Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and Jim Crow

2025 Guides - Rights & Responsibilities in History
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Getting Started

Begin your research by brainstorming keywords - the words and phrases you’ll use to search for books, articles, websites, government documents, and other resources. These may include names of people and places or historical concepts like eras and movements. A librarian can suggest “subject headings” to find the most relevant resources.

Example Keywords & Catalog Subject Headings

African American
Jim Crow
Segregation
Civil Rights Act
Race Discrimination

Database/Online Resources

Library databases are online collections of information, organized for research. Databases contain articles, eBooks, images, maps, primary sources and more. If you don’t have a library card, register online for immediate access to these resources. The following recommended databases are available on our Research and Teen Social Studies pages.

Black Historical Newspapers (ProQuest)

Offers primary source material essential to the study of American history and Black culture, history, politics, and the arts. Each of the Historical Black Newspapers provides access to perspectives and information that was excluded or marginalized in mainstream sources. Examine major movements from the Harlem Renaissance to Civil Rights, and explore everyday life as written in the Chicago Defender, The Baltimore Afro-AmericanNew York Amsterdam News, Pittsburgh Courier, Los Angeles SentinelAtlanta Daily WorldThe Norfolk Journal and Guide, The Philadelphia Tribune, Cleveland Call and Post, and Michigan Chronicle.

Available with library card

Exploring Race in Society (Ebsco)

This research database offers content covering issues related to race in society today. Essays, articles, reports and other reliable sources provide an in-depth look at the history of race and provide critical context for learning more about topics associated with race, ethnicity, diversity and inclusiveness.

  • Thousands of full-text articles from academic journals
  • Government agency reports curated and provided by HeinOnline
  • Full-text articles, primary source documents and speeches from BlackPast, a leading source on African American history and experience
  • Journal content covering issues related to race, including those of Indigenous communities

Available with library card

Internet Sources

Before using information you find on the internet for assignments and research, it is important to establish that the information comes from a reliable and appropriate source. The following websites, from government, academic and nonprofit organizations, have been evaluated for authority, accuracy, content and currency.

Primary source documents including historical newspaper articles, pamphlets, diaries, correspondence and more from specific time periods in U.S. history.
The Civil Rights Digital Library brings together more than 200 libraries, archives, and museums to provide free online access to historical materials documenting the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Browse the 'Events' page for a chronological review of important moments in the movement.
BlackPast.org is an encyclopedic website that details the history of African Americans and global Africans, governed by an academic advisory board.

Contact the Reference Services department for help with your research project