Library Databases
About Databases
A database is a collection of information that is arranged and tagged for easy searching and retrieval. Think of a database like an online storage container: It stores different publications, journals, books, magazines, and newspapers and makes it possible for you to access them. The library subscribes to over 300 databases that are available for Holy Cross students to use. Visit our A-Z Databases list to see what is available.
When you are looking for scholarly/peer-reviewed journals and articles, a database is the best place to look.
General Databases
General databases include information and journals that cover many subjects and academic fields. These can be a good place to start if you’re not sure what subject your topic falls under, if your topic is interdisciplinary and falls under multiple subject areas, if you want to see perspectives from different fields about your topic, or if you simply want to find general information.
To find general databases, go to the A-Z Database List. In the dropdown menu labeled "Subjects," select "_General" and click "Search." You will see a list of general databases, with some highlighted as "Best Bets." Some general databases are listed below.
- JSTOR Arts & Sciences This link opens in a new window
Journal articles in almost every subject area, including some historical articles back to the 17th century.
- ProQuest Central This link opens in a new window
Journal articles, magazines, and news in almost every subject area.
Subject Databases
Subject databases include journals and publications from a specific academic field. They may include a number of different publications, but they are all within the same academic area. These can be helpful if you want to look at one specific subject or field.
To find subject databases, go to the A-Z Database List. In the dropdown menu labeled "Subjects," select your subject area and click "Search." Some History databases are listed below.
- America: History and Life This link opens in a new window
Journal articles, book chapters and magazines about the history of the United States and Canada, 1450-present.
- JSTOR Arts & Sciences This link opens in a new window
Journal articles in almost every subject area, including some historical articles back to the 17th century.
Primary Sources
Primary Source Databases
Some library databases focus on primary (historical) sources. To access these, go to the A-Z Database List. Click on the "Types" dropdown menu at the top of the page. Select "Primary Sources," then click "Search." You will see a list of databases that have primary sources. Each one includes a description and a date range covered, which can help you decide if it will have information relevant to your topic.
Note: In the sciences, "primary sources" refer to scientific studies conducted by the authors of a paper. Some databases that appear in this search will be in the science fields. To be more specific about historical sources, you can also select the dropdown menu for "Subject" and choose "History," then click "Search." This will show you databases that include primary sources in the field of history.
Historical Newspapers
Newspapers and magazines can be useful primary sources, as they show a clear snapshot of a period of time. Below are some suggested databases for historical newspapers. You can also find them by selecting "Newspapers & Magazines" from the "Types" dropdown menu in the A-Z Database list. Pay attention to the dates listed below the database title. This will tell you if the database includes the time period you are studying.
- Chronicling America This link opens in a new window
Date(s): 1756-1963
Historic newspapers from all different U.S. states, hosted by the Library of Congress. - American Antiquarian Society (AAS) Historical Periodicals, Series 1 This link opens in a new window
Date(s): 1684-1820
Early American newspapers and magazines, digitized at the American Antiquarian Society (AAS) in Worcester.
Note: The American Antiquarian Society (AAS) Historical Periodicals collection includes multiple series that cover the date range 1684-1912. Visit the A-Z Database list for the full collection.
Suggested Primary Source Databases - Slavery and American History
Some suggested databases for historical primary sources related to slavery and abolition are included below.
- Slavery and Anti-Slavery: A Transnational Archive This link opens in a new window
Date(s): 1600-2000
Primary sources created by and about enslaved individuals and the practice of slavery around the world. - Slavery in America & the World This link opens in a new window
Date(s): 18th-20th century
Federal and state statues and court cases, as well as legal commentary, pamphlets, and historic books pertaining to the institution of slavery in the United States and its legal impacts. - Slavery, Abolition & Social Justice This link opens in a new window
Date(s): 1490-2008
Primary sources created by and about enslaved individuals and abolition movements.
CrossSearch
CrossSearch is a one-stop search tool that lets you search most of the informational resources available through the library, including:
- Books, ebooks, archival materials, media and music scores owned by the Holy Cross Libraries.
- Research databases like Academic Search Premier, JSTOR, ARTstor and ProQuest Central.
- E-journal collections like JSTOR and ScienceDirect.
- The Holy Cross digital repository CrossWorks.
- Open Access collections such as HaithiTrust Digital Library
CrossSearch looks in many different places and for many different types of sources. In one search, you might find results for academic journal articles, books in the library’s collection, films, newspaper articles, and more. This can be a good place to start if you want to find a broad scope of the resources available on your topic. However, because CrossSearch includes so many types of resources, you might find you need to filter these results more than you would in a more specific database.
CrossSearch is best accessed through the library home page (www.holycross.edu/academics/libraries).
- CrossSearchFind CrossSearch on the Libraries' home page. It is the purple search box in the center of the page.
Find Books: Library Catalog
Use the Library Catalog to find print books, print journals, and ebooks in the library's collection. Access the Library Catalog search through the library home page (https://www.holycross.edu/library). Above the search bar, select "Library Catalog." To use more advanced searching options, click on the "My Library Account" link below the search bar to go directly to the catalog, where you can search by keyword, title, subject, or call number.
Books on the shelves are organized by call number. A call number is an address for a book that tells you where the book is located on the shelf. Call numbers identify different subject areas, so books with similar call numbers will cover similar subjects. This way, when you find a book on the shelf, you know the books around it are on similar topics.
When you look up a book in CrossSearch or the Library Catalog, you will see the call number listed with the book details.
- Library CatalogUse this link to search the library catalog directly. This will search for books, ebooks, DVDs, and streaming video owned by the libraries.