prize for Undergraduate Research

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:52:10 -0800

The Library Prize for Undergraduate Research recognizes excellence in undergraduate research projects that show evidence of significant inquiry using the library, its resources, and collections and learning about the research and information-gathering process itself.

Doe | Moffitt | Main Stacks

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 10:26:53 -0700

The Berkeley library system is arranged by subject -- what materials are in which library, how they're shelved, the Library website, where to get help....

Most libraries names tell their story. Doe, Moffitt, and the Gardner Main Stacks (which connects them) share the broadest subject focus in the UCB library system. Because they are named after people, the focus is less immediately apparent.

focus = Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences

their Floor plans

Off-campus access to e-resources

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:29:16 -0800

Unless home is a campus dorm, in order to access many Library resources you must first configure your computer to use one of two simple access methods:

Proxy Server (easiest method)
After you make a one-time change in your web browser's settings, allows you to use your CalNet ID to access a licensed resource.

VPN (Virtual Private Network)
You install and run the VPN software on your computer. It allows you to log in with a CalNet ID and accesss a licensed resource.

DNSA use tips

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:21:26 -0800

Link to Collections Guide to review descriptions
- ignore the new collection (not available to you)
Link to promising titles to get details (example: Cuban Missile Crisis).
Particularly, note...
- scope of collection
- sources included
- limitations to collection
- link to search the specific collection
Search chosen collection by...
- keyword
- name or oranization (example: castro)
- date
- above searches are likely to be the most helpful (full search details)
Results are in chronological order
- display notes document tile, classification level, type and date (full details)
Link to documents full record for...
- citation information
- who wrote it
- who it was written to
- an abstract of the document's content
- link to document (pdf option available from document view)
- output options: email, download, etc.
  - save maintains results for later access (must establish My Archive profile; must use UCB email address)
- more help reading full record display

FRUS

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:27:51 -0800

The Foreign Relations of the United Sates (FRUS) is the doumentary record of major U.S. foreign policy decisons. It is dipolmatic records that have been declassified and edited for publication (communication between U.S. embassies/diplomats and the U.S. State Department). It is produced by the U.S. State Department, Office of the Historian. (full description).

began with administation of Abraham Lincoln
coverage lags 20-30 years after the date of events
arranged chronologically by year until 1960,
by presidential administration thereafter

Access: the Office of the Historian provides digital access to the FRUS after 1945 on their website (the University of Wisconsin at Madison Libraries provides digital access to earlier volumes). Links to both can be found in the record for the FRUS in OskiCat.

link to OskiCat record (I identified this record in OskiCat via a title search for FRUS)
- see the online versions section of record
- first link is to FRUS from the Office of the Historian
- second link is to University of Wisconsin (FRUS prior to 1961)

FRUS use tips

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:33:52 -0800

* Because your research focus is from 1945 on, and because the Office of the Historian's site covers that entire time frame, these tips focus on using that site's digital version of the FRUS *

An easy way to use the FRUS is to browse by administration:

Use Historical documents menu and select Foreign Relations of the United States
link via administrations (under portraits of Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon or Ford - the latest covered administrations)

For Pre-Kennedy administrations, use the Browse by Administration drop-down menu (left side of screen) [all prior administrations presented together in chronological order]

scan volumesof the FRUS for that administration
- arranged chronologically
- volume titles indicate geographic and/or subject focus
link to specific volume
- overview
- table of contents
  - sources (what's included)
  - an index (with links into collection)
  - link to actual documents (in date order)
document view
- document text
- support notations: abbreviations/persons
- view or print image copy
- note: mouseover source info. indicates where the original source is held
  (not how you would cite the document in your paper)
- note: mouseover footnotes are after the fact (notations by editors compiling FRUS)

About the DNSA

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:53:52 -0800

The Digital National Security Archive (DNSA) contains declassified government documents spanning fifty years (1945 on) of US national security policy. Also includes a chronology, glossary of names, events, special terms, and a bibliography for each collection it contains. These collections are developed around a specific event, controversy, or policy decision.

The DNSA is compiled/produced by the National Security Archive. They are a non-profit research institute and library located at George Washington University (more about the National Security Archive) . It is this archive's published collections of declassified U.S. government documents that comprise the DNSA.

The UCB Library subscribes to the DNSA. Because it is a licensed resource, off-campus access will require the proxy server (see the For starters tab for proxy server details) .

Access path = Library website > Electronic resources (FIND INFORMATION tab) > ...by type > government information sources @ the federal level > Digital National Security Archive

Doe Reference Collection | encyclopedias

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:02:33 -0800

Doe Library has the campus' major reference collection for the arts, humanities & social sciences. The Doe Reference Service is located on the second floor of the library and has a staffed desk to help navigate the collection (hours, info.).

If you need general information about a historical time period, encyclopedias are often a good place to get that context.

provide basic background information -- identify people, events, issues, agencies, etc.
knowing this information can help you narrow your search
background can help you use historical sources, providing context to their content

Citation Management Tools

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:58:40 -0800

Citation management tools help you manage your research, collect and cite sources, and create bibliographies in a variety of citation styles. Each one has its strengths and weaknesses, but any are easier than doing it by hand!

Zotero: A free plug-in that works exclusively with the Firefox browser: keeps copies of what you find on the web, permits tagging, notation, full text searching of your library of resources, works with Word, and has a free web backup service.
RefWorks - free for UC Berkeley users. It allows you to create your own database by importing references and using them for footnotes and bibliographies. Use the RefWorks New User Form to sign up.

It's always good to double check the formatting -- sometimes the software doesn't get it quite right.

Citing sources

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 14:05:20 -0800

Properly citing sources is an important part of your research. It allows you to avoid plagiarism and highlights your engagement with related scholarship.

In a nutshell: "Whenever you quote or base your ideas on another person's work, you must document the source you used. Even when you do not quote directly from another work...."

The above extract is taken from the Library's guide on citing sources. The guide gives an overview of this topic and links to formatting rules for the major citation styles.

Chat with a librarian

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 10:53:47 -0700

Research Advisory Service

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:11:15 -0800

Research Advisory Service for Cal Undergraduates

Book a 30-minute appointment with a librarian who will help refine and focus research inquiries, identify useful online and print sources, and develop search strategies for humanities and social sciences topics (examples of research topics).

Schedule, view, edit or cancel your appointment online (CalNetID required)

* available Feb 20 - April 27th *

Doe & Moffitt Reference Desks

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:31:45 -0800

Libraries across campus have have librarians available to help. Since the system is structured by subject, you'll want to seek help from the library specializing in your disciplinary focus.

Doe & Moffitt focus on the arts, humanities and social sciences, and, since that subject base is very broad, they also serve as general reference desks for the system.

Doe reference hours | contact info.
Moffitt reference hours | contact info.

Library subject specialists

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 14:15:24 -0800

UCB has librarians specializing in certain disciplinary subjects and certain kinds of materials (for example government documents, film, etc.). You may want to speak with one of these specialists.

Government documents (U.S. federal)
Full list of library liaisons