University Library > Guides > Researching Past Events

How to Research Events From the Past

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Using online databases to research people and events from the past is often difficult because coverage rarely precedes the 1980's. This guide lists print and Internet resources containing information about events of the 19th through the 21st centuries. The reference books and periodicals listed here are located in the University Library. Reference books are located on the second floor and periodicals are on the first floor, more detailed directions are given for other locations.

Reference Books

  • State of Wisconsin Blue Book (1970-present)
    Current Ed. Shelved at Reference Desk
    (1989/1990-present) Reference JK6074 .A35
    (1970-1971-1987/1988,1999/2000-present) WI Documents Stacks, A 1: [year]

    • Continues: Wisconsin Blue Book (1913-1968)
      Wisconsin Documents Stacks A 1: [year] and Reference Storage (Ask for it at the Reference Desk)

      • Continues: Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin For [year] (1880-1911)
        Wisconsin Documents Stacks A 1: [year] and Reference Storage (Ask for it at the Reference Desk)

    Provides statistics, data and analysis on a primarily biennial basis. Includes demographics, government information, chronology, et al.
    Note: Coverage runs one year behind the year on the spine, i.e. the 1976 edition documents events and statistics for 1975.

  • Britannica Book of the Year (1938-2000, 2002-2003), Reference AE5 .E364
    Provides a good subject-arranged description of the important people and events in a given year.
    Note: Coverage runs one year behind the year on the spine, i.e. the 1976 edition documents events and statistics for 1975.

  • Chronicle of the 20th Century, Reference D422 .C57x 1987
    Monthly breakdown of the century through 1986. Good general descriptions with in-depth coverage of more important events.

  • Day By Day, the Seventies, Reference D848 .L4 1988
    Day By Day, the Eighties, Reference D848 .M45 1995
    Day By Day, the Nineties, Reference D856 .A93 2004
    Describes the decade's events by day. The events are broken down into ten categories.

  • Editorials on File (1970-present), Reference (Current Affairs Shelf) D839 .E3
    Provides a year-by-year collection of major U.S. newspapers' editorial columns, organized by subject and indexed each year.

  • Encyclopedia of American Facts & Dates, Reference E174.5 .C3
    Encyclopedia of World Facts and Dates, Reference CB69 .C37
    Provides year-by-year breakdowns of important events. The events are arranged by subject, and then in chronological order.

  • Europa World Year Book (1989- ), Reference JN1 .E85 (Current ed. at Reference Desk)

    • Continues: Europa Year Book (1963-1988), Reference JN1 .E85
    Provides yearly information on individual countries of the world. Each country entry includes a short essay on that year's history and events.
    Note: Coverage runs one year behind the year on the spine, i.e. the 1976 edition documents events and statistics for 1975.

  • Facts On File (1957-present ), (Current Affairs Shelf) Reference D410 .F3
    Provides a week-by-week summary of the year's events. Contains full-text articles and references for further research.

  • Keesing's Record of World Events (1987-1995), Reference D410 .K4

    • Continues: Keesing's Contemporary Archives (1965-1986), Reference D410 .K4
    Provides a weekly scholarly summary of world events. Articles are arranged by the country of the event and by general subject. Articles often appear several weeks after the date of the event.

  • Our Times: Illustrated History of the 20th Century, Reference D422 .O89 1995
    Provides a general year-by-year overview of the 20th Century.

  • World Almanac and Encyclopedia, (1909,1911-1922), Reference Storage
    World Almanac and Book of Facts. Current edition at Reference Desk.
    (1990-1 year ago) Reference AY67.N5 W7
    (1923-1999) Reference Storage (ask for it at the Reference Desk) AY67.N5 W7
    Provides summary analysis of the major topics during a given year and general statistical information for a large number of topics.
    Note: Coverage runs one year behind the year on the spine, i.e. the 1976 edition documents events and statistics for 1975.

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Periodicals

  • Poole's Index to Periodical Literature (1802-1906), Index Stack 3B (2nd floor)
    Cumulative indexes to articles from American and English general periodicals.

  • Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature
    (1983-present), online version at Readers' Guide Full Text from WilsonWeb UW-W users only
    (1890-1995), Index Stack 3B (2nd floor)
    Annual subject index to articles from popular and scholarly periodicals and journals.

  • Newsweek (1933-present), Time (1923-present) and U.S. News and World Report (1948-present), Periodicals Microform Room (1st floor)
    The University Library holds back issues of these magazines on microfilm or microfiche. Either browse issues by date or do a subject search in Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature.

  • New York Times (1857-2003), online at New York Times Historical Newspapers (1851-2003) UW-W users only
    New York Times (1857-present), Periodicals Microform Room (1st floor)
    New York Times Index, Index Stack 3B (2nd floor)
    Annual index to articles in the New York Times from 1851-1990.

  • Wall Street Journal (1959-present), Periodicals Microform Room (1st floor)
    Wall Street Journal Index, Index Stack 3B (2nd floor)
    Annual index to articles in the journal from 1958-1990.

  • The Times (1920-present), Periodicals Microform Room (1st floor)
    The Times (London) Index, Index Stack 3B (2nd floor)
    Annual index to articles in The Times from 1906-6/1984.

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Internet

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For assistance, contact a reference librarian at (262) 472-1032, by email or chat or in person at the Library's Reference Desk.

Last Revised: MS - 8/16/2007