The History Thesis Fair is aimed at 2nd year history undergraduates embarking on their thesis research and who are looking to explore the wealth of research source material available for their field of study. This year's event took place on April 30. But don't worry if you missed it:
Missed the Fair? Forgot to write something down? This page will collect links to guidance and contact details that you can refer to afterwards!
Didn't make it to the Fair? Forgot contact details? Not to worry! This history LibGuide contains links to a variety of useful subject and research guides that can help you identify resources, databases, and finding aids. Start with the page below:
Each of the guides also identifies the subject librarian who should be your go-to for specialist research enquiries. For your convenience, this box also collects some of the most relevant subject guides and contact details for history students. In addition, see the box below for a potted guide on finding primary and secondary sources, mainly in British and Western European history.
Please consult the relevant subject guide before contacting your subject librarian - your question might well already be answered there!
For more general enquiries about history resources, always first contact:
library.history@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
To find the full alphabetical list of all Bodleian subject librarians, go to:
Byzantium
Subject Librarian: Charlotte Goodall
Email: charlotte.goodall@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Arabic Studies
Lydia Wright
Email: lydia.wright@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Hebrew and Jewish Studies
Cesar Merchan Hamann
Email: cesar.merchan-hamann@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Rahel Fronda
Email: rahel.fronda@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Islamic Studies
Lydia Wright
Email: lydia.wright@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Persian Studies
Lydia Wright
Email: lydia.wright@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Turkish Studies (excluding Ottoman History)
Lydia Wright
Email: lydia.wright@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Ottoman History
Niko Kontovas
Email: nicholas.kontovas@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Hebrew and Jewish Studies
Cesar Merchan Hamann
Email: cesar.merchan-hamann@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Rahel Fronda
Email: rahel.fronda@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
A brief overview of some of the most useful study guides and contact details, drawn from the Fair's stallholders, for primary resources in the History of Western Europe, including the UK and Ireland. For a more exhaustive list, browse the pages below:
GETTING STARTED
GETTING STARTED
Modern History - Source directory (Databases A-Z)
Guide to Modern Sources for British and Western European History
Oxford’s collections (primary & secondary) for modern British and European history are outstanding by both national and international standards. The principal collections are housed in the Bodleian Library. This guide aims to give an overview of some of the Bodleian’s most important and useful finding aids and collections.
ARCHIVES AND MODERN MANUSCRIPTS
PRINTED EPHEMERA (JOHN JOHNSON COLLECTION)
UK AND INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENT PAPERS
OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AND ARCHIVES
GETTING STARTED
Early Modern History - Source directory (Databases A-Z)
Guide to Early Modern Sources for British and Western European History
Oxford’s collections (primary & secondary) for Early Modern British and European history are outstanding by both national and international standards. The principal collections are housed in the Bodleian Library. This guide aims to give an overview of some of the Bodleian’s most important and useful finding aids and collections.
EARLY PRINTED BOOKS
EARLY MODERN MANUSCRIPTS
PRINTED EPHEMERA (JOHN JOHNSON COLLECTION)
GETTING STARTED
Medieval History - Source directory (Databases A-Z)
Guide to Medieval Sources for British and Western European History
Oxford’s collections for British and European medieval history are outstanding by both national and international standards. This guide aims to give an overview of some of the Bodleian’s most important and useful finding aids and collections.
MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPTS
Oxford University undergraduates are issued with a standard (S) reader’s card. This does not automatically grant you access to archives, manuscripts, rare books published before 1701 or other special collections.
To request permission to consult these special collections or to find out more, contact us before you visit by emailing specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.
The Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library holds a number of different special collections including the Wind Collection, Haskell Collection, Rare Book Room, Library of Oxford Architectural and Historical Society and Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Archives.
COLLEGE LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES
Directory of Oxford Colleges - Library and Archives
MAPS
OXFORDSHIRE HISTORY CENTRE [LOCAL HISTORY]
Working on your thesis means that you will need to learn new or improve existing research skills, including:
The Bodleian Libraries have many classes and workshops set up to help you learn the skills you need - check out the research training page on this Libguide:
Ensure you have read the History Faculty's guidance on the Compulsory Thesis in the Oxford Historians Hub:
Important deadlines:
Title Submission - Friday of 6th week, Michaelmas Term of your 3rd Year
Thesis Submission - 12.00 midday on Friday of 8th week of Hilary Term of 3rd year
For advice on footnotes and bibliography, visit:
Need help to manage your bibliography? See the university-wide research guide below:
The Fair is the ideal opportunity to learn about resources you may not yet have considered for your project, and to connect with librarians, archivists, researchers, and collection curators who can guide you towards relevant material or useful finding tools. You can also speak to other students who have previously written dissertations and learn about their TOP 10 TIPS.
At the Fair this year, we had:
Topical stalls, e.g.
Special Collections, libraries and archives, e.g.
Geographical stalls, e.g.
