Historical studies resources and support
Your Subject Librarian
Catherine Dack
Other Arts and Social Sciences Library staff can answer your more general library queries.
Historical studies resources are available in these branch libraries
Most historical studies resources are held in the Arts and Social Sciences Library.
The Arts and Social Sciences Library classmark scheme shows how the books and journals are arranged.
The core material for historians is concentrated in the following areas:
- C: Auxiliary sciences of history
- D: European, Asian, African and Australasian history
- E-F: North and South American history
- HC-HD: Economic history
- J: Politics
- U-V: Military and maritime history
A guide to the library's microforms for historians (PDF, 312KB) is available.
Useful material is also contained in other branches:
- Geography & the historic environment - in the Geography Library
- History of Medicine & Public Health - in the Medical Library
Course based materials
- Recommended textbooks (books in high demand for essays, for example) are kept in the Short Loan Collection (SLC).
- Examination papers: sets of past examination papers (bound in years) can be found on the first floor of the Arts and Social Sciences Library, on the shelves next to the pamphlet collection.
Thesis collection
University of Bristol Historical Studies PhD theses are held in the Arts and Social Sciences Library thesis collection, kept in a locked cage on the first floor. They may be consulted within the library, and you will need to complete a slip for each one. Please ask at the library issue desk.
Special collections
The Arts and Social Sciences Library contains a special collection of rare books.
Other local collections
- Bristol Central Library - the Reference Library has an excellent collection of local history material.
- Bristol Record Office - holds the records of the City Council and the Diocese of Bristol, as well as those of many other bodies and individuals, including the local Law Courts, schools, hospitals, businesses and estates.
- Research Resources in Bristol - a guide produced by the History Department, University of Bristol, to local research collections.
Note: some of the documents on this page are in PDF format. In order to view a PDF you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader 
How to find books, journals, and more
- Quick search on the Library homepage
search for books, journals, or articles and databases using our various search tools, plus Internet search using Google Scholar. - The Subject resources section of these pages includes Historical Studies databases via MetaLib for searching for journal articles references, etc, quick reference tools, and Internet links.
- Our Library collections and eResources pages give full advice on finding all types of materials.
- The Inter-Library Loans (ILL) service can be used to obtain Items not held in print in the University's branch libraries or available online. See below for more details. Access to other university libraries and the British Library may be a useful alternative.
Inter-Library Loans and ILL vouchers
The Inter-Library Loans (ILL) service can be used to obtain Items not held in print in the University's branch libraries or available online. There is a charge for this service, though it may be possible to obtain an Inter-library loan voucher to pay for this:
- Historical Studies department staff can obtain inter-library loan voucher from the School Postgraduate and Research Administrator, Mrs Kay Russell, in the School of Humanities Office.
- Historical Studies research postgraduate students can obtain inter-library loan vouchers from the School Postgraduate and Research Administrator, Mrs Kay Russell in the School of Humanities Office, but they should consult with their advisor before doing so. Taught postgraduates are entitled to a limited number of vouchers for their dissertation and also need to consult their supervisor in advance.
- Final year Historical Studies undergraduate students may be entitled to vouchers for their dissertations but should discuss the matter with their supervisor before requesting vouchers from the School Postgraduate and Research Administrator, Mrs Kay Russell, in the School of Humanities Office.
Information for academic staff and researchers
- Our Research support pages cover finding information, managing information, and exploiting your research, together with sources of further help and advice.
- Each academic department in the university has its own library representative, whose duties are detailed in these guidelines. The Library Representative for Historical Studies is is Dr Kenneth Austin
- Book purchase recommendations and suggestions for new journals or databases can be made direct to the Subject Librarian, though in the latter case it is best to also discuss the matter with the departmental Library Representative.
- New academic staff are welcome to contact the Subject Librarian to arrange a session on how the Library can help you.