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History Resources

In addition to consulting the resources listed here, visit these research guides from Augustana's Special Collections: 

Primary Sources for Local History: Illinois, Iowa, and the Upper Mississippi River Valley

Newspaper Collections

Chicago Tribune

Chicago Defender

Rock Island Argus

NewspaperArchive (above) contains the digitized Rock Island Argus from 1871-1922. To consult the Argus 1922-2016, you will need to use the library's collections on microfilm, which are located at the far north end of the 1st floor.

Please ask a librarian if you'd like help with the microfilm reader.

Moline Dispatch

Other Midwestern Newspapers

For more recent coverage of the historical newspapers listed here, search US Newsstream (bottom link).

Augustana's book collection is strong in local history, especially Illinois history. The local history shelves are a suitable size for browsing; just be sure to distinguish carefully between primary source texts and secondary source texts. Here are some relevant call number ranges:

  • Illinois: F536 - F550
  • Iowa: F616 - F630
  • Wisconsin: F576 - F590
  • Mississippi River Valley: F350.5 - F355

You can also locate primary sources at Augustana or through I-Share using OneSearch (below). To do so, it's best to begin at the Advanced Search screen, then use one of the following methods:

1. To locate a collection of primary sources about a historical topic, search the topic in the top box and the word "sources" as a Subject in the second box. Be sure to keep the topic broad! Here's an example:

Screenshot of a search at the Advanced Search screen. "Illinois" is typed in the top box. "Sources" is typed in the box below; "Subject" has been selected in the second drop-down menu to the left.

2. To locate a specific text, search it by Title:

Screenshot of a search at the Advanced Search screen. "Life of Black Hawk" is typed in the top box. "Title" is selected in the first drop-down menu.

3. To locate a collection, or an entire book, by a specific person, search them as an Author/Creator:

Screenshot of a search at the Advanced Search screen. "Michelle Obama" is typed in the top box. "Author/Creator" is selected in the first drop-down menu.

Find books, articles, movies, and more.

Advanced Search

Augustana owns the entire Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library, a series on Illinois history that includes many primary source documents you're unlikely to find elsewhere. The volumes in the series are listed individually below, along with brief descriptions. You can find the entire print collection on the 3rd floor at F536 .I25 v. 1-38.

  • Hyperlinked titles are available full-text from Hathi Trust, and in print at the call numbers shown.
  • Titles without links are only available in print.

Augustana's Special Collections houses a rich collection of material on the history of the college, only a small percentage of which has been digitized. Visit Special Collections in person to conduct more in-depth primary source research.