This guide provides an overview of information and resources available at the Oliver Wendell Holmes Library. Selected print and electronic resources are provided.

The following steps will assist you in the research process.

Step 1: Get Organized

Think about the assignment and what you are required to do. What do you want to write about? How much time do you have to complete the assignment? How long is the paper or report? Do I need any special types of material such as newspaper or magazine articles from the time period?

Step 2: Gather Information

Finding Reference books:

Begin your research with refence books to help you gain an overview of your topic, develop a list of search terms, and begin to build a bibliography.

Click here for a list of selected specialized reference books (available in the Garver Room) to help you begin your research.

Finding circulating books: OWL the library's online catalog is your source for books on Kesey biography and criticism. You can also expand your search to include the holdings of other libraries in the NOBLE system. You may request books from these other libraries and have them delivered here in a few days time.

If your topic includes:	Try these catalog searches
Psychiatric and Psychological Aspects:	Psychotherapy Electroshock therapy Psychosurgery (lobotomy) Stuttering Compare treatments before and/or after the novel for the following: clinical depression, manic depression, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, multiple personalities disorder The use of psychedelic drugs and schizophrenia Psychoanalysis and dream theory Social deviance Group therapy
The 1950s (how is the novel reacting to these things):	Events and technology Music Television Theater, film, and radio (especially the western) Sports Art and architecture Fashion and fads Education Literature: the Beat Movement Eisenhower's policies (and Chief’s “combine”)
The 1960s (how is the novel anticipating these things):	The Hell’s Angels Timothy Leary Civil rights The Vietnam War Rock music Campus protests Hippies/communes
General topics	Gender Roles Nursing U.S. policies and the Columbia River Indians Children’s literature The New World and Native Americans Religious Symbolism
Comparisons	Plato’s Allegory of the Cave Condon’s (novel) Frankenheimer’s (film) The Manchurian Candidate Spark’s (novel) Neame’s (film) The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Heller’s Catch 22 Captain Marvel, Flash Gordon, The Lone Ranger Melville’s Billy Budd Ellison’s Invisible Man Orwell's 1984 and/or Huxley's Brave New World

Finding books on Desk Reserve:

Click here for a list of books on desk reserve to help you in your research.

Finding electronic databases:

TO FIND JOURNAL ARTICLES AND OTHER RESOURCES USING ELECTRONIC DATABASES
If you need this type of information:	Try these sources:	TIP: There is no one perfect electronic database. The best database for you depends on your particular information need. This discussion of Choosing the Right Electronic Resources can save you time by helping you to match your information need with one or more source types.
Images of Art and Architecture	ARTStor
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION	BIOGRAPHY RESOURCE CENTER	Literature Online
LITERARY CRITICISM	CONTEMPORARY LITERARY CRITICISM SELECT	Literature Online
GENERAL PERIODICALS	GENERAL REFERENCE CENTER GOLD	MASTERFILE PREMIER	e-LIBRARY
OVERVIEWS / COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION	Literature Online	AMERICAN HUMANITIES INDEX	ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA
SCHOLARLY JOURNALS	ACADEMIC ASAP	EXPANDED ACADEMIC PLUS	PROJECT MUSE	JSTOR
NEWS	NEW YORK TIMES ARCHIVE	NEW YORK TIMES CURRENT	NEWSPAPER SOURCE	Historical Newspapers
NEWS/OPINION	CQ RESEARCHER	OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS
ELECTRONIC BOOKS	NET LIBRARY	GOOGLE BOOK SEARCH
COMPLETE A TO Z LIST of OWHL Databases

 

Finding Internet Web Sites:

**Remember to evaluate web sites for authority and content.

National Institute of Mental Health	Decade of the Fifties	Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters
Literature & Culture of the Fifties	Decade of the Sixties	A Glossary of Literary Terms
Glossary of Literary Theory	Literary Resources on the Net	The Cambridge History of English and American Literature

 

Step 3: Use the Information

Step 4: Take time to Reflect

Ask yourself: did you accomplish what you wanted to do? If you take the time to evaluate what you did you will become a better researcher.

Questions or comments? Email OWHL Web Team at
© Phillips Academy 1999
Last Update March 13, 2006