Database Access - History - HSTR 499 (History of MSUB) - LibGuides at Montana State University-Billings

Database Searching Tips

The MSUB Library subscribes to over 100 databases which contain thousands of full-text articles. When accessing these databases from off-campus, you will be prompted to log in with your MSUB NetID & Password.

Spend some time brainstorming keywords & search terms to improve your search results. When you find a good article, look at its Reference list or Works Cited page because these can often lead you to other good sources.

Keyword searching is the default in most databases

Use important nouns as search words
Try using synonyms of your search words to increase results
Avoid common words: "a," "an," "the," "to," "of," etc.
Use double quotations around search terms to search for an exact phrase. Example: "Eastern Montana College"

Recommended Databases

Best Bet Databases for Secondary Sources

Sign-in with your NetID & Password when prompted:

America: History & Life with Full Text This link opens in a new window
Research database covering the history and culture of the United States and Canada from prehistory to the present. It includes hundreds of full-text history journals, plus useful features such as the ability to search by time period.
JSTOR This link opens in a new window
A digital archive collection of over 600 core scholarly journals in the arts, humanities, social sciences, business, basic science, life sciences, and physical and applied sciences. Often starts with the first issues (many of which date from the 1800s).
Historical Abstracts with Full Text This link opens in a new window
Full-text database covering world history (excluding the United States and Canada) from the 15th century to the present. It includes hundreds of history journals and books, plus useful features such as the ability to search by time period.

Other Places to Search

Academic Search Complete This link opens in a new window
Comprehensive scholarly, multi-disciplinary full-text database.
Billings Gazette: Digital Archives of Billings Public Library This link opens in a new window
The Advantage Preservation portal stores digital archives of recent editions of the Billings Gazette starting with January 2013. The collection is expanded at quarterly intervals and includes an assortment of early Gazettes from 1929 to 1970.
Chronicling America (Montana Newspapers) This link opens in a new window
80 newspapers from Montana are freely available for viewing. This digital collection is sponsored jointly by the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Montana Newspapers This link opens in a new window
Montana Newspapers is a freely accessible web resource by the Montana Historical Society. This full-text searchable database contains 352,797 pages from 44 Montana newspapers dated 1885-2014.
Newspapers.com West Collection This link opens in a new window
Full-text access to over 150 digitized newspapers from the Western states (and Arkansas!)

The Retort
Current edition of the MSUB school newspaper

WorldCat (OCLC FirstSearch) This link opens in a new window
Books and other materials in libraries worldwide

History - HSTR 499 (History of MSUB): Database Access

Database Searching Tips

Recommended Databases