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History 305: Women & Gender in Premodern Europe

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Book Search Tips for Material Culture

  • You'll likely find that books related to your object and to material culture are shelved on all floors of Collins Library.  (This is due to how the Library of Congress subject classification system works.)  A few examples:
     
    • If you're researching the collar that Isabeau of Bavaria commissioned for her pet squirrel, you might find yourself up on the fourth floor in the section beginning with the call letters SF, which is devoted to animal-human relationships.
      human-animal relationships-- Europe -- History -- to 1500
       
    • If you're exploring the design and production of a particular type and style of gold or silver jewelry, you may find relevant books on the third floor, in the section beginning with the call letters NK7300, which is devoted to the history of jewelry made of precious metals.
      Goldwork, Medieval OR Silverwork, Medieval
       
  • It's often a good idea to "zoom out" a few levels rather than search for books on your narrower topic. (Of course, there are exceptions for some objects which are so well-known and studied that they have entire books devoted to them.)  To do this, it helps to know what some of the most common LC subject headings are for aspects of material culture.  Here are some examples:
     
  • When in doubt, you always can use the relatively new Library of Congress Subject Heading "material culture," followed by geographic location and time period.  For example:
     

Key Databases

Medieval Craftsmen Series (University of Toronto Press)