Understanding and telling stories of the past requires a lot of research and referencing of a wide variety of materials to help the historian understand the life and times people lived in at the time of a momentous event or moment in history. Below are some of the reference and research materials used to create the content presented on The Lens of History website.
Encyclopedia Dubuque
Encyclopedia Dubuque is Dubuque’s definitive online resource to the history and culture of Dubuque, Iowa. http://www.encyclopediadubuque.org/
Carnegie-Stout Public Library
Carnegie Stout Public Library – The City of Dubuque Carnegie-Stout Public Library has a host of online and in-library resources to aid in your search into histories mysteries. Tools include Ancestry.com, Dubuque City Directories, HeritageQuest Online, ProQuest Historical Newspapers, Telegraph-Herald Archives, and much, much more! City library card may be required to use services. https://www.dubuque.lib.ia.us/357/research
Dubuque City Directories 1856-1991
Online city directories for the City of Dubuque from 1856 to 1991. http://cityofdubuque.advantage-preservation.com/
Dubuque County Historical Society
The Dubuque County Historical Society Captain William D. Bowell, Jr. River Library, housed at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, has thousands of items for research. Among them are historic photographs, books, blueprints, original documents, and other reference materials. The collection also includes materials related to National Rivers Hall of Fame inductees and important river people. http://rivermuseum.pastperfectonline.com/
Iowa Genealogy Website
IAGenWeb is a source of Iowa county genealogy databases and information. http://iagenweb.org/state/links.htm
State Historical Society of Iowa
The State Historical Society of Iowa has been a trustee of Iowa’s historical legacy since 1857. With a dual mission of preservation and education, it maintains a museum, two research centers, preservation office, and eight historic sites. The society preserves and provides access to Iowa’s historical resources through a variety of statewide programs, exhibitions and projects while serving as an advocate for Iowa’s past and connector to the future. https://iowaculture.gov/history/research/collections
Wisconsin Historical Society
The Society’s world-class collections contain an extraordinary range of artifacts and information about American history, from the remote archaeological past to current events. North American genealogy and Wisconsin history are particular collection strengths. https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS15310
Library of Congress
The LOC Digital Collections is a treasure-trove of old newspapers, documents, books, manuscripts, legislation, photographs, movies, music, maps and much, much more. https://www.loc.gov/
Google Newspaper Archives
An archive of national newspapers from around the United States scanned and provided online by Google. https://news.google.com/newspapers
Google Books
An archive of scanned books created by the Google Books project. Contains many downloadable books and will provided local libraries that may contain an addition of a book. https://books.google.com/
U.S. National Archives
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the nation’s record keeper. The most valuable records are preserved and are available to you, whether you want to see if they contain clues about your family’s history, need to prove a veteran’s military service, or are researching an historical topic of interest. https://www.archives.gov/
Wikipedia
The free online encyclopedia provides insight into people, places and events throughout time. https://en.wikipedia.org
Internet Archive
Internet Archive is a non-profit library of millions of free books, movies, software, music, websites, and more. https://archive.org/
The National Map – USGS
A source for different topographical maps and historical data views. https://viewer.nationalmap.gov/launch/
Newspaper Archive
An online newspaper archive services for a fee. Free searches. Very useful with the largest alone archive selection of newspapers from around the United States as well as the world. https://newspaperarchive.com/
U.S. Census Bureau
The Census Bureau’s mission is to serve as the leading source of quality data about the nation’s people and economy. https://www.census.gov/data.html
Society for American Baseball Research
SABR is dedicated to researching and telling the history of early baseball in America and is sanctioned by the National Baseball Hall of Fame. www.sabr.org
Baseball Reference
Baseball statistics from 1871 to the present for major league players, teams, and leagues. Complete postseason and managerial data is included as well. Minor league stats back to 1877, and box scores, game logs and splits back to 1904. Updated daily. www.baseball-reference.com
Protoball
Protoball is a researcher-writer collaboration to gather and promote knowledge of the development of early baseball prior to 1870, and other bat-base-ball games such as rounders, two old cat, etc. www.protoball.com