Tsars/Commissars

Background Research

Books

Books and book chapters in the Library's print collection are an important source of critical literature. Take advantage of the different search options available in the library's catalog. Start with a keyword search and use the hyper-linked subjects to further narrow your search results. Facets can also be used to limit search results. Topic, region, era, and language are some of the available facets.

Keyword search:  tsar* or czar*
Subject search:  emperor* and Russia
Keyword search: commissar* and soviet
Subject search:  communists and "soviet union"
Subject search:  Russia and "ethnic relations"
Subject search:  minorities and "Soviet Union"
Subject search:  (Islam or muslims) and "Soviet Union"
Subject search:  Russia and revolution and 1905
Subject search:  "Soviet Union" and revolution and 1917

Primary sources published in books:

Author search:  Lenin, Vladimir
Subject search:  "Revolution, 1917-1921" and "Personal narratives"
Subject search:  "Soviet Union" and revolution and sources
Subject search:  "Soviet Union" and "political prisoners" and biography
Subject search:  serfs and biography

Journal Articles

Primary Sources Online

  The Current Digest of the Russian Press

A digital archive of Soviet and Russian news and commentary translated into English from 1949 to present.  The archive includes news reports from a Soviet or Russian perspective, important speeches by Soviet leaders and all five year plans.
[Details]

  British Periodicals Collection I (ProQuest)

Over 160 British journals spanning the late 17th through early 20th centuries, and covering a range of topics.
Try a search for Russia and serfs or Soviet and revolution.
Remember to use contemporary language and names such as Turkistan or Tatars.
[Details]

  American Founding Era (Rotunda)

American magazines published from 1741 through the early twentieth century.
[Details]

  Historical New York Times (ProQuest)

The complete archive of the New York Times from 1851 to the present with the exception of the most current two years.
[Details]

  The Times Archives 1785-1985

A digital archive of the London Times from 1785 to 1985.
[Details]

  Making of the Modern World

More than 60,000 books and journals published from 1450 through 1850 with an emphasis on economic literature in the widest sense. Topics include commerce, trade, finance, social conditions, politics and transport.
Start with a simple keyword search for "Soviet Union" or Russia and then narrow your search by adding additional keywords such as serf* or tsar*.
[Details]

  Nineteenth Century UK Periodicals Digital Archive

Includes the complete run of 91 U.K. magazines published during the 19th century.
[Details]

Citing your sources

  RefWorks

Never type a bibliography again! RefWorks will help you easily gather, manage, and store bibliographic citations for all types of information, as well as generate footnotes and bibliographies.
[Details]

  Refworks Tutorial

A comprehensive tutorial on how to use Refworks, a web-based tool to help manage your citations. The tutorial is broken into short sections by topic.
[Details]

  Documenting Sources, Chicago Style

Research and Documentation Online.
Sample bibliography.
[Details]

  Chicago Manual of Style Online

The 16th edition of the standard style manual used by writers and editors of scholarly books and journals.
Use the online Chicago-Style Citation Quick Guide for easy reference.
Watch the online tutorial A Brief Introduction to the Chicago Manual of Style.
Download our guide to Getting Started With Chicago-Style.
A print copy is available at the information desk: Z253.U69 2010
[Details]