This guide will help you conduct research for your Theologies of the Civil Rights Movement final project. If you get stuck at any point when looking for sources, feel free to contact Amelia Koford or another librarian.
During our library instruction session in Fall 2021, use this link to access a shared document.
Primary sources offer firsthand evidence from people with a direct connection to the topic. Examples of primary sources:
Secondary sources are one step removed from the primary source. They analyze or interpret past events, creative works, or research findings. Examples of secondary sources:
Some people also refer to another category, tertiary sources - several steps removed from the primary source. Examples of tertiary sources:
Black protest; history, documents, and analyses, 1619 to the present by Civil Rights and the Black American by 
Testimonio: a documentary history of the Mexican American struggle for civil rights by Voices of freedom: an oral history of the civil rights movement from the 1950s through the 1980s by Black theology: a documentary history by Search for your figure's name in many different places.
Try your figure's name as the only search term, especially in the library catalog or WorldCat. In other databases, also try looking for an Advanced Search screen and adding an additional search term such as God, theology, religio* (will find religion or religious in most databases), spiritual*, or faith.
The library has an index called the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature. It is a physical reference source located on the main floor. You can use it to find articles by subject in the library's bound periodicals such as:
You can also use the Reader's Guide to locate periodical articles that the library does not own and request them through ILL.
Provides full-text access (including backfiles) to periodicals. These periodicals are also indexed in QuickSearch. American Spectator (1967-present), Commentary (1945-present), Commonweal (1924-present), Dissent (1954-present), Harper's (1850-present), La Follette's Magazine (1909-1929), Moment (1975-present), The Nation (1865-present), National Review (1955-present), The New Leader (1924-present), The New Republic (1914-present), The New Yorker (1925-present), Orion (1982-present), The Progressive (1909-present), The Washington Monthly (1969-present), and The Weekly Standard (1995-present).
Librarians offer in-depth research help.
During library open hours, ask at the main desk for help finding what you need. The desk is usually staffed by student workers - if you have in-depth research questions, just let them know that you want to meet with a librarian.
Click on the Ask a Question tab on the right side of a library web page. It will bring you either to live chat, or to a place where you can leave a message.
830-372-8100 (main desk)
Library directory (list of individual library staff and faculty)
Need an item that our library doesn't own? No worries, you can email the title, author and date of what you need to ill@tlu.edu or fill out a form. We can get most (but not all) articles within 2 days and many books within 4-8 days.
For more information, visit our interlibrary loan page.
