ENGL 301: Critical Methods in the Study of Literature
Professor Matthew Kirschenbaum
This Web page is intended to provide an introduction to conducting literary research using Special Collections. Contact Beth Alvarez, Curator of Literary Manuscripts, with questions or for assistance.
What are Special Collections?
http://www.lib.umd.edu/special/research/definitions/defspeccoll.html
What are the types of materials that are housed in Special Collections?
http://www.lib.umd.edu/special/research/examples/index.html
For what kinds of literary projects can sources be found in Special Collections?
Some examples include:
biography
editions of literary works or correspondence
influence studies
studies of textual transmission
critical studies
How can those sources be used in literary research?
Document facts
Provide the raw material for an edition
Document influences on an writer's work or his/her influence on the work of others
Physically document the transmission of a text over time
Provide evidence that supports a critical theory
How does one locate Special Collections materials for a literary research project?
http://http://www.lib.umd.edu/special/research/rt/index.html
What are the unique conditions for using Special Collections?
http://www.lib.umd.edu/special/research/rules/dochandle.html
How does one avoid plagiarism by properly citing sources?
http://www.lib.umd.edu/special/research/citations/index.html
What is fair use? When would one have to obtain permission for use of material that is protected by copyright law?
http://www.lib.umd.edu/special/research/copyright/index.html
The preceding links on this Web page are to
Research Using Primary Resources, a Web guide created by University of Maryland Libraries' Special Collections
librarians as a faculty research project.
Web Sites for Selected Special Collections with Literary Manuscripts
Literary Manuscripts, University of Maryland Libraries
http://www.lib.umd.edu/litmss
University of Texas at Austin, Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center Library
http://www.hrc.utexas.edu
Yale University Library, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
http://www.library.yale.edu/beinecke
Princeton University, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Harvey S. Firestone Library
http://www.princeton.edu/~rbsc
University of Virginia Library, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
http://www2.lib.virginia.edu/small
