Hawaiʻi Congressional Papers Research

Resources for secondary research

Doing research in congressional papers collections can sometimes feel like looking through a microscope at the tiniest details of a topic. But itʻs often hard to recognize the significance of small details without an awareness of the big picture. Beginning with secondary research can help you to understand exactly that: the historical context, the critical events, and the key individuals and groups. Then, when you examine the small details in the congressional collections, you will be able to see how they fit into (or refute) the broader narrative. Secondary research can also help you to identify names, dates, and legislation that can serve as entry points into these very large collections.