Homework & Research->Homework Help->History->Sample Research Topic
Question: Researching your local history project.
We realize this topic comes up quite frequently in history class and want to address the issue. Below, we’ve put together some resources that are sure to be of some help for your local project. Onward!
Vertical Files
Vertical files are files that are a compilation of different subjects. Many libraries, schools, and universities have these and they can cover tons of subjects. These files contain newspaper articles, photographs, pamphlets, maps, and many other things. Vertical files were kind of the Internet before there was an Internet – a place to store information and resources not found in books. The vertical files in the Research Center at the Central Library house hundreds of subjects pertaining to Tulsa and Oklahoma history. The physical articles contained within these files consist of newspaper clippings, pamphlets, booklets, maps, local publications, and other materials we’ve been saving and compiling over the years! It’s a treasure trove of cool stuff. |
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Ever wondered what really happened in the Nanny Doss murders? We have first hand primary information. Live in a cool, old neighborhood? We have a file on Tulsa Neighborhoods. Does your teacher want you to pick a famous Oklahoman or famous Tulsan and you have no idea where to search? Come check out the vertical files under T-Biography and OK-Biography. As always, there’s a librarian who can help you navigate these sometime wild and woolly havens of information.
Why do we have these files?
These files contain a significant depth and breadth of local knowledge.
The library is often the last resort for people looking for historical
information. Often, people just like you have been referred to us by local
organizations like the Tulsa Historical Society, the Oklahoma Jazz Hall
of Fame, schools, and others.
Online Tulsa and Oklahoma Resources
When researching any project concerning Tulsa and Oklahoma, be sure
to check out our Tulsa & Oklahoma
Online Research Center. Entries include:
Art
Deco in Tulsa
Civic
Art in Tulsa
Famous
Oklahomans
Historic
All-Black Towns in Oklahoma
Notable Oklahoma
Women
Tulsa Race Riot – For more information on Tulsa’s African American history, please check out the African American Resource Center.
We also have vertical files on these topics so be sure to ask a librarian for assistance!
Locations and Holdings of Archived Oklahoma Newspapers – The newspaper titles are links to the Tulsa City-County Library catalog records which note TCCL holdings. The bulleted lists are links to libraries, other than TCCL, and historical societies’ newspaper holdings on microfilm and other formats.
Hint: Visit our Primary and Secondary Sources for History Projects page for an explanation on just what primary and secondary sources are and for links to some terrific websites and print resources you can use for your project.
Oklahoma Periodicals Index This is an index, compiled by Oklahoma State University, to articles in four Oklahoma publications listed below.
Chronicles of Oklahoma - First available in 1921 and published by the Oklahoma Historical Society, this publication provides a history of Oklahoma. It’s still published every month and is available in print in the Oklahoma Collection of the downtown Central Library.
Oklahoma Today – Considered the official magazine of the state, Oklahoma Today covers the art, culture, history, people, and places of Oklahoma.
Outdoor Oklahoma – This publication is sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and focuses on hunting, fishing, natural history, camping, and a myriad of outdoor related activities in this great state of Oklahoma.
Persimmon Hill – This is the official magazine of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
Tulsa and Oklahoma Print Resources
In addition to our Vertical Files and Online Resources, Central Library also has extensive collection of Tulsa and Oklahoma Print resources. These are primarily found in the Oklahoma Collection on the 4th floor of the Research Center.
This collection includes books and materials on the history of the state, biographies of noted Oklahomans, books about Indian tribes in Oklahoma, travel destinations, and other topics as they relate to Oklahoma, including art, archaeology, literature, music, education, business, cookbooks, maps, and local Tulsa history. In addition, we have a limited collection of yearbooks from local high schools and state universities and The Chronicles of Oklahoma.
Some odds and ends books you might find within the collection are county histories from all over Oklahoma such as History of Cotton County. These are valuable because they provide a localized perspective you might not find anywhere else. Other sample titles include:
Black
Heritage of Oklahoma
The
Chickasaw Freedmen
History
in Headlines: A Selection of Significant Front Pages from the Tulsa World
Homesteading
in Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Petroleum Industry
Oklahoma
Territory: Frontier Development, Migration, and Culture Areas
Additional Resources
If you have trouble finding resources within the Central Library Tulsa
and Oklahoma Collection, we have other libraries that specialize in
certain areas listed below. Some of their information can be accessed from
the web page.
Genealogy Center
American Indian Center
African-American Resource Center
Happy Hunting!
Okay, so we’ve gone over tons of local history resources and now
there’s no excuse for you not to find any information for your local
history paper! Before you go on your way, here are some extra tips
to remember:
If TCCL doesn’t have books and other materials you need for your paper, you can Interlibrary Loan them, which means we borrow them from another library system for you. If you choose to do this, request the materials as soon as possible because it sometimes takes several weeks for them to come in.
Once you have all materials for your paper, it’s time to start writing. If you need some help the library has many writing manuals; the Primary Source Page lists a few of them and there are several Writing pathfinders you might find useful as well.
If you have any questions, contact your local library or ask a librarian!