LibGuides: National History Day: Getting Started--Background Sources

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NHD Official Documents

NHD RULE BOOK
Contains new content from previous editions.

NHD THEME HELP: This website provides ideas and resources for students on the topics related to the NHD theme.

NHD Colorado
Find State resources for Colorado students participating in NHD>
NHD Teacher Resources
Format Category Infographics

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Resources for Background Information

World History In Context This link opens in a new window
World History in Context provides an overview of world history that covers the most-studied events, periods, cultures, civilizations, religions, conflicts, wars, ideologies, cultural movements, people, and more.
History Reference Center This link opens in a new window
Covering both U.S History and World topics, History Reference Center is a full-text database featuring historical reference books, magazines, journals and thousands of primary source documents.
Biography in Context This link opens in a new window
Meet the people who made history! Gale's authoritative reference content, including Lives & Perspectives, alongside primary sources, multimedia, videos, audio selections, images, and magazine and journal articles
Explora for High School Students This link opens in a new window
• Search for articles using a single search box
• Browse popular topics for research ideas
• Find Topic Overviews for background information
• Use citation tools to properly cite your research
New York Times Historical Newspaper (from 1851) This link opens in a new window
Explore important events in the New York Times archive such as immigration, global markets, inventions in industry and science, coverage from the Civil War to war on terrorism. This historical newspaper provides genealogists, researchers and scholars with online, easily-searchable first-hand accounts and unparalleled coverage of the politics, society and events of the time. For CURRENT NYTimes access please visit our download and stream page.
National Geographic Virtual Library This link opens in a new window
A digital reproduction of National Geographic Magazine from 1888 to the current issue. Includes books and videos, National Geographic Traveler and Kids Edition. Printable articles and downloadable photos.
CultureGrams This link opens in a new window
Concise reports on countries,U.S. states & Canadian provinces. Uses primary & secondary sources.
Points of View Reference Center This link opens in a new window
These resources present multiple sides of an issue and rich content that help students assess and develop persuasive arguments and essays, better understand controversial issues, develop analytical thinking skills and gain a balanced perspective on current events and issues.
Access World News This link opens in a new window
World and local newspapers, including Daily Camera, Denver Post and Rocky Mtn. News. Includes over 3,000 dailies in the USA and over 6,000 resources from around the world.
Live Homework Help This link opens in a new window
Get free one-on-one homework help from a live online tutor. Tutors are available for all-subjects grades k-college on the Brainfuse platform. Make flashcards, create a whiteboard, or make a virtual study room for you and your friends. Help available in Spanish and English every day from 2 to 11 p.m. MST

This service is available to Boulder Public Library account holders and BVSD students who attend school within the Boulder city limits. Need a library card? Set up your free Boulder Public Library account today.
Tutoring Help
Access real-time help every day from 2 to 11 p.m. MST with the Brainfuse online classroom. Tutors are trained to not provide answers, but to help users master a problem's underlying idea. Help services are available in Spanish for all subjects offered in English.

eLearning Tools
A variety of tools are available to help you study! Create whiteboards, flashcards, make practice tests, use virtual study rooms and more!

Academic and Standardized Test Help
- The new SAT
- ACT
- The new GED
- TASC (a GED alternative test)
- HiSet (a GED alternative test)
- ASVAB
- TOEFL
- TOEIC
- US Citizenship Test
- College Placement Test Preparation
Online Writing Lab
Revise, edit and learn new techniques in the Brainfuse writing lab. Get help with your college essay.

FASFA and Financial Aide Help
Get live help filling out your FAFSA application. Experts can assist with any application questions (e.g. which line to use from their tax returns). Look under Expert Help> Featured Services
American Decades Primary Sources This link opens in a new window
Each volume in this 10 volume set includes full or excerpted primary sources representing the essential issues, themes, movements and events from a decade across the 20th Century. Includes oral histories, songs, speeches, advertisements, TV, play and movie scripts, letters, laws, legal decisions, newspaper articles, cartoons, recipes, and more

Websites with a specific focus

Women's History Archives
Latino-Americans
Women in World History -Primary Sources
Asian American Primary Sources
Guide and primary source portal from Univ. of Southern California library.
National Museum of African American History & Culture
Native American History
American Indian Library Association
Children and Youth in History

eBook Collections

American Decades 1900 -1999 This link opens in a new window
Cross-disciplinary source for junior and high school students and teachers general researchers who need to document and analyze periods of contemporary American social history (1900-1999)
American Decades 2000-2009 This link opens in a new window
Cross-disciplinary sources for decade 2000-2009 An aid to analyze periods of contemporary American social history for that decade.
American Decades Primary Sources This link opens in a new window
Each volume in this 10 volume set includes full or excerpted primary sources representing the essential issues, themes, movements and events from a decade across the 20th Century. Includes oral histories, songs, speeches, advertisements, TV, play and movie scripts, letters, laws, legal decisions, newspaper articles, cartoons, recipes, and more
American Eras: Primary Sources, v. 1 This link opens in a new window
Covers Development of the Industrial United States, 1878-1899 with primary source documents, and in context notes.
American Eras Primary Sources Vol 2 This link opens in a new window
Covers Civil War and Reconstruction, 1860-1877 with primary sources and in context explanatory text.

LIVE TUTORING HELP

Live Homework Help This link opens in a new window
Get free one-on-one homework help from a live online tutor. Tutors are available for all-subjects grades k-college on the Brainfuse platform. Make flashcards, create a whiteboard, or make a virtual study room for you and your friends. Help available in Spanish and English every day from 2 to 11 p.m. MST

This service is available to Boulder Public Library account holders and BVSD students who attend school within the Boulder city limits. Need a library card? Set up your free Boulder Public Library account today.
Tutoring Help
Access real-time help every day from 2 to 11 p.m. MST with the Brainfuse online classroom. Tutors are trained to not provide answers, but to help users master a problem's underlying idea. Help services are available in Spanish for all subjects offered in English.

eLearning Tools
A variety of tools are available to help you study! Create whiteboards, flashcards, make practice tests, use virtual study rooms and more!

Academic and Standardized Test Help
- The new SAT
- ACT
- The new GED
- TASC (a GED alternative test)
- HiSet (a GED alternative test)
- ASVAB
- TOEFL
- TOEIC
- US Citizenship Test
- College Placement Test Preparation
Online Writing Lab
Revise, edit and learn new techniques in the Brainfuse writing lab. Get help with your college essay.

FASFA and Financial Aide Help
Get live help filling out your FAFSA application. Experts can assist with any application questions (e.g. which line to use from their tax returns). Look under Expert Help> Featured Services

Research Rendezvous

Missed the live Mastering your Thesis event? Watch the recording here, as Kayla Gabehart shows you how to form and revise your thesis. FAQs at the end answer students' questions about NHD in Colorado.

More information from National History Day in Colorado