UNDERGRADUATE HISTORY THESIS FAIR 2025
!! Save the Date !!
Wednesday 30 April, 3-5pm
Examination Schools (North Writing School)
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.
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.
Missed the Fair? Forgot to write something down? Don't worry. This page will collect links to guidance and contact details that you can refer to afterwards!
Topical stalls, e.g.
Special Collections, libraries and archives, e.g.
Geographical stalls, e.g.
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:
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 page below:
GETTING STARTED
Finding books and journals - Bibliographic databases
Library catalogues and bibliographical databases (also known as abstracting & indexing databases) are a important resources to find books on a particular topic or by a particular author. Most catalogues will allow you to search by author, title or subject keywords.
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)
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]
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.
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 collects the most relevant contact details for history students.
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:
African History
Sarah Rhodes
Email: sarah.rhodes@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Egyptology
Anthea Crane
Email: anthea.crane@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Caucasus and Central Asia
Niko Kontovas
Email: nicholas.kontovas@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
China
Mamtimyn Sunuodula
Email: mamtimyn.sunuodula@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Japan
Anna Sharko
Email: anna.sharko@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
South Asia (Classical history)
Gillian Evison
Email: gillian.evison@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
South Asia (Modern history)
Emma Mathieson
Email: emma.mathieson@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Tibet
Charles Manson
Email: charles.manson@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Caucasus and Central Asia
Niko Kontovas
Email: nicholas.kontovas@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Slavonic and East European Studies
Eleanor Peers
Email: eleanor.peers@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Slavonic Literature and Language
Nick Hearn
Email: nick.hearn@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Barbara Baj Wojtowicz (Slavonic Regional Specialist)
Email: barbara.bajwojtowicz@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Languages and Literatures of Latin America
Joanne Ferrari
Email: joanne.ferrari@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
History and Social Sciences of Latin America
Frank Egerton
Email: frank.egerton@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Ancient Near East
Anthea Crane
Email: anthea.crane@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Arabic Studies
Lydia Wright
Email: lydia.wright@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Byzantium
Charlotte Goodall
Email: charlotte.goodall@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
US History
Bethan Davies
Email: bethan.davies@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Ancient History
Charlotte Goodall
Email: charlotte.goodall@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
History (undergraduates)
Rachel D'Arcy-Brown
Email: rachel.darcy-brown@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
History (graduates)
Isabel Holowaty
Email: isabel.holowaty@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Commonwealth History
Sarah Rhodes
Email: sarah.rhodes@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
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:
