Research Help

Identifying the right resources in Special Collections can be a challenge.  This information is meant to help researchers find appropriate materials.  Below is a short list of links we find helpful.

OneSearch, the FIT Library online catalog, allows you to search holdings by subject, keyword, title, author, etc. Some of our holdings' records are linked to finding aids which will provide more detail about what a specific collection contains. If searching catalogs is new for you, ask a Reference Librarian or a Special Collections Associate for help.

A finding aid is a text document providing a description of the contents of a collection, just like a table of contents outlines the contents of a book. Using a finding aid can provide an understanding of a collection in its entirety, relationships between its component parts, and help you locate the portions of a collection pertinent to your inquiry.  If a finding aid is available for a given collection OneSearch will offer a link providing detailed information.

You may want to contact a Special Collections Associate to assist you with your search. After you have examined the catalog, finding aids, and website, call or email to confirm your findings and conclusions. If you find specific materials that seem particularly important during your search, write down the titles and call numbers from those materials and share them with the staff.  Tell us about your research project and intent and we can help to clarify what materials are held at the repository in order to set up an appointment that is most beneficial to your project's needs.

Researching Archives & Primary Resources:
Society of American Archivists: Guide to Archives
Primary Resources at Yale University

Copyright Help:
Cornell University Copyright Information Center
Stanford University Libraries Copyright & Fair Use Chart