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Guide to Researching Liberia at IU
Compiled by Jeremy Kenyon, January 2009SUBJECT HEADINGS (examples):
RELEVANT LIBRARY COLLECTIONS AT IUB:
HOLSOE'S ONLINE GUIDE:
This web page describes IU's Liberian collections, but the most valuable general reference available for Liberian studies is Liberian History and Society, an expanded electronic version of a 1971 bibliography published by Svend E. Holsoe. It is free, regularly updated, and features a comprehensive bibliography to publications on Liberia.
REFERENCE:
Reference works specifically devoted to Liberia are few in number. Fortunately, there are some relatively recent titles available. Older titles, dating back to the 1960s and 70s also are accessible. Search IUCAT, the library catalog to find them.
PRIMARY SOURCES:
The IU Libraries possess rich primary source collections on Liberia. The strongest of these collections are those associated with the Liberian Collections Project, but there are many others in the IU libraries, mostly on microfilm. Searching IUCAT will provide the full list.
Here are a few examples:
THESES AND DISSERTATIONS:
Theses and dissertations have been collected in print and microform formats for decades, and more recently, databases provide access. Most dissertations in the print collection were written from the late 1960s to the late 1970s. There have been few published since (there was a slight resurgence in the 1990s). IU theses and dissertations can be browsed in a special section of the 6th floor of the Wells Library. The majority of non-IU theses and dissertations are also on microfilm. All can be found using IUCAT.
17 from Indiana University (1961-2008), for example:
33 from other universities (1944-2004), for example:
AUDIO RECORDINGS:
The Archives of Traditional Music (ATM) holds several audio collections. They range from audio cassettes to tape reels to cylinders. Beyond these collections, there are dozens of other Liberian musical recordings, interviews, and audio resources cataloged in the ATM. Further, many of these recordings are accompanied by notes and documentation about the performers and associated topics. Search IUCAT to find more extensive information.
Field research recordings [number of recordings deposited]:
VIDEO RECORDINGS:
Videos are located in the Media and Reserves Services department in the Wells Library, including the Instructional Support Services (ISS) collection. Most of the videos are documentaries from the 1990s and 2000s, and most concern issues of conflict and conflict resolution. Searching IUCAT in DVD/Video search mode will provide the full list.
13 in Wells Library, including:
3 in the ISS collection:
VISUAL RESOURCES:
Numerous visual resources exist to complement research on Liberia. Most photographic material is housed in the Fine Arts Library, although there is some at the LCP. There are also a number of artifacts from Liberia at the IU Art Museum and in the LCP. You will have to contact these libraries to view the collections.
MAPS AND ATLASES:
Maps available through the IU Libraries cover a range, from regional West African maps to detailed geological maps of Liberia. Many are cataloged, and some are online. The Geography/Map and Geosciences libraries have the majority. Both information on the print versions and links to online versions are available through IUCAT.
35 cataloged maps and atlases, including:
FULL-TEXT DATABASES:
Digital content related to Liberia is small, but growing. The IU Libraries subscribe to many databases, some of which have valuable Liberia-related content. The following databases contain the majority of what is currently available, but there are more which are accessible to IU-affiliated researchers through the Libraries’ website.
Examples include:
PERIODICALS:
Liberian periodicals in the IU collections range from active current subscriptions to titles received only once. The scope is considerable, from government periodicals to newspapers and academic publications. Some are available online, but the majority is only in print or microform. All of the cataloged titles can be viewed in IUCAT.
Here are examples of the 165 cataloged titles available:
Academic periodicals:
Non-academic periodicals:
Newspapers:
SAMPLE SERIALS:
Occasionally, the African Studies collection receives unsolicited serials. All of our sample issues of Liberian serials are from the late 1980s and early 1990s. They are located in the African Studies collection on the 6th floor of the Wells Library. The titles can be viewed in the online Sample Serials Index. Exaples include:
PAMPHLETS (uncataloged):
Uncataloged materials have been collected from scholars throughout the past several decades. We have numerous pamphlets ranging from the 1950s to the present on varied topics. They are located in the African Studies Collection Office and can be searched using the African Pamphlet Collection Index.
186 Liberia-related pamphlets in total:
POSTERS:
Liberian posters are located in the African Studies Collection office, on the 6th floor of the Wells Library. These posters are primarily from the 1980s. Click here to browse the online Liberian Poster Index. Examples include:
LIBERIAN COLLECTIONS PROJECT (LCP):
Please see the Indiana University Liberian Collections website for an overview of its contents. This vast collection contains rare and unique materials on Liberia, much of it not cataloged or preserved anywhere else. Collections contain magazines, journals, newspapers, correspondence, cultural and ethnographic documents, artifacts, and more. Collections include:
