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U.S. History

Search Strategies

Boolean operators are words or symbols that tell library databases how to search. With Google, you can throw search terms at the search box and trust that Google's search rules and algorithms will take care of things. Library databases need you to type in the search rules along with the topics and subjects you're searching for.

AND

This command tells the database to search for two or more words in article titles, topics, abstracts and—in the case of JSTOR and Project MUSE—the full text of articles. For example:

  • Utah AND WWII
  • Utah AND WWII AND economy

"Quotation Marks"

Quotation marks are used to tell databases to search for words in a certain order. This is especially useful for finding titles or specific topics that can't be boiled down to a specific word. For example:

  • Utah AND "World War II"
  • Utah AND "World War II" AND "Geneva Steel"

Finding Articles

The Fulton Library subscribes to a variety of databases that can be used for history research. Each of these databases can be used for different purposes. Some databases are best for interdisciplinary research. Others are best for research straight from historians. 

For databases that include primary sources, such as articles from historic newspapers and magazines, see the Find Primary Sources section of this guide.

History Research Databases

Interdisciplinary Research Databases

Recommended U.S. History Journals

Interlibrary Loan for Articles

If you can't access the full text of an article using any of the resources on this page, use Interlibrary Loan to request the article. We'll locate another library that has the article and get you a PDF copy for free; this typically takes 2-3 business days. UVU students and employees should never pay for articles—the library has you covered!

Library Help

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  • Text: 801.290.8123