Punch Historical Archive

Think today’s politics are crazy? Enjoy watching the satire of our political figures? Well before The Daily Show there was Punch, Britain’s magazine of humor and satire.

“From 1841 to 1992, Punch was the world's most celebrated magazine of humor and satire. From its early years as a campaigner for social justice to its transformation into national icon, Punch played a central role in the formation of British identity – and how the rest of the world saw the British. The full-text searchable online archive of Punch ─ Punch Historical Archive, 1841–1992 ─ is now available for scholars, students, and researchers to explore. The archive is an unrivaled resource for researching and teaching 19th and 20th century political and social history on key themes such as World War I and World War II; wars and conflicts; colonialism, imperialism, the impact of new technology; public health, conservation, and environmentalism; social change; and the role of women." (Source)

Atkins Library encourage you to check out the Punch Historical Archive today!

CQ Researcher Online

Are you starting to work on a research paper on current events but having a hard time coming up with a topic?  Do you have a topic but are looking for a place to start you research, with an overview of your topic?  If so CQ Researcher might be a good place to start.

“CQ Researcher provides award winning in-depth coverage of the most important issues of the day. Our reports are written by experienced journalists, footnoted and professionally fact-checked. Full-length articles include an overview, historical background, chronology, pro/con feature, plus resources for additional research. Graphics, photos and short "sidebar" features round out the reports. Shorter "Hot Topics" articles provide a solid introduction to subjects most in demand by students.” (source)

Along with “Hot Topics” CQ Researcher provides other ways for you to browse their material including:

• Topic: Roughly 30 different topic categories
• Date: Reports going back to 1923 for over 90 years worth of content at your fingertips
• Issue Tracker: Relevant reports on similar topics, making it easy to follow key topics through time
• Pro/Con: Arguments typically written by leading experts, commissioned exclusively for CQ Researcher and organized by topic (source)

As the semester gears up, now is a great time to explore research topics or get in depth information on current events to discuss.  Explore CQ Researcher today!

LGBT Studies in Video

LGBT Studies is an important topic of our time and there have been many works produced that explore the lives of LGBT people within our society and throughout the world.  One medium that has been especially prolific in creating works providing insight into the LGBT community is film.  Atkins Library has purchased a collection of these videos to aid in research related LGBT Studies.

“LGBT Studies in Video is a cinematic survey of the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people as well as the cultural and political evolution of the LGBT community. This first-of-its-kind collection features award-winning documentaries, interviews, archival footage, and select feature films exploring LGBT history, gay culture and subcultures, civil rights, marriage equality, LGBT families, AIDS, transgender issues, religious perspectives on homosexuality, global comparative experiences, and other topics.” (source)

Here are some films that are including in the collection:

• Abomination: Homosexuality and the Ex-Gay Movement, profiling the journeys of four gay Christians who did everything possible to become heterosexual by following the “treatment” protocols of the so-called ex-gay ministries.
• Fight Back, Fight AIDS: 15 Years of Act Up, a compilation of footage documenting the first ACT UP meeting in 1987 on New York City’s Wall Street and continues to 2002.
• Paris Was a Woman, a documentary featuring the lives of lesbian ex-patriots living in France between The Great War and WWII, including Berenice Abbot, Djuna Barnes, and Gertrude Stein (with archival footage and interviews
• Just Married: The Epic Battle Over Gay Marriage, which examines the events in Massachusetts following the state supreme court’s 4:3 ruling in favor of same-sex marriage.

If this important social topic is of interest to you please visit LBGT Studies in Video, and explore the collection of videos available.