The Special Collections Research Center (SCRC) welcomes you and your students to use our outstanding collections. The SCRC is a learning lab where your students can do hands-on research using millions of pages of original manuscripts, pamphlets, rare books, maps, photographs, and other items. Our collections date back to the 1500s and cover a wide range of subjects.
Topical blitz of sources (many departments)—during a class visit to the SCRC, each student or group could be assigned a different rare book, periodical, or manuscript to analyze as a source for research on the course’s subject. The students could then do brief oral or written reports on their assigned source exposing the entire class to a range of sources. This could be an introduction to a more in-depth research project.
Letters or diaries (history, English, American studies, government, religion, sociology, psychology, global studies, women’s studies)—depending on how in-depth you want to go, have students read one or more letters or diary excerpts related to the subject of the course, create a list of what information the source provides and what questions it raises, identify the author and situation, transcribe, annotate.
Curriculum history (most departments)—explore the history of your discipline by studying curriculum changes through the catalog, departmental records, faculty files, and lecture or course notes in the University Archives.
Sermons and speeches (religion, history, speech, English)—have students examine and analyze the text of one or more sermons, with the questions varying depending on the purpose of the course. The SCRC has an abundant supply of both unpublished and published sermons and speeches.
Natural history (environmental studies, biology)—have students compare the descriptions and images of animals (such as birds) or plants in older natural history books to present-day images. We have Audubon, Curtis's Botanical Magazines, The Naturalists' Library, and other well-illustrated rare books.
New edition (English, languages, history, American studies, classics)—students could be assigned to find a book or pamphlet in the SCRC related to the course subject that deserves to be reprinted in a modern edition. The student could then write an annotated introduction to the new edition, including a publication history, explanation of the book’s importance, content analysis, etc.
Periodical analysis (English, history, American studies, religion, sociology)—each student could be assigned a different issue/periodical to analyze, either as an artifact or a research source. Possibilities include literary magazines, annual registers, religious journals, temperance or other reform organizations’ journals, etc.
Artists’ books/fine press books (art, English)—students could analyze different fine press books—art students could analyze the details of the presentation and how it fits together, while English students could analyze how the presentation affects the meaning.
Poetry (English, history, American studies, religion)—analysis of poems available in several formats, including original poems in manuscript form, poems copied into commonplace books, and poems printed in books and magazines. Analysis could include the physical manifestation of the poem and how that affects meaning/interpretation.
Plays (theater, literature)—have students read (or act out) one of the many plays available in the SCRC in manuscript or published form, including some performed at William and Mary in years past. Have them analyze what the play tells them about the time period in which it was written or, if any information on the staging is available, in which it was performed.
Multiple editions (classics, English)—students could compare different editions of the same book to analyze changes in its interpretation and presentation.
Consumer research (history, American studies, anthropology, economics, women’s studies, sociology)—students could analyze ads from magazines and newspapers to determine how consumerism/marketing has changed over time. Alternatively, they could use account books and ledgers to determine what people were buying and selling in different eras or what sorts of activities were possible within a household, based on its possessions.
Political cartoons (history, American studies, English, government, art)—students could evaluate political cartoons for viewpoints, symbols, effectiveness. The SCRC has modern political cartoons by Hugh Haynie and earlier ones in magazines such as Puck (SCRC has 1890-1891).
Exploration/travel narratives (history, literature, biology, sociology)—have students individually or in groups analyze a travel or exploration narrative in our rare books. Depending on the discipline, they could look for descriptions of flora and fauna, accounts of interactions with different peoples, the reactions of the writer, etc.
Sheet music (music, history, American studies)—have students perform the music itself, if they can. Students also can analyze sheet music—why was this song published? How did this particular edition differ from earlier or later arrangements? How was the music presented physically on the sheet? Who was the audience? What does it tell us about its times?
