This guide is intended for students and researchers at the University of Oxford seeking to learn what eresources are on the History wishlist for purchase or subscription, if and when funding becomes available.
It also gives information what resources have already been trialled and provides tips how to assess an eresources. For eresources already available in Oxford, see Databases A-Z.
If a database or ejournal is not yet on the History wishlist, you can recommend an electronic resource.
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This resource is useful for the study of mental health care throughout the ages.
Bethlem Royal Hospital is a psychiatric facility in London. It was established as a priory of the Order of St Mary of Bethlehem in 1247, before beginning to care for mentally ill patients sometime in the 14th century. Often referred to colloquially as ‘Bedlam’—and generally accepted to be the origin of the very same noun—past incarnations of the institution were infamous for their questionable diagnosis of mental illness and poor treatment of patients.
This collection contains four centuries' and 130,000 images' worth of records from Bethlem. The records are diverse in both form and subject matter. They include: voluntary and criminal admission registers; discharge and death registers; male and female patient casebooks; minutes of the Court of Governors; and staff salary books. All handwritten items have been fully transcribed.
Scholars and students alike will find that, together, the records provide a unique insight into the evolution of so-called lunacy laws—from an early reliance on control of the mentally ill through coercion and restraint to the later emergence of doctrines of self-discipline and moral management.
Please email feedback to Isabel Holowaty.
The Bodleian History Librarian aims to provide a range of electronic resources to support the teaching and research of the History Faculty and primarily for British and Western European history and history of science & medicine.
Existing subscriptions are listed in SOLO and Databases A-Z. If you have any difficulties connecting to a database, please contact eResources.
Oxford readers, esp. staff and students of the History Faculty, are invited to give feedback on the electronic resources desiderata list and participate in trials.
Some comments may be passed to the eresources provider if they help in improving the resource. Feedback will also be collated for discussion in the Committee of Library Provision for History which meets Tuesdays, week 5, each term.
Please note that financial information will not be disclosed at this stage though it clearly is a major factor in deciding whether a purchase / subscription will be taken. Costs can range anything from a few hundred pounds to several thousand of pounds.
Enquiries relating to eResources for countries other than British and Western European and relating to History of Art, should be directed to the relevant subject librarian.
Isabel Holowaty
Bodleian History Librarian
6 November 2019