Research is an adventure. It's open-ended, exploratory, surprising, frustrating. and full of blind alleys and interesting side trips. It doesn't have to be lonely. Do compare notes with your colleagues and take advantage of the friendly people sitting at the reference desk. We love to help you find what you're looking for.

Historical Documents / Reference Works / Finding Books / Finding Articles / Finding Journals /

Interlibrary Loan / Citing Your Sources / Contacting Julie

Finding Historical Documents

A major focus of your work will be to use local historical material about both Gustavus and St. Peter. There are several places where these materials can be found in the library.

Gustavus resources:

Gustavian Weekly: The college newspaper, begun in 1920. Issues from 1943-present are located on the first floor of the library in the G section. Issues from 1920-present are located in the Archives. The newspapers are indexed; a four-volume print index is shelved with the newspapers on the first floor. Issues from 1980 - 2005 are available online through the Database menu on the library's homepage (look for Gustavian 1980 - 2005 or click here). Use for: information on campus events and attitudes, presented mainly from a student perspective.

Gustavus Catalogs: Course catalogs from 1877 to the present. Issues from 1897-present are available on the third floor in the L section: LD 2091.G62 G63. Earlier editions are available in the Archives. The catalogs are not indexed; find the year(s) you are studying to track down specific information. Use for: information on departments, programs, and requirements for graduation. Some of the earlier catalogs also list alumni information.

Gustavus Quarterly: Alumni magazine, from 1944 to present. Available on the third floor in the L section: LD 2091.G65 G7. The Quarterly is not indexed. Use for: perspectives on how campus issues are communicated to alumni.

Gustavus Annuals: Yearbooks from 1904 to the present. A complete set is located in the Oversize section (SW corner of third floor): Oversize LD 2091.G62 G65. The annuals are not indexed. Use for: overview of campus during a particular year, pictures.

College Histories: Browse the selection of college histories available on the third floor: LD 2091.G62 L8 - LD 2091.G62 P4 1953 (shelved between the Catalogs and the Quarterly). Written to commemorate various anniversaries, these histories provide an overview of the college.

• You can also find a wealth of information in the College Archives. For information on accessing the Archives and contacting College Archivist Jeff Jenson, click here. You can also email Jeff with questions.
  

You may also want to consult the St. Peter Herald (St. Peter's weekly newspaper) for a sense of how your topic fits into the context of the town. The Heralds are located in the microfilm room (main floor, to the right of the e-classroom). Any of our librarians would be happy to get you started if you haven't used microfilm before. The best way to search is to select a date and browse!

If you are interested in doing further research on St. Peter, visit the Nicollet County Historical Society, located at the Treaty Site on Highway 169 north of town. Talk to Julie if you're interested in pursuing this option.

Reference Works
Reference works can be found on the second (main) floor and are an excellent place to begin your research. Some provide quick facts while others contain scholarly overviews. In addition to the ones listed below, browse the nearby shelves. Books in this library are grouped by subject, so you are likely to find other useful books in the same area.