Research and Reference Resources

Quick Guide to History Reference Center

Digging up history just got a lot easier. History Reference Center will instantly give you access to a full-text history reference database featuring reference books, encyclopedias, non-fiction books, and history periodicals as well as thousands of historical documents, biographies of historical figures, photos, maps, and over 80 hours of historical video.

• How do I access History Reference Center?
• How do I conduct a search?
• Are there examples?
• What's unique about searching History Reference Center?

How do I access History Reference Center?

To connect to History Reference Center, go to the Madison Public Library web page. By choosing Research > Databases > History Reference Center from the Madison Public Library web page, you will be able to access the database from anywhere. Or, access the database here.

If you are using the database from home, you will need to enter your full library card number without the spaces.

How do I conduct a search?

Searching History Reference Center is like searching most EBSCOhost databases; choose from Basic, Advanced, and Visual. For detailed information on how that works, visit Searching in EBSCOhost or ask a librarian for assistance.

As with all EBSCO databases, searching can be as simple or as involved as you’d like it to be. For example, try simply typing Presidents into the basic search box and you’ll get thousands of results. Looking to the right and left of the center results box, you’ll see ways to effectively narrow your search, restricting by date, type of publication, full text, company, etc.

Are there examples?

Can I find some video on Martin Luther King, Jr.?

At the very top of the page, use the drop-down menu under More in the blue bar, and click on Images/Video. In the search box, type Martin Luther King Jr. If you just want video, scroll down and un-check Image Collection and Image Quick View. Make sure Video Encyclopedia of the 20th Century remains checked. Click Search.

Can I get a picture of the Swedish flag?

At the very top of the page, use the drop-down menu under More in the blue bar, and click on Images/Video. In the search box, type Sweden and, in the Limit your results portion, check Flags.

I need some articles about the cave paintings in Lascaux.

Use Advanced Search. Enter cave paintings and Lascaux in text boxes and choose All Text. Keep in mind that you can always narrow your results by choosing Subject Area or Source Type on the left.

How do I find biographical information on Oliver North?

Type Oliver North in the Basic search box. Click Search. On the left hand side, narrow results by Biographies.

What’s unique about History Reference Center?

Publications Tab

Use the Publications Tab to search or browse a particular historical publication. For example, let’s browse the March 2000 copy of Smithsonian Magazine. At the main search page, find the blue bar running across the top of the page, and click on Publications. From here, type Smithsonian into the Browse Box, click Browse, click Smithsonian, click 2000 in the right hand list, and choose the March issue.

Saving your Search

Once you find an article, you can click on the appropriate icon to print, email, save, or get the correct format for a citation. Also, look for the Add to Folder icon if you’d like your searches collected in one place.