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History: History Thesis Fair for Undergraduates

An overview of guides to History collections in Oxford.

A female student is being helped by a female subject librarian, discussing which resources might be useful.HISTORY THESIS FAIR - Thursday 25 April 2-4pm

The History Thesis Fair is aimed at 2nd year history undergraduates embarking on their research for a dissertation and who are looking for source materials.

The Fair is an excellent opportunity to gain a wider perspective on the wealth and riches of research sources available for your field of study.

 

Discover and learn about resources for your thesis you may not yet have yet considered.

 

Meet librarians and the curators of collections who can guide you towards relevant material or useful finding tools.

Photo showing a crowd of students and librarians in the North Writing School, Exam Schools, University of Oxford. There are many many stalls where students talk to local experts.

 

Speak to other students who have previously written dissertations and learn about their TOP 10 TIPS.

 

Explore and discover new materials at your own pace, to be curious, to network and to make connections to experts and your peers while also learning about creative use of sources in Digital Scholarship.

HISTORY THESIS FAIR Discover sources for your research Thursday week 1 (25 April) Colleges B-N: 2-3pm   -  Colleges O-W: 3-4pm North Writing School, Examination Schools

Stalls at the Fair

Special Collections, libraries and archives, e.g.

  • Archives and Manuscripts pre-1500
  • Archives and Manuscripts 1500-1830
  • Archives and Modern Manuscripts 1830-
  • College Libraries (Special Collections)
  • College Archives’ Collections
  • Oxford Brookes University Special Collections & Archives
  • Oxfordshire History Centre
  • Early Printed Books
  • UK Government and International Intergovernmental Publications

Topical stalls, e.g.

  • Biography
  • Digital Scholarship
  • Disability History
  • Economic and Social History
  • English Literature
  • LGBTQ, Gender and Sexuality
  • History of Science & Medicine
  • Maps and Mapping
  • Visual Culture
  • and more

Geographical stalls, e.g.

  • Africa & Commonwealth
  • East Asia & South Asia
  • Eastern Europe and Russia
  • Great Britain & Western Europe
  • Middle East, Hebrew & Judaica, Caucasus & Central Asia
  • Latin America
  • United States

Get ready to learn research skills

Hands holding some soil and a small plant

Doing research on your thesis also means that you will need to learn new skills, deepening your knowledge of resources and sources and how to go about locating and using them.

To help you on this exciting journey, the library has organised a series of talks, classes, workshops and a Thesis Fair which are designed to

  1. Upskill your information searching and research skills;
  2. Learn about the rich sources available to them in Oxford (and beyond) and know how to access them;
  3. Learn how to handle the material, incl. archives, correct citation practices, ethical research practice, etc.;
  4. Get to know relevant experts in Oxford libraries and archives.

Check out the classes and workshops (watch this space) set up for you to help you learn the skills you will need.

Research Training for Historians

Accessibility

The main entrance to the Examination Schools is stepped. There is a ramped entrance immediately to the left of the main entrance. There is lift access throughout the building, two wheelchair accessible toilets and hearing support systems that can be deployed where needed throughout the building. Most areas of the building have level access.

The accessible toilet is gender neutral and is at the bottom of the staircase opp. Room 8.

If you have any queries, please email library.history@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

Missed the Fair?

If you can't attend the Fair, then fear not. You can still speak to experts, learn about sources and get help:

If you need any help, contact us at library.history@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

History Faculty guidance

Ensure you have read the History Faculty's guidance on the Compulsory Thesis (SSO required).

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