Using Special Collections for your dissertation

You’ve chosen your dissertation topic because it’s something you’re really interested in – now it’s time to delve into the sources held within Brunel’s special collections to take your research to the next level!

Recent topics that students have researched using our Special Collections include:

• Politics under Churchill and Attlee
• London during the First World War
• Communists during the 1920s and 1930s
• Clothing of the poor
• Literary cultures of Victorian railway workers
• Perceptions of fascism in the inter-war period
• Motherhood and bereavement in the First World War
• Feminism under Thatcher
• Presentation of women in the media
• Colonial and post-colonial writers at the BBC

Find out about our collections

Special Collections is home to a huge array of material that can support your research. You can find out more by consulting our:

• A-Z list of collections
• History or English subject guides
• Topic guides: First World War, Second World War and Women’s History

Using Special Collections

Our collections are kept in closed access so you will need to make an appointment in order to come and see them. If you haven’t used Special Collections or archival material before we have a guide on our blog.

Dissertation drop ins

You can drop into these sessions at any time to find out more about using Special Collections in your dissertation. These sessions will be held in BANN 328 (access via main stairs/lift).

Monday 21 January 2 -5 pm

Tuesday 22 January 2 -5pm

Wednesday 23 January 2 -5 pm

Using Special Collections for your dissertation

Why use Special Collections?

You’ve chosen your dissertation topic because it’s something you’re really interested in discovering in more detail. Delving into the sources in Special Collections can take your dissertation to the next level by making it more original, as well as helping you to develop your research skills.

Recent topics that people have researched using Special Collections include:

• Politics under Churchill and Attlee
• London during the First World War
• Communists in the 1920s and 1930s
• Clothing of the poor
• Literary cultures of Victorian railway workers
• Perceptions of fascism in the inter-war period
• Motherhood and bereavement during the First World War
• Feminism under Thatcher
• Colonial and post-colonial writers at the BBC
• Presentation of women in the media
• Feminism in the US in the 1950s

and the Burnett Archive of working class autobiographies has been featured in Radio 4 programmes about the history of friendship and the lives of working people during the industrial revolution.

Find out about our collections:

Special Collections is home to a huge array of material that can support your research. You can find out more by using our A-Z list of collections, or consulting our Special Collections guide, where we’ve highlighted collections of particular interest to English or History students.

You can search our collections by subject or keywords – use the library catalogue for printed material and the archive catalogue for manuscript.

Browse the Special Collections blog, you can use the tags to find posts on particular themes, such as the First World War or trains.

Contact the Special Collections Librarian, or your Academic Liaison Librarian for help.

If you are looking for collections beyond Brunel you will find a list of resources on our webpage.

Using Special Collections

Our collections are kept in closed access, so you will need to make an appointment to come and see them. If you haven’t used Special Collections or archival material before there is a guide on our blog.

Dissertation drop ins

You can drop in to these sessions to find out more about using Special Collections material in your dissertation:

Tuesday 23 January 2018 10.30 – 12 noon and 2 -5 pm

Wednesday 24 January 2018 10 – 11am and 2 – 5pm

Using Special Collections for your dissertation

Why use Special Collections?

You’ve chosen your dissertation topic because it’s something you’re really interested in discovering in more detail. Then delving into the sources in Special Collections can take your dissertation to the next level by making it more original, as well as helping you to develop your research skills.

Recent topics that people have researched using Special Collections include:

• Politics under Churchill and Attlee
• The beginnings of child protection in sport
• London during the First World War
• Communists in the 1920s and 1930s
• Clothing of the poor
• Perceptions of fascism in the inter-war period
• Feminism under Thatcher
• Colonial and post-colonial writers at the BBC
• Presentation of women in the media
• Feminism in the US in the 1950s

and the Burnett Archive of working class autobiographies has been featured in Radio 4 programmes about the history of friendship and the lives of working people during the industrial revolution.

Find out about our collections:

Special Collections is home to a huge array of material that can support your research. You can find out more by using our A-Z list of collections, or consulting our Special Collections guide, where we’ve highlighted collections of particular interest to English or History students.

You can search our collections by subject or keywords – use the library catalogue for printed material and the archive catalogue for manuscript.

Browse the Special Collections blog, you can use the tags to find posts on particular themes, such as the First World War or trains.

Contact the Special Collections Librarian, or your Subject Liaison Librarian for help.

If you are looking for collections beyond Brunel you will find a list of resources on our guide.

Using Special Collections

Our collections are kept in closed access, so you will need to make an appointment to come and see them. If you haven’t used Special Collections or archival material before there is a guide on our blog.

 

Using Special Collections for your dissertation

During Undergraduate Dissertation Week, we’re holding a drop in for anyone interested in using Special Collections in their dissertation. Come in to Special Collections (BANN 317a, Level 3 of the Bannerman Centre, accessed via the green staircase) between 12 and 2 on Wednesday 20 January to find out more.

Why use Special Collections?

Your dissertation topic is something you’re really interested in investigating in more detail. Delving into the sources in Special Collections can take your dissertation to the next level by making it more original. Using primary sources means you might discover something no-one has written about before, or find a new angle on your subject.

Develop your research skills

Using primary sources, such as manuscripts and archives, helps you to develop your research skills. Even if you’ve never used this sort of material before, we have resources available to help you. We hold a large number of collections available for research and study by all students and covering a wide range of subject areas. Why not take a look at our history or women’s history pages to get a flavour of what we have? Or try our complete list of collections on our webpages? Some highlights of our collections have also been featured on this blog.

Tempted?

Topics that people have researched using Special Collections include:

• London during the First World War
• Communists in the 1920s and 1930s
• Clothing of the poor
• Historical perceptions of fathers
• Perceptions of fascism in the inter-war period
• Issues surrounding crossing political borders
• Presentation of women in the media
• Feminism in the US in the 1950s
• Equality in the 1968 Olympics

Several of our collections have already been used for dissertation research. The Burnett Archive of Working Class Autobiographies, in particular, has proven to be popular for its detailed life stories and the people behind the history.

Explore Archives

Special Collections at Brunel University London is home to a wide range of both printed and archival collections.

Why use Special Collections?

Delving into the sources in Special Collections can take your research (whether for an undergraduate essay or dissertation, to postgrad work) to the next level by making it more original, as well as helping you to develop your research skills.

Recent topics that people have researched using Special Collections include:

• London during the First World War
• Communists in the 1920s and 1930s
• Clothing of the poor
• Perceptions of fascism in the inter-war period
• Feminism under Thatcher
• Colonial and post-colonial writers at the BBC
• Presentation of women in the media
• Feminism in the US in the 1950s

and the Burnett Archive of working class autobiographies has been featured in Radio 4 programmes about the history of friendship and the lives of working people during the industrial revolution.

Find out about our collections:

Special Collections is home to a huge array of material that can support your research. You can find out more by using our A-Z list of collections, or consulting our Special Collections guide, where we’ve highlighted collections of particular interest to English or History students.

You can search our collections by subject or keywords – use the library catalogue for printed material and the archive catalogue for manuscript.

Browse the Special Collections blog, you can use the tags to find posts on particular themes, such as the First World War or trains.

Contact the Special Collections Librarian if you need help finding suitable material.

If you are looking for collections beyond Brunel you will find a list of resources on our guide.

Using Special Collections

Our collections are kept on closed access, so you will need to make an appointment to come and see them. If you haven’t used Special Collections or archival material before there is a guide on our blog.

 

Why use Special Collections for your dissertation?

Why use Special Collections?

You’ve chosen your dissertation topic because it’s something you’re really interested in discovering in more detail. Then delving into the sources in Special Collections can take your dissertation to the next level by making it more original, as well as helping you to develop your research skills.

Recent topics that people have researched using Special Collections include:

• London during the First World War
• Communists in the 1920s and 1930s
• Clothing of the poor
• Perceptions of fascism in the inter-war period
• Feminism under Thatcher
• Colonial and post-colonial writers at the BBC
• Presentation of women in the media
• Feminism in the US in the 1950s

and the Burnett Archive of working class autobiographies has been featured in Radio 4 programmes about the history of friendship and the lives of working people during the industrial revolution.

Find out about our collections:

Special Collections is home to a huge array of material that can support your research. You can find out more by using our A-Z list of collections, or consulting our Special Collections guide, where we’ve highlighted collections of particular interest to English or History students.

You can search our collections by subject or keywords – use the library catalogue for printed material and the archive catalogue for manuscript.

Browse the Special Collections blog, you can use the tags to find posts on particular themes, such as the First World War or trains.

Contact the Special Collections Librarian, or your Subject Liaison Librarian for help.

If you are looking for collections beyond Brunel you will find a list of resources on our guide.

Using Special Collections

Our collections are kept on closed access, so you will need to make an appointment to come and see them. If you haven’t used Special Collections or archival material before there is a guide on our blog.

Don’t forget to drop into Special Collections (level 3, access via green staircase) to find out more between 10 and 12 on Tuesday 20 January 2015!

Using Special Collections in your dissertation

During Undergraduate Dissertation Week, we’re holding a drop in for anyone interested in finding out more about using Special Collections in their dissertation. Drop in to Special Collections (Level 3 of the Bannerman Centre, accessed via the green staircase) between 10 and 12 on Tuesday 20 January 2015.

Develop your research skills

Using primary sources, such as manuscripts and archives, helps you to develop your research skills, as well as adding depth to your dissertation. Even if you’ve never used this sort of material before, we have resources available to help you. We hold a large number of collections available for research and study by all students and covering a wide range of  subject areas. Why not take a look at our history or women’s history pages to get a flavour of what we have? Or try our complete list of collections on our webpages? Some highlights of our collections have also been featured on this blog.

Several of our collections have already been used for dissertation research. The Burnett Archive of Working Class Autobiographies, in particular, has proven to be popular for its detailed life stories and the people behind the history.

 

Explore Your Archive week

Letter from the Blount Archive

Explore Your Archive week is an exciting national event in which archives all over the country are showcased and promoted; and we at Brunel Library are getting involved.

Here in Brunel’s Special Collections we have an interesting and diverse range of archival collections and we’re inviting you to come along to one of our drop in sessions and find out more about the archival treasures at your fingertips, and how you can access and use them for your essays and assignments.

You’ll find us on Level 3 of the library, accessed by the green staircase/lift.

Drop in sessions:

Monday 10th November 2 – 4 pm English/Creative writing Come and find out more about our literature collections and the different ways in which they have been used in creative writing. We will have items from the collections out for you to see, and then at 2.00, 3.00 and 3.30 pm brief talks will be given from people who have used Special Collections in their research and teaching. These will be interspersed with readings from creative writing inspired by the collections. There will be plenty of opportunities to find out more and ask questions.

Check out these blog posts to find out more about the collections that have been used for English and creative writing: Writing back and Teaching from the archives.

You can also get a flavour of the collections on our Special Collections guide for English.

Tuesday 11th November 10 am – 12 noon Any subject Maybe you can’t make it to one of the subject-specific sessions, or maybe you’re interested in a different subject to English or History? Then why not join us to find out more about what our collections offer for both English and History/Politics, but also other subjects?

There will be collection items out on display for you to see and handle, plus plenty of opportunity to ask questions and find out more.

Wednesday 12th November 2 – 4 pm History/Politics Drop in to discover which Special Collections you might find interesting for your assignments or dissertation. There will be collection items out on display for you to see and handle, plus plenty of opportunity to ask questions and find out more.  There is more information on our Special Collections guide for History and Women’s history.

Using Special Collections for your dissertation

For undergrads and postgrads alike, the summer is the time when you’re thinking about your dissertation and Special Collections is a great place to look for primary sources.

Develop your research skills

Using primary sources, such as manuscripts and archives, helps you to develop your research skills, as well as adding depth to your dissertation. Even if you’ve never used this sort of material before, we have resources available to help you. We hold a large number of collections available for research and study by all students and covering a wide range of  subject areas. Why not take a look at our history or women’s history pages to get a flavour of what we have? Or try our complete list of collections on our webpages? Some highlights of our collections have also been featured on this blog.

Several of our collections have already been used for dissertation research. The Burnett Archive of Working Class Autobiographies, in particular, has proven to be popular for its detailed life stories and the people behind the history.

Planning your visit

Using Special Collections does take a little more planning ahead as the material is on closed access and you need to book an appointment for your visit (Opening times are on our Special Collections guide). You can find out more about what to expect on a visit to Special Collections on our blog.