Answers

Getting started with Archives Unbound

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Archives Unbound is a digital collection of primary source documents organized into over 350 topic-focused archives. It covers a wide range of subjects, including U.S. foreign policy, civil rights, global affairs, colonial history, Holocaust studies, LGBTQ+ studies, women’s studies, and political science. Key features include:

• Rare historical documents from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.
• Collections designed for in-depth academic research in history, social sciences, and cultural studies.
• Ability to search, download, and cite documents for essays and projects.

This resource is ideal for students working on history dissertations, political analysis, or cultural studies projects, providing authentic materials for primary source research.

How to search Archives Unbound

1. Start with a Basic Search
   • Use the search bar to enter keywords related to your topic (e.g., “civil rights,” “Cold War”).
   • Results will include primary source documents from curated historical collections.
   • For better results, use quotation marks for exact phrases (e.g., "climate change").
      
2. Use Advanced Search for precision. 
   Click Advanced Search to:
   • Combine multiple keywords with AND, OR, NOT.
   • Filter by date range, collection title, or document type.
   • Search within specific archives for focused results.

Browse collections

• Explore archives by subject area (e.g., Women’s Studies, LGBTQ+ History, Political Science).
• Each collection includes contextual information to help you understand its scope.

Tip: Always check the collection description to understand the historical significance of the documents you’re using.

Save and Cite your sources

Use built-in tools to:

• Download, print, or email articles.
• Send to Google Drive or OneDrive for easy organisation.
• Generate Harvard style citations. Remember to check the Arden University Referencing Style.
• Highlights & Notes: Annotate documents for research.

Extra features

• Use zoom and rotate tools for detailed viewing.
• Read accompanying descriptions for historical context.
• Search within document for specific terms.
• Cross-search with other Gale resources for broader research.

Related FAQs

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Further guidance

See Gale video tutorials for further guidance

If you would like more help, email us at Library@arden.ac.uk or book a librarian appointment