When starting a research project, it is often a good idea to check the Reference collection to find background information on your topic. Resources typically found include dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, and statistical materials. Here are some.
America’s Historical Newspapers
Another source for newspapers, generally before 1923, is Historical Newspaper Archives.
APS Online
Collection of American magazines, extending into the 20th century.
Accessible Archives
Especially African American Newspapers: The 19th Century and Godey’s Lady’s Book.
Chicago Defender
In Black Studies Center.
American National Biography
Authoritative source of historical American biography.
Notable American Women
Available both as part of the Women and Social Movements database as well as in print in the Reference collection (Ref CT3260 .N57, Ref CT3260 .N5725 2004, and Ref CT3260 .N573).
Biography Reference Bank 
This and the following resource include biographical entries from biographical dictionaries and articles.
WorldCat Local
Records of books and other materials worldwide.
DELCAT
The online catalog of the University of Delaware Library. It is often helpful to start with a keyword search, say on “history” and “memory”. Be sure to check the subject headings listed in the records you retrieve so that you will find other useful and more specific terms and phrases to search.
JSTOR
Core scholarly journals in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences.
See also Databases for History.
Historical Statistics of the United States. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006. 5 vols.
Ref HA202 .H57 2006
American Memory
Primary source materials relating to the history and culture of the United States, from the Library of Congress.
