Primary Text Research in the Humanities

Finding Primary Texts in Microform

Primary texts are the uninterpreted, textual evidence used by humanities researchers to support their arguments and opinions about their research topic.

• Introduction
• Microform Basics
• Searching LOUIS for Microforms
• LOUIS Records for Large Microform Collections
• LOUIS Records for Individual Items within a Large Collection
• Locating Microforms

Introduction

The Brandeis University Libraries microform collection nearly doubles the size of our Libraries. These microforms contain important documents, newspapers, books, and rare materials that were filmed at other research libraries, so that you do not have to travel to these other institutions to use them.

Microform is the generic term for any material that has been reduced in size so small that it requires special optical equipment to view it. The most common form is microfilm, which is a roll of film, but other forms exist as well, like microfiche (commonly called "fiche") and microcard.

*Remember, provide yourself enough time to do your research, especially when working with microforms! It takes time to gather raw material, synthesize it, and draw conclusions about its relevance and meaning.

Microform Basics

There are three microform formats in the Brandeis University Libraries:

• Microfilm is a roll of film containing a series of frames or images much like a roll of film used in a camera.
• Microfiche is a transparent sheet of film made from 105mm film divided into cards that contains a series of micro-images or frames arranged in a grid pattern.
• Microcard is an opaque sheet of paper containing micro-images or frames arranged in a grid pattern. The most common size of microcards is 3" x 5". This format can be found among the microfiche.

Special equipment is used to read microforms. When you load the microform onto a reader, it magnifies the image to a size large enough for you to view it. Some machines have adapters so they can be converted to read several microform formats. Some machines also have printers attached to them, so that you can print out what you are viewing. Unfortunately, the information on microcards cannot be printed at the Brandeis University Libraries, because reader/printers can no longer be purchased for this format.

Searching LOUIS for Microforms

Why limit your search to only microform materials? Since microforms contain a wealth of primary text material, limiting your search in LOUIS to the microform format will quickly give you primary texts that are relevant to your topic. Also, many large microform sets have individual records in LOUIS. Limiting your search to microforms will save you time in identifying these items.

1. Identify the topic words you will use for your search. Use encyclopedias and other background resources to identify key participants, dates and publications (reports, newsletters, magazines, pamphlets, etc.) associated with your topic.
2. Go to LOUIS and use the Advanced Search screen.
3. Put your topic words (people, places, events) in the top box with the Keyword(s) Anywhere Search Type selected. Some examples:
   warsaw ghetto uprising
   (slaves or slavery) and united states
   (women or wives or wife) and united states

   Because microform records in LOUIS are both for large sets covering large subject areas and for individual records within large collections, you should try two different search strategies. Use broad topic words to find large microform collections (e.g., American Civil War, English literature), and use more specific topic words to find individual items within large collections (e.g., Sherman's march, Wordsworth).

4. Put the type of primary text or texts you are looking for in the second box and select the Keyword(s) in Subject Search Type. You must use one of the words listed below; primary text catalog records generally use one of these words as part of their subject heading(s). Skip this step when looking for literary works not covered by any of the terms below.
   sources [one of the most common words that identifies primary texts]
   document* [note the wild card character at the end of this term]
   personal narratives
   correspondence
   letters
   diaries
   interviews
   speeches
   quotations
   periodicals [identifies newspapers, magazines or journals]
   manuscripts
   reports

   *You may want to combine some of the above words using "or"

   Example:
   sources or personal narratives or correspondence or diaries
5. 5. Near the bottom of the Advanced Search screen, change the Include All Formats to Microform.
6. Click on the Go button.

For example, if you enter in LOUIS (Advanced Search) the search

you will obtain results that include The Estlin Papers [1840-1884]: from Dr. William's Library, Gordon Square, London, six reels of microfilm containing letters and pamphlets relating to the anti-slavery movement in the United States.

Records for microforms in LOUIS will either be for large collections or for individual records within a collection. Determining whether the record is for a large collection or for an individual title within a collection is crucial to finding what you need. In many cases, large sets have guides or indexes to help you locate the specific items contained in them. Records in LOUIS for individual titles within a collection will give you enough information so that you can go right to the microform cabinets to retrieve the item.

LOUIS Records for Large Collections

Many materials in microforms are published in large collections or sets, such as Early American Imprints or the American Culture Series. Some collections are records of a specific organization or publication, like The Times of London (from 1785), or The New York Times (from 1851). The LOUIS record will indicate the nature and the contents of the collection. For example,

Within this collection are photographic reproductions of thousands of English language books printed between 1641-1700. There is an index to this set, edited by Donald Wing, called The Short Title Catalogue and it is located in the Reference area of the Microform room. The call number for the Index is also indicated on the LOUIS record.

In many cases, large microform collections have guides or indexes that help you locate specific information or items within the collection. These guides might be in print, microform, or electronic format. The LOUIS record will indicate whether or not the collection has a guide. Carefully read the Notes section in the full LOUIS record or click on the Call Number link, which will take you to the holdings record, to see if the collection has a guide. Guides generally have the same call number as the microform set, and they usually are located in Microform Reference, the low shelves at the front of the Main Microform collection.

LOUIS Records for Individual Items within a Large Collection

Many records in LOUIS for microform materials will be for individual items within a large collection or set. In these cases, the call number will either contain the exact reel number and (sometimes) the position on the reel, or it will contain the microfiche number within the large set. With this location information, you should be able to go right to the microform cabinets, which are in call number order, to find the item.

Determining which large collection the individual item is a part can sometimes help you locate the material faster. This information can be found in the full LOUIS record under Series Name.

Locating Microforms

Most Brandeis University Libraries microforms are located in closed stacks and must be requested through a webform in the LOUIS catalog. However, there are other localized microfilm collections throughout the Brandeis University Libraries: the Music Microform Collection, located on Farber, Level 3; the Judaica Microform Collection, located on the Mezzanine level of Goldfarb in the Judaica reading room; and the Government Documents Microform Collection, located along the outer right wall on Goldfarb, Level 1 near the Government Documents collection. The LOUIS record will tell you where to find what you are looking for.

In all areas, microforms are organized first by microform format (microfilm and microfiche/microcard) and then by call number.

Return to Primary Text Research Practices

Created by
Judith S. Pinnolis
Reference Librarian